The Carondelet Brushing Around

OTHER GUNBOATS RUN THE REBEL BLOCKADE.

Gen. Pope’s Division Cross the River.

SPEEDY TERMINATION OF THE SIEGE.

_____

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, April 7, 1862 – 10 P. M.

We have glorious news to-night from New Madrid.  Last night the gunboat Pittsburgh ran the blockade in safety under a terrible fire from the rebel batteries.  Four steam transports and five barges were also got through the slough from Phillip’s Landing above Island No. 10, by Col. Bissell’s corps of engineers.

This morning, under fire of the gunboats, silencing one of the rebel batteries, a company of men under Capts. Lewis and Marshal crossed the river and spiked a battery.  Another force took three other batteries, spiked the guns and threw the rebel ammunition into the river.

At eleven o’clock, in the face of a fire from other batteries, Gen. Paine with four regiments and a battery of artillery, crossed the Mississippi to the Kentucky shore.  Subsequently the division of Gen. Stanley and Gen. Hamilton crossed, and also Gen. Granger with his cavalry.  They are strongly posted and ready for any emergency.

The spectacle of so large a body of troops crossing in the teeth of the enemy’s batteries was truly magnificent.  The praises of Gen. Pope are upon every tongue.

It is believe here that forty-eight hours will decide the fate of Island No. 10.

It is hardly credible, but reports thus far agree that not a single casualty occurred during the whole of the magnificent affair.

FROM NEW MADRID DIRECT.

NEW MADRID, April 7.

There was heavy cannonading this morning in the direction of Point Pleasant, commencing at about 9 o’clock and continuing with scarcely any intermission until this hour (4 p. m.)  At noon, as the roar of the cannon was heard, I repaired to New Madrid and discovered the Carondelet steaming down the river, belching forth shot and shell at a line of rebel batteries on the Kentucky shore, opposite the lower fort.  The fire was vigorously returned from their batteries, most of which fell short and did no damage.  The Carondelet was aided by our battery established on the Missouri shore, between the lower fort and Point Pleasant, some of whose shot did splendid execution.

It is said that the guns on Wattrous Point, the most northerly battery, are silenced and destroyed.  Whether true or not, we have no means of determining.  We only know that after a shell from our guns struck their entrenchments, there was an immense cloud of dust raised, and the rebels were seen running about in wild confusion, and the guns afterwards maintained a mysterious and obstinate silence.

At this moment, standing on the river bank below the upper fort, I can see the Carondelet steaming below the point at a distance from here apparently of 10 miles.  She must be approaching Riddle’s Point.

Besides the rebel batteries above mentioned, there are two heavy guns opposite Point Pleasant, and the same number opposite Riddle’s Point, below the latter.

A man who has just returned from that point, informs me that the rebels have collected some fifteen gunboats, prepared to dispute the passage of the Carondelet.  One of this is just visible in the distance, slowly poking her horns around the point, evidently intending to engage the Carondelet.

An express has just ridden post haste for Gen. Pope’s headquarters with some message of importance, the purport of which is not yet known, but probably relating to the passage of the Carondelet.

The smoke from the chimneys of the rebel transports is plainly discernable from any point of observation.

Things are working in this region, and you may be prepared to hear of stirring movements at any moment.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 9, 1862, p. 1

From The Second Iowa Cavalry

Camp Near New Madrid, Mo.,
Saturday, April 12, 2 P.M.

ED. GAZETTE. – We shall be off before you receive this – I hope in Memphis. General Pope’s army here is divided into six divisions – first under command of Gen. Paine; 2nd Gen. Stanley; 3rd, Gen. Hamilton; 4th, Gen. Palmer; 5th Gen. Plummer; 6th, Gen Granger. Col. Elliott is in command of the 2nd Brigade of the 6th Division, composed of the 2d Iowa Cavalry, 2d Michigan Cavalry, and two squadrons of the 1st Ill. Cavalry; Lt. Col. Is in command of the regiment.

The second Battalion of the 2d Cavalry is now leaving for the boats. The river is lined with transports; all are to be aboard to-night, and the fleet moves down the river early in the morning. It will be a grand army afloat; and our landing place, MEMPHIS.

Look out for more news from the West. – While the stereotyped phrase, ‘all quiet,’ ‘safe in our trenches,’ is echoed from the ‘Grand Army of the Potomac,’ the watchword in the West is ‘forward,’ and with each ‘forward’ a ‘victory.’

All is haste, and I close to write you from Memphis. In haste,

DIFF.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 16, 1862, p. 1

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

Latest from Murfreesboro – More Particulars – Our loss 9,500 killed and wounded and 5,000 prisoners.

NEW YORK, Jan.6. – The Times has the following dispatch from Nashville on the 5th, from persons arriving from the battlefield. I learn that on Saturday night, during the storm the rebels attacked our men in their rifle pits along the whole line.

There was heavy fighting in the centre. – We drove the enemy across Stone River. The 77th Pennsylvania first carried the point. On Sunday morning Stanley’s brigade entered Murfreesboro. The town is injured by shells.

General Sill’s body was at the Court House – The Rebels buried their own dead, and our officers. There has been great loss of Confederate life. We lose about 9,500 killed and wounded, and about 5,000 prisoners. The enemy retreated to Tulahoma. Our forces are terribly shattered. Out of 136 Colonels engaged we lost 19 killed.

– Published in the Zanesville Daily Courier, Zanesville, Ohio, Tuesday, January 6, 1863

Terrific Battle at Murfreesboro – Rebel Gens. Cheatham and Rains Killed

NEAR MURFREESBORO, Dec. 31 – Our whole line suffered terribly this morning, four regiments of regulars lost half of their men and all their commanding officers. Gen Anderson’s troops suffered terribly. Majors Rosengarten and Ward are killed. Gen. Stanley, Rosseau and Palmer are wounded.

Two o’clock P.M. – Gen. Thomas has just broken the rebel centre and driven the enemy a mile. We are advancing our whole line. Gen. Rosencrans [sic] is personally superintending the movement. One shot killed two of his staff officers. The [15th] Wisconsin lost seven Captains. Gen. Negle’s artillery is still moving the rebels in the centre. Gen. Crittenden – left wing – has taken the entrenchments at Murfreesboro. The rebels Gens. Cheatham and Rains are killed.

NASHVILLE, Jan. 2 – The Federals encountered the rebels on the 30th ult. near Stuart’s Creek, and after heavy skirmishing the rebels were driven back.

We captured 100 prisoners, and killed and wounded a large number of rebels.

Our loss was 70 killed and wounded.

At daybreak on the 31st the fight was renewed with great fury. McCook’s corps was opposed to Hardee. After desperate fighting with heavy loss McCook retreated two miles. He soon rallied, and was again driven back.

At night he was four miles this side of the ground occupied in the morning. The fight continued until 10 o’clock p.m. at which time we had maintained our position.

The Federal loss is very Heavy.

Killed – Brig. Gen. Sill, Lieut. Col. Garesche, Chief of Gen. Rosecrans’ Staff; Brig. Gen. Willeck, of Indiana; Col. Kell of the 2nd Ohio; Col. Straffer, Acting Brigadier General, Col. Farmer of the 15th Kentucky; Col. Jones of the 24th Ohio; Lieut. Col. Cotton of the 6th Kentucky; Lieut. Col. Jones, of the [39th Indiana]; Major Carpenter, of the 19th Regulars; Major Rosengarten of Philadelphia.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2. – The Secretary of War to-day received the following:

Cleveland, O. Jan. 2.

The following has just been received by telegraph from Cincinnati, dated Murfreesboro, Jan. 1:

A terrible battle was fought yesterday. – The latest from the field is up to noon. The rebel center had been broken, and things looked favorable. The losses are reported to be enormous. Stanley, Rosseau and Palmer are wounded, and the rebels Cheatham and Rains are killed.

– Published in the Zanesville Daily Courier, Zanesville, Ohio, Saturday Evening, January 3, 1862

Letter From J. C. Bonar

Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 5th 1864

Dear Parents:

Through the mercy of God I am again [permitted] to pen you a few lines for your [perusal].

Hood’s forces, estimated at seventy-five thousand, are fortifying within three miles of this place; we’ve been shelling them a little to day. We have excellent works; in front of our breast works we have stakes driven in the ground between which we have piles hedge making such an obstruction that it will be useless for the rebs to attempt a charge. We have 3 corps here. The 4th A. C. commanded by General Stanly and the 16th by General Smith, and the 23d by General Schofield. General Thomas commanding the whole of about 50,000 men. The 14th, 15th, 17th and 20th A. C.’s are with Sherman. I am now on detached duty, would a [illegible] rather be with the boys, but that is impossible. We expect an attack every hour. The cannon are beginning to boom. Write when convenient. More anon.

Yours &c.

J. C. Bonar

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Friday, December 16, 1864