ST. LOUIS, April 9. – Gen. Pope’s Official report says that
the canal across the Peninsula at New Madrid, through which four steamers and
several barges were taken, is twelve miles long, six miles of which were
through heavy timber, which ad to be sawed off by hand – feet under water. This great and laborious undertaking
originated with Schuyler Hamilton, and the work was performed by Col. Bissell’s
Engineer regiment.
Gen. Halleck and portion of staff left for Tennessee river
this afternoon, and will immediately assume command in the field.
(Democrat’s special.)
The rebels were pursued by eight thousand of our cavalry.
Rebel prisoners state that Beauregard made a speech to his
troops before entering the fight, saying that he would water his horse in
Tennessee river or in hell; that the fight before them was hell unless
successful.
– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 3