The following was received at the navy department this morning:
FLAGSHIP BENTON,
ISLAND NO. 10, April 8.
HON. G. WELLES, Secretary of Navy –
I have to inform the department that since I sent the telegram last night announcing the surrender to me of Island No. 10. Possession has been taken both of the Island and the works upon the Tennessee shore by the gunboats and the troops under command of Col. Buford. 17 officers and 368 privates, besides one hundred of their sick and one hundred men employed on board the transports, are in our hands, unconditional prisoners of war.
I have caused a hasty examination to be made of the forts, batteries and munitions of war captured. There are 11 earthworks, with 70 heavy cannon, varying in caliber from 35 to 100-pounders, rifled. The magazines are well supplied with powder, and there are large quantities of shot, shell and other munitions of war; and also great quantities of provisions. Four steamers afloat have fallen into our hands, and two others, with the rebel gunboat Grampus, are sunk, but will be easily raised. The floating battery of 16 heavy guns was turned adrift.
The rebels are said to be lying on the Missouri shore below New Madrid. The enemy upon the main land appear to have fled with great precipitation after dark last night, leaving in many cases half-prepared meals in their quarters, and there seems to have been no concert of action between the main shore, but the latter fled, leaving the former to their fate. – These works erected with the highest engineering skill, are of great strength, and with their natural advantages would have been impregnable if defended by men fighting in a better cause.
A combined attack of naval and land forces would have taken place this P. M. or to-morrow morning, had not the rebels so hastily abandoned this stronghold. To mature the plans of the attack it absolutely required twenty-three days of preparation.
Gen. Pope is momentarily expected to arrive with his army at this point, he having successfully crossed the river yesterday under a heavy fire, which no doubt led to the hasty abandonment of the works.
I am unofficially informed that the two gunboats which so gallantly ran the fire of the rebel batteries, a few nights since, yesterday attacked and reduced a fort of the enemy opposite, dismounting eight heavy guns.
The following is a copy of the order of Gen. McCall, on assuming command of the rebel forces on the 11th inst.:
SOLDIERS – We are strangers, commander and commanded, each to the other. Let me tell you who I am. I am a General made by Beauregard; a General selected by Beauregard and Bragg for this command when they knew it was in peril. They have known me for twenty years. We have stood on the fields of Mexico. Give them your confidence now; give it to me when I have earned it. Soldiers, the Mississippi valley is entrusted to your patience; exhibit the vigilance and coolness of last night and hold it.
(Signed.)
W. D. McCALL,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 10, 1862, p. 1
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