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
