Report of Com. Foote

WASHINGTON, April 9. – The following was received at the Navy Department, this morning:

“Flag Ship BENTON, Island No. 10,

April 8, 1862.

“To Hon. G. Wells [sic] Sec’y 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 General Buford. – Seventeen officers & 368 privates, besides on 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 earth works, with 70 heavy cannon, varying in caliber from 32 to 100-pounders, rifled.  Their magazines are well supplied with powder, and there are large quantities of shot and 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, turned adrift by the rebels, is said to by lying on the Missouri shore, near New Madrid.

The enemy upon the main land appear to have fled with great precipitation, after night, leaving many instances, half prepared messes, in their quarters, and there seems to have been no concert of action between the rebels upon the Island and those occupying the 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 the natural advantages would have been impregnable if defended by men fighting in a better cause.

A combined attack of the naval and land forces would have taken place this p. m., or to-morrow morning, had not the rebels so hastily abandoned their stronghold to mature the plans of attack, which absolutely required 23 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 part of the works opposite, dismounting eight heavy guns.

The following is a copy of an 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 together on the fields of Mexico.  Give me then, your confidence.  Soldiers, the Mississippi Valley is entrusted to your care.  Exhibit the vigilance and coolness of last night and hold it.

(Signed.)

W. D. McCALL,

Brig. Gen. Commanding.

I regret that the painful condition of my feet, still requiring the use of crutches, prevented me from making a personal examination of the works.  I was therefore compelled to delegate Lieutenant Commanding Phelps of the Flag Ship Benton.

(Signed.)

A. H. FOOTE,

Flag Officer Commanding.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 3

Particulars of the Surrender at Island No. 10

CAIRO, April 8, 8 p.m. – I have been able to gather a few more particulars from Island No. 10.  Four hundred and seventy-eight prisoners, including seventeen officers, seventy pieces of artillery, a large amount of ammunition, muskets and small arms, were captured on the Island.  It is said our mortar shells proved very destructive; wherever they struck and exploded, great execution was made in the earth.

It is reported that the Confederates had become perfectly demoralized; in many cases entire regiments would refuse to obey orders. – Much ill feeling prevailed among the officers and none, including the soldiers, had any confidence in their commanding officer.

No farther information has been obtained in reference to the number of prisoners captured on the Tennessee shore, and it will be impossible to get anything further before morning.

Much excitement prevails here over the news of the battle at Pittsburgh.  It is regarded as most fortunate that Gen. Buell came up as he did, with one Division to reinforce Gen. Grant.  It evidently was the expectation of Beauregard to fight the battle before Gen. Buell could form a junction with Gen. Grant.

We hope to get further particulars to-morrow.

At one o’clock, last night a boat came to the flag-ship with a messenger carrying a letter from the commanding officer at Island No. 10 to Flag Officer Foote, proposing capitulation for the surrender of the Island.  Flag Officer Foot replied that he would accept no other terms than an unconditional surrender.  At one o’clock this morning the enemy surrendered unconditionally to Com. Foote.  Several transports and it is supposed one or two gunboats, the celebrated floating battery, cannon, ammunition and stores have thus fallen into our hands.  Too much praise cannot be awarded to the Flag Officer and the gallant officers under his command for this brilliant achievement in capturing the Gibraltar of the Mississippi river, without the loss of a single life.  We have no information at this time as to details, but it is supposed that most of the rebel troops on the Tennessee shore have effected their escape.  It is supposed they commenced leaving soon after the Carondolet succeeded in turning their batteries, as that destroyed all hope of their maintaining their position.  Fleet Captain Hennock, who has achieved wonders in fitting out and repairing gunboats and transports, and furnishing supplies to the fleet, ahs reason to believe that our mortars did terrible execution among the rebels.  It is reported that Gen. Pope had 18,000 troops across the river from New Madrid last night, ready to march and bag the enemy but is believe that he was too late.

Boats commenced running to New Madrid to-day.  The river has fallen four feet within the last two days, greatly facilitating the operations of Gen. Pope opposite New Madrid.

Hon. Jesse Dubois is here en route for the Upper Tennessee.

Hon. Emerson Etheridge has telegraphed to three hundred citizens of Bourbon county, Tennessee, driven out by the rebel troops, to come down and return with him.  They will probably leave to-morrow.

Reliable reports from Jeff. Thompson a week ago place him in the swamps, some eighty miles from here, with a few hundred marauders.  Several men who have heretofore been in his army from the vicinity of Charleston, eight miles from here, in Missouri, have petitioned Gen. Strong for privilege to take the oath and return to their allegiance.  The General authorized the County Clerk, a good Union man, to take and administer the oath.

Dr. Simpson, of the Medical Department leaves this evening for the Tennessee with two large hospital boats most completely fitted out under direction of J. E. Yeatman, Esq., of the St. Louis Sanitary Commission.  They contain 800 beds for the wounded.  The hospitals here have accommodations for 1,400.

Dispatches from New Madrid have been received.  The gunboats Carondelet and Pittsburg, yesterday morning shelled and silenced the batteries on the opposite shore, when Gen. Pope ordered the troops across.  It was effected without loss.

The rebels fled towards Lisbon sinking several of their transports, among others the Grampus.

The floating battery of the rebels, mounting ten guns, drifted down last night, and is aground near Point Pleasant.  It will be recovered with its armament.

The Belle West covered Gen. Paine in the advance on the batteries.

Gen. Pope at once took the Pittsburg and Carondelet, and with a part of his army, turned to and attacked the enemy this morning, and took 2,000 prisoners, mostly from Arkansas and Louisiana.  He will probably get as many more before night.

The rebels fled to the swamps in great consternation.

The victory is complete and decisive.  Great quantities of stores, cannon, and ammunition have fallen into our hands.  All their baggage and supplies are taken.

Gen. McCall, of the rebel Adjutant General’s department, is a prisoner.

The country between New Madrid and Island No. 10, on the east side of the river, is being scoured by our troops.  Many prisoners will doubtless be taken there.

Gen. Bissell, with his transports, is ordered down to Tipton by Gen. Pope, which is twelve miles below New Madrid, to bring cannon and other property up to New Madrid.

Divisions of our army are pursuing the fleeing rebels in all directions.  Their entire force at and about Island No. 10, is either taken prisoners or utterly routed and demoralized.

Hon. Emerson Etheridge has just arrived from Paducah.  To him the news of our success is especially gratifying.  His residence is thirty-five miles south of Hickman.  Gen. Strong will send an escort with him to his home to insure his safety.  Thousands of his former friends will great his arrival with a glorious welcome.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 3

First Day’s Fight at Island No. 10

CAIRO, March 17, on board the Benton, Island No. 10, March 16. – Got under way at daylight this a.m. and dropped down to within range of the upper battery and commenced to arouse them with the rifles of the Benton, while the mortar boats were trying to wade into position.  Only a couple of shots were fired, when a white flag was seen to wave from the works and to continue waving until answered by a white flag from the flagship.

Of course firing ceased, as did also all operations, even the moving of the mortars, while a tug carried Lieut. Bishop down to see what was wanted.  On arriving at the work he was answered that they were signaling their works down the river and did not wish to communicate with us; a mere subterfuge to gain time, which was followed up by the Grampus, with a white flag, steaming towards the tug from the Island.  Lieut. Bishop was of the opinion that time enough was lost and did not wait for the Grampus, but steamed off for the Benton and the Grampus hauled down the white flag and ran back under cover again.

Up to this time no rebel colors had been shown from the battery, but now it went up and the preparations to get it down regularly in the approved method went on with renewed vigor.- Eight mortar boats were soon in position and engaged in throwing 13-inch shell.

Lieut. Bishop disgusted at the bad taste of the rebels who did not wish to communicate with so gallant and good-looking officer, by permission of the flag-officer and Capt. Phelps, he opened directions by guns of the [Benton’s] rifled 74; with such style that the rebels ran from the work and their flag was covered with dirt and mud.

The firing was kept up steadily though slow until 5 P. M.  The mortars exploding 210 shells and the Benton 41.  The heart of every man in the flagship was saddened by sympathy with the grief of our beloved flag officer Foote, who received by the dispatch boat at noon intelligence of the death of his second son, a lad of 13 years, of exceeding promise, of whose illness the Commodore had no previous intelligence. – To-morrow will see the reduction of one or more of the enemy’s works and the close investment of the whole.

The place is very strong – four our point of view we could see forty-four guns in position and negroes were busily at work on the battery out of our reach, on which to-morrow we shall probably find heavy guns mounted.  With all these notes of preparation and all these premonitions of a hard fight, some incredulous people will suspect that the troops marching across the woods from Island No. 10, to Maryweather’s landing on the Mississippi below Point Pleasant, a distance of only 5 miles from the Island over a practicable road, and that when they are embarked on the fleet of boats, the smoke of which has plainly been seen all day at Maryweather’s, we shall find the next empty and the river clear of rebels to Randolph of Fort Pillow.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 4

Special to the Chicago Tribune

CAIRO, April 8.

Dispatches from New Madrid are received.  The gunboats Carondelet and Pittsburg shelled and silenced the batteries on the opposite shore, when Pope ordered the troops across; it was effected without loss.  The rebels fled toward Tipton, sinking several of their transports, among others the Grampus.

The floating battery of the rebels, mounting ten guns, drifted down last night, and aground near Point Pleasant.  It will be recovered with its armament.  The Ohio Belle was also recovered.

Gen. Paine led the advance on the batteries.  Gen Pope at once took the Pittsburg and Carondelet, and with a part of his army hastened to Tipton, attacked the enemy this morning and took 2,000 prisoners, mostly from Arkansas and Louisiana.  He will probably get as many more before night.  The rebels fled to the swamps in great consternation.

The victory is complete and decisive.  Great quantities of stores, cannon and ammunition have fallen into our hands.  All the baggage and supplies are taken.

Gen. McCall, of the rebel Adjutant General’s department, is a prisoner.

The country between New Madrid and the Island, on the east side of the river is being scoured by our troops.  Many prisoners will doubtless be taken there.

Gen. Bissell, with transports is ordered down to Tipton by Gen. Pope, which is 12 miles below New Madrid, to bring cannon and other property up to New Madrid.

Divisions of our army are pursuing the fleeing rebels in all directions.  Their entire force at and about Island No. 10 is either taken prisoners or utterly routed and demoralized.

Hon. Emerson Etheridge has just arrived from Paducah – to him the news of our success is specially grateful.  His residence is 35 miles southeast of Hickman.  General Strong will send an escort with him to his home, to insure his safety.  Thousands of his former friends will great his arrival with a glorious welcome.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 10, 1862, p. 2

WASHINGTON, April 9 [1862].

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 11^th 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

Our Fleet Shelling Island No. 10

CAIRO, March 17.

ON BOARD THE BENTON,

Island No. 10, March 16.

Got under way at daylight this A. M., and dropped down to within range of the upper battery, and commenced to arouse them with the rifles of the Benton, while the mortar boats were being towed into position.  Only a couple of shots were fired, when a white flag was seen to wave violently from the work and to continue waving until answered by a white flag form the flag ship.  Of course firing ceased, as did also the hostile operations. Even the moving of the mortars, while a tug carried Lieut. Bishop down to see what was wanted.  On arriving at the work he was answered that they were signaling their works down the river, and did not wish to communicate with us – a dirty subterfuge to gain time, which was followed up by the Grampus hoisting a white flag and steaming towards the tug from the Island.  Lieut. Bishop was of the opinion that time enough had been lost and did not wait for the Grampus, but steamed up for the Benton, and the Grampus hauled down the white flag and ran back under cover again.  Up to this time no rebel colors had been shown from the battery, but now it went up, and the preparations to get it down regularly and by approved methods went on with renewed vigor.

The mortars were soon in position and engaged in throwing the terrible thirteen inch shell, and Lieut. Bishop, disgusted at the bad taste of the rebels who did not wish to communicate with so gallant and good looking an officer, by permission of the flag-officer and Capt. Phelps, opened direct communication by means of the Benton’s rifled seventy-four’s with such a skill that the rebels ran from the works and their flag was covered with dirt and water.  The firing was kept up steadily, though slowly, until 5 p.m. – the mortars expending 240 shells and the Benton 41.

The heart of every man in the flag-ship was saddened by sympathy with the poignant grief of our beloved flag-officer Foote, who receive by the dispatch boat at noon, intelligence of the death of his second son, a lad of 13 years and exceeding promise, of whose illness the Commodore had no previous intelligence.

To-morrow will see the reduction of one or more of the enemy’s works, and the closer investment of the whole place is very strong.  From our point of view we could see 44 guns in position, and negroes were busily at work on a battery out of reach, in which to-morrow we shall probably find heavy guns mounted.  With all this note of preparation and all these possibilities of a hard fight, some incredulous people will suspect that the troops which Pope drove out of New Madrid and which came to No. 10, are marching across the tracts of land from No. 10. To Merriweather landing, on the Mississippi below Point Pleasant, a distance of only five miles from the island over a practicable road, and that when they are embarked on the fleet of boats the smoke of which has been plainly seen all day at or near Merriweather, we shall find the nest empty and the river clear of rebels to Randolph for Fort Pillow.

The hopelessness of the rebel cause between Foote and Pope, in the presence of the boats, and the sullen and dull fight made by the rebel enemy give some color to the theory.  I half believe it myself.

CAIRO, March 17.

The town is full of rumors from below, but there is little of anything that can be called reliable.  We are anxiously expecting information from Island No. 10, but are as yet without anything definite.  At last accounts, Com. Foote was at work, using his flotilla to the best possible advantage, moving his mortar boats out of range of the enemy’s batteries or gunboats, and throwing shells into their fortifications, it is supposed with terrible effect.  The iron clad gunboats had not yet been brought into the action.

Two mortar flats had gained the proper range, and the accuracy of their fire fully equaled previous expectation.

We hear nothing of special interest from the Cumberland or Tennessee rivers.

Transports loaded with troops continue to arrive here and depart for their proper destination.

Cairo is still excessively muddy, and a considerable portion of the site is covered with water.

Much mortality is reported among the sick and wounded at Mound City.

The weather is clear, warm and spring-like.  River swelling slowly.

To-morrow we expect news of importance from the gunboat flotilla, and west Tennessee wing of the army.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 18, 1862, p. 1

Gallant Exploit of Col. Roberts

He spikes a Rebel Battery During the late Gale --- Heavy firing at Point Pleasant.

{Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.}

ON BOARD STEAMER V. F. WILSON,
ISLAND No. 10, April 2, 1862
(Via Cairo 3d inst.)

A most daring exploit was performed last night by Col. Roberts and fifty picked men from his regiment, the 42d Illinois. The night was intensely dark, and the previously reported gale of wind and thunderstorm prevailed. During the height of the storm, Col. Roberts and his men, in five yawls managed by crews from the gunboats, left the steamer Benton, and with muffled oars and under cover of darkness crowded down the stream in the direction of the upper battery. When within a few rods of it a blinding flash of lightning glared upon the water, revealing the boats to the sentries. They fired upon our men five or six shots, the balls whistling overhead and doing no damage. The sentinels then incontinently fled back to the camp, which is located some distance to the rear of the battery. Our men made no reply, but pulled up to the fortification, sprang over the parapet, and in three minutes time spiked all the guns, six in number. Col. Roberts himself spiking a huge eighty pound pivot gun. The boats then returned without a man receiving a scratch. The guns, which have all been newly mounted within the past two or three days, (having been previously dismounted by our cannonading,) were sixty-fours and eighties. The rebel steamer Grampus was lying near the battery, but mad no demonstration, fearing to come out in the stream.

The mortars kept up a very heavy bombardment this morning and the rebels replied with spirit from their floating battery. Their shots were well aimed but occasioned no damage. Very heavy and rapid firing was heard last night and this morning at Point Pleasant, or in that vicinity. We have no intelligence from there as yet.

The river has commenced falling – a fact in our favor.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862

GEN. POPES REPORT

Operations at New Madrid and Island Number 10.

EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, New Madrid, Mo.
April 9, 1862.

Major General H W. HALLECK:

The canal across the peninsula opposite Island No. 10 – and for the idea of which I am indebted to Gen. Schuyler Hamilton – was completed by Col. Bissell’s engineer regiment, and four steamers were brought through on the night of the 6th. The heavy batteries I had thrown up below Tiptonville completely commanded the lowest point of the high ground on the Tennessee shore, entirely cutting off the enemy’s retreat by water; his retreat by land has never been possible through the swamps. On the night of the 4th Capt. Walke, of the navy, ran the enemies batteries at Island No. 10; with the gunboat Carondolet, and reported to me here. – On the night of the 6th the gunboat Pittsburg ran the blockade. Our transports were brought into the river from the bayou, where they had been kept concealed, at daylight on the seventh and Paine’s division loaded. The canal has been prodigiously laborious work. It was twelve miles long, six of which were through heavy timber which had to be sawed off by hand four feet under water.

The enemy has lined the opposite shore with batteries, extending from Island 10 to Tiptonville, Merriweather Landing, to prevent the passage of the river by this army.

I directed Capt. Walke to run down with the two gunboats at daylight on the 7th to the point selected for crossing, and silence the enemy’s batteries near it. He performed the service gallantly, and I hear bear testimony to the thorough and brilliant manner in which this officer discharged his difficult duties with me; and to the hearty and earnest zeal with which, at all hazards, he co-operated with me.

As soon as he signaled me, the boats containing Paine’s Division, moved out from the landing and began to cross the river. The passage of this wide, furious river, by our large force, was one of the most magnificent spectacles I ever witnessed. By twelve o’clock that night, the 7th, all the forces designed to cross the river were over, without delay or accident.

As soon as we began to cross, the enemy began to evacuate Island No. 10, and his batteries along the shore. The divisions were pushed forward to Tiptonville as fast as they landed, Paine’s leading. The enemy was driven before him, and although they made sever attempts to form in line of battle and make a stand, Paine did not once deploy his columns. The enemy was pushed all night vigorously, until at 4 o’clock A. M., he was driven back upon the swamps and forced to surrender. Three Generals, seven Colonels, seven regiments, several battalions of infantry, five companies of artillery, over one hundred heavy siege guns, twenty-four pieces of field artillery, an immense quantity of ammunition and supplies, several thousand stand of small arms, a great number of tents, horses, wagons, &c., &c., have fallen into our hands.

Before abandoning Island No. 10, the enemy sunk the gunboat Grampus, and six of his transports. These last I am raising, and expect to have ready for service in a few days. The famous floating battery was scuttled and turned afloat with all her guns aboard, she was captured and run aground in shoal water by our forces at Madrid.

Our success is complete and overwhelming. Our troops, as I expected, behaved gloriously. I will in my full report endeavor to do full justice to all. Brigadiers General Paine, Stanley and Hamilton, crossed the river and conducted their divisions with untiring activity and skill. I am especially indebted to them. Gen. Paine, fortunate in having the advance, exhibited unusual vigor and courage, and had the satisfaction to receive the surrender of the enemy. Of Col. Bissell of the Engineer regiment, I can hardly say too much. Full of resource, untiring and determined, he labored night and day, and completed a work which will be a monument of enterprise and skill.

We have crossed this great river with a large army, the banks of which were lined with batteries of the enemy to oppose our passage; have pursued and captured all his forces and material of war, and have not lost a man, nor met with an accident.

JOHN POPE, Major General

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862

Washington, April 9 [1862]

Official dispatch from flag officer Foote announces that 17 officers, 368 guns, were taken at Island No. 10. A hasty examination of the works shows the Island earth works to have 70 cannon with ranging calibre from 30 to 100 pounders. Their magazines were well supplied with powder, quantities of shot and shell, together with other munitions of war. Great quantities of provisions, four steamers afloat falling into our hands, two others with gunboat Grampus sunk, but can be easily raised. The enemy upon main land appear to have fled with great precipitation after dark, leaving in many cases half prepared meals. There appears to have been no concert of action between the rebels on the Island and those occupying the shore. Their works were created with great engineering skill, and are of great strength.

A combined attack of naval and land forces was to have been made yesterday afternoon or this morning had not the rebels so hastily abandoned their stronghold.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862

By Telegraph. Particulars of the Surrender at Island No. 10.

Cairo, April 8, 8 P.M. – I have been able to gather a few more particulars from Island No. 10. Four hundred and seventy-eight prisoners, including seventeen officers, seventy pieces of artillery, a large amount of ammunition, muskets and small arms, were captured on the Island. It is said our mortar shells proved very destructive; wherever they struck and exploded, great execution was made in the earth.

It is reported that the Confederates had become perfectly demoralized; in many cases entire regiments would refuse to obey orders – Much ill feeling prevailed among the officers, and none, including the soldiers, had any confidence in their commanding officer.

No further information has been obtained in reference to the number of prisoners captured on the Tennessee shore, and it will be impossible to get anything further before morning.

Much excitement prevails here over the news of the battle at Pittsburgh. It is regarded as most fortunate that Gen. Buel [sic] came up as he did, with one Division to reinforce Gen. Grant. It evidently was the expectation of Beauregard to fight the battle before Gen. Buel [sic] cold form a junction with Gen. Grant.

We hope to get further particulars to-morrow.

At one o’clock, last night a boat came to the flag ship with a messenger carrying a letter from the commanding officer at Island No. 10 to Flag Officer Foote, proposing capitulation for the surrender of the Island. Flag Officer Foote replied that he would accept no other terms than an unconditional surrender. At one o’clock this morning the enemy surrendered unconditionally to Com. Foote. Several transports, and it is supposed one or two gunboats, the celebrated floating battery, cannon, ammunition and stores have thus fallen into our hands. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the Flag Officer and the gallant officers under his command for this brilliant achievement in capturing the Gibraltar of the Mississippi river, without the loss of a single life. We have no information at this time as to details, but it is supposed that most of the rebel troops on the Tennessee shore have effected their escape. It is supposed they commenced leaving soon after the Carondolet [sic] succeeded in turning their batteries, as that destroyed all hope of their maintaining their position. Fleet Captain Hannock, who has achieved wonders in fitting out and repairing gunboats and transports, and furnishing supplies to the fleet, has reason to believe that our mortars did terrible execution among the rebels. It is reported that Gen. Pope had 18,000 troops across the river from New Madrid last night ready to march and bag the enemy, but is believed that he was too late.

Boats commenced running to New Madrid to day. The river has fallen four feet within the last two days, greatly facilitating the operations of Gen. Pope opposite New Madrid.

Hon. Jesse Dubois is here in route for the upper Tennessee.

Hon. Emerson Etheridge has telegraphed to three hundred citizens of Bourbon county, Tennessee, driven out by the rebel troops, to come down and return with him. They will probably leave to-morrow.

Reliable reports from Jeff. Thompson a week ago place him in the swamps, some eighty miles from here, with a few hundred marauders. Several men who have heretofore been in his army from the vicinity of Charleston, eight miles from in, in Missouri, have petitioned Gen. Strong for privilege to take the oath and return to their allegiance. The General authorized the County Clerk, a good Union man, to take and administer the oath.

Dr. Simpson, of the Medical Department leaves this evening for the Tennessee with two large hospital boats most completely fitted out under direction of J. E. Yeatman, Esq., of the St. Louis Sanitary Commission. They contain 800 beds for the wounded. The hospitals here have accommodations for 1,400.

Dispatches from New Madrid have been received.

The Gunboats Carondelet and Pittsburg, yesterday morning shelled and silenced the batteries on the opposite shore when Gen. Pope ordered the troops across. It was effected without loss.

The rebels fled towards Lisbon sinking several of their transports, among others the Grampus.

The floating battery of the rebels, mounting ten guns, drifted down last night, and is aground near Point Pleasant. It will be recovered with its armament.

The Belle West covered Gen. Paine in the advance on the batteries.

Gen. Pope at once took the Pittsburg and Carondelet, and with a part of his army, turned to and attacked the enemy this morning, and took 2,000 prisoners, mostly from the Arkansas and Louisiana. He will probably get as many more before night.

The rebels fled to the swamps in great sonsternation.

The Victory is complete and decisive. Great Quantities of stores, cannon and ammunition have fallen into our hands. All their baggage and supplies are taken.

Gen. McCall, of the rebel adjutant Generals department, is a prisoner.

The country between New Madrid and island No. 10, on the east side of the river, is being secured by our troops. Many prisoners will doubtless be taken there.

Gen. Bissell, with his transports is ordered down to Tipton by Gen. Pope, which is twelve miles below New Madrid, to bring cannon and other property up to New Madrid.

Division of our army are pursuing the fleeing rebels in all direction. Their entire force at and about Island No. 10, is either taken prisoners or utterly routed and demoralized.

Hon. Emerson Etheridge has just arrived from Paducah. To him the news of our success is especially gratifying. His residence is thirty-five miles south east of Hickman. Gen. Strong will send an escort with him to his home to insure his safety. Thousand of his former friends will greet his arrival with glorious welcome.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Thursday, April 10, 1862

Report of Com. Foote

Washington, April 9. – The following was received at the Navy Department, this morning:

Flag Ship Benton, Island No. 10,
April 8, 1862.

To the Hon. G. Wells Sec’y 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 General Buford. – Seventeen officers and 368 privates, besides one hundred of their sick and one hundred mem 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 earth works, with 70 heavy cannon, varying in calibre from 30 to 100 pounders, rifled. Their magazines are well supplied with powder, and there are large quantities of shot and 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, turned adrift by the rebels is said to be lying on the Missouri Shore, near New Madrid.

The enemy upon the main land appear to have fled with great precipitation, after night, leaving in many instance, half prepared messes, in their quarters, and there seems to have been no concert of action between the rebels upon the Island and those occupying the 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 the natural advantages would have been impregnable if defended by men fighting in a better cause.

A combined attack of the naval and land forces would have taken place this p.m., or tomorrow morning, had not the rebels so hastily abandoned their stronghold to mature the plans of attack, which absolutely required 28 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 part of the works opposite, dismounting eight heavy guns.

The following is a copy of an 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. Le me tell you who I am. I am a General made by Beauregard and Bragg for this command when they knew it was in peril. They have known me for twenty years. We have stood together on the fields of Mexico. Give me then, your confidence. Soldiers, the Mississippi Valley is entrusted to your care. Exhibit the vigilance and coolness of last night and hold it.

{signed.}
W. D. McCall
Brig. Gen Commanding

I regret that the painful condition of my feet still requiring the use of crutches, prevented me from making a personal examination of the works. I was therefore compelled to delegate Lieutenant Commanding Phelps of the Flag Ship Benton.

{signed.}
A. H. Foote
Flag officer Commanding

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Thursday, April 10, 1862