Saturday morning cold drissling rain. The fleet gently get under way this morning at day break, we proceeded on our way to Island No. 10. Our Col. this morning imparted to us the glad tidings of the evacuation of New Madrid & the possession of it by Gen. Pope with a number of peices of heavy cannon About 9 A. M. we came very unexpectedly upon a Rebel Gun Boat the Grampies which was wooding about a 9 miles above the Island. She very hastily left her moorings, not giving some of her hands time to get aboard. The Benton which was in advance sent a few shots after her—but without reaching her. She set up a scream with her whistle—which she did not abate until she reached the Island. Arriving in the neighborhood of the Island—the Gun Boats dropped very cautiously down to within 3½ miles of their upper Battery on the main shore & near the same distance from the Island. Two of the mortars were towed into position. The Gun Boats then opened upon the Island—firing several rounds during the afternoon The two mortars also fired several rounds each but no response was elicited from either Battery Nothing of importance has transpired to day.
SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 237
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