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Doc. 93.-the capture of New-Madrid, Mo.


General Pope's official report.

headquarters District of the Mississippi, New-Madrid, March 14, 1862.
General: I have the honor to submit, for the information of the General commanding the Department, the following report of the operations which resulted in the capture of this place.

I arrived before this town with the forces under my command on Monday, the third instant. I found the place occupied by five regiments of infantry and several companies of artillery. One bastioned earthwork, mounting fourteen heavy guns, about half a mile below the town, and another irregular work at the upper end of the town, mounting seven pieces of heavy artillery, together with lines of intrenchments between them, constituted the defensive works. Six gun-boats, carrying from four to eight heavy guns each, were anchored along the shore, between the upper and lower redoubts.

The country is perfectly level for miles around the place, and as the river was so high that the guns of the gunboats looked directly over the banks, the approaches to the town for seven miles were commanded by direct and cross-fire from at least sixty guns of heavy calibre.

It would not have been difficult to carry the entrenchments, but it would have been attended with heavy loss, and we should not have been able to hold the place half an hour, exposed to the destructive fire of the gunboats. As there seemed no immediate hope of the appearance of our own gunboats, it became necessary to bring down a few heavy guns by land to operate against those of the enemy. They were accordingly sent for, and, meantime, forced reconnoissances were pushed over the whole ground, and into several parts of the town. Some brisk skirmishes resulted, in which the enemy invariably retreated precipitately. It was found impossible to induce them to trust any considerable force of their infantry outside of their intrenchments. As soon as I found that it would be necessary to await the arrival of our heavy guns, I determined to occupy some point on the river below, and establish our small guns, if possible, in such a position as to blockade the river, so far as transports were concerned, and to cut off supplies and reenforcements for the enemy from below.

Point Pleasant, twelve miles below, was selected, as being in a rich agricultural region, and being the terminus of the plank-road from the interior of Arkansas. I accordingly threw forward Col. Plummer, Eleventh Missouri, to that point, with three regiments of infantry, three companies of cavalry, and a field-battery of ten-pound Parrott and rifled guns, with orders to make a lodgment on the river-bank, to line the bank with rifle-pits for a thousand men, and to establish his artillery in sunk batteries of single pieces between the rifle-pits. This arrangement was made to present as small a mark as possible to the shells of the gunboats, and to render futile the use of round-shot from their heavy guns. Col. Plummer marched with all speed, and after some cannonading from gunboats which he found there, succeeded in making a lodgment, constructing his batteries and rifle-pits, and occupying them in sufficient force to maintain them against any open assault.

After persistent and repeated cannonading from the gunboats, the enemy found it impossible to dislodge him, and he maintained obstinately his position, and the blockade of the river to transports, during the whole of our operations. Meantime the enemy continued every day to reenforce New-Madrid from Island No.10, until, on the twelfth, they had nine thousand infantry, besides a considerable force of artillery, and nine gun-boats. The fleet was commanded by Commodore Hollins, the land-forces by Generals McCown, Stewart, and Gantt. On the eleventh the siege-guns were delivered to Colonel Bissell's engineer regiment, who had been sent to Cairo for the purpose. They were at once shipped to Sikeston, reached here at sunset on the twelfth, were placed in battery during the same night, within eight hundred yards of the enemy's main work, so as to command that and the river above it, and opened fire at daylight, on the thirteenth, just thirty-four hours after they were received at Cairo. One brigade, consisting of the Tenth and Sixteenth Illinois, under Col. Morgan, of the Tenth, was detailed to cover the construction of the battery, and to work in the trenches. They were supported by Stanley's division, consisting of the Twenty — seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio, under Col. Groesbeck, and the Forty-third and Sixty-third Ohio, under Col. Smith. Capt. Mower, First United States infantry, with companies A and H of his regiment, was placed in charge of the siege-guns.

The enemy's pickets and grand guards were driven in by Col. Morgan, from the ground selected for the battery, without firing a shot, although the enemy fired several volleys of musketry. The work was prosecuted in silence, and with the utmost rapidity, until at three o'clock A. M., two small redoubts, connected by a curtain, and mounting the four heavy guns which had been sent me, were completed, together with rifle-pits in front and on the flanks for two regiments of infantry. Our batteries opened as soon as the day [298] dawned, and were replied to in front and on the flanks by the whole of the enemy's heavy artillery on land and water. As our supply of ammunition for heavy artillery was very limited, I directed Capt. Mower to fire only occasionally at the enemy's land-batteries, and to concentrate all his fire upon the gunboats. Our guns were served by Capt. Mower with vigor and skill, and in a few hours disabled several of the gunboats, and dismounted three of the heavy guns in the enemy's main work. Shortly after our batteries opened one of the twenty-four pound guns was struck in the muzzle by a round-shot from the enemy's batteries and disabled.

The cannonading was continued furiously all day by the gunboats and land — batteries of the enemy, but without producing any impression upon us. Meantime, during the whole day, our trenches were being extended and advanced, as it was my purpose to push forward our heavy batteries in the course of the night to the bank of the river. Whilst the cannonading was thus going on on our right, I instructed Gen. Paine to make demonstrations against intrenchments on our left, and supported his movements by Palmer's division. The enemy's pickets and grand guards were driven into his intrenchments, and the skirmishers forced their way close to the main ditch.

A furious thunder-storm began to rage about eleven o'clock that night, and continued almost without interruption until morning. Just before daylight, Gen. Stanley was relieved in his trenches, with his division, by Gen. Hamilton. A few minutes after daylight, a flag of truce approached our batteries, with information that the enemy had evacuated his works. Small parties were at once advanced by Gen. Hamilton to ascertain whether such was the fact, and Capt. Mower, First United States infantry, with companies A and H of that regiment, was sent forward to plant the United States flag over the abandoned works.

A brief examination of them showed how hasty and precipitate had been the flight of the enemy. Their dead were found unburied, their suppers untouched, standing on the tables, candles burning in the tents, and every other evidence of a disgraceful panic. Private baggage of officers and knapsacks of men were left behind. Neither provisions nor ammunition were carried off. Some attempt was made to carry ammunition, as boxes without number were found on the bank of the river where the steamers had been landed.

It is almost impossible to give any exact account of the immense quantities of property and supplies left in our hands. All their artillery, field-batteries and siege-guns, amounting to thirty-three pieces, magazines full of fixed ammunition of the best character, several thousand stand of inferior small-arms, with hundreds of boxes of musket-cartridges, tents for an army of ten thousand men, horses, mules, wagons, intrenching tools, etc., are among the spoils. Nothing except the men escaped, and they with only what they wore. They landed on the opposite side of the river, and are scattered in the wide bottoms. I immediately advanced Hamilton's division into the place, and had the guns of the enemy turned upon the river which they completely command.

The flight of the enemy was so hasty that they abandoned their pickets, and gave no intimation to the forces at Island No.10. The consequence is, that one gunboat and ten large steamers which were there, are cut off from below, and must either be destroyed or fall into our hands. Island No.10 must necessarily be evacuated, as it can neither be reenforced nor supplied from below.

During the operations here the whole of the forces were at different times brought under the fire of the enemy, and behaved themselves with great gallantry and coolness. It seems proper, however, that I should make special mention of those more directly concerned in the final operations against the place.

The Tenth and Sixteenth Illinois, commanded respectively by Cols. Morgan and J. R. Smith, were detailed as guards to the proposed trenches and to aid in constructing them. They marched from camp at sunset on the twelfth, and drove in the pickets and grand guards of the enemy, as they were ordered, at shouldered arms and without returning a shot; covered the front of the intrenching parties, and occupied the trenches and rifle-pits during the whole day and night of the thirteenth, under furious and incessant cannonading from sixty pieces of heavy artillery. At the earnest request of their colonels, their regimental flags were kept flying over our trenches, though they offered a conspicuous mark to the enemy. The coolness, courage and cheerfulness of these troops, exposed for two nights and a day to the furious fire of the enemy at short range, and to the severe storm which raged during the whole night of the thirteenth, are beyond all praise, and delighted and astonished every officer who witnessed it. The division of Gen. Stanley, consisting of the Twenty-seventh, Thirty-ninth, Forty-third and Sixty-third Ohio regiments, supported the battery from two o'clock A. M., on the thirteenth, to daylight on the fourteenth, exposed to the full fury of the cannonade, without being able to return a shot, and the severe storm of that night, and displayed coolness, courage and fortitude worthy of all praise. In fact, the conduct of all the troops of this command so far exceeded my expectations, that I was astonished and delighted, and feel very safe in predicting for them a brilliant career in arms.

To General Stanley, who commanded in the trenches on the thirteenth, and to Gen. Hamilton, who relieved him on the morning of the fourteenth, I am specially indebted, not only for their efficient aid on the last days of the operations here, but for their uniform zeal and cooperation during the whole of the operations near this place.

Brig.-General Plummer, commanding at Point Pleasant, is entitled to special commendation for the bold and skilful manner in which he effected a lodgment at that place, under fire of the enemy's gunboats, and for the determined persistence [299] with which he maintained himself and the blockade of the river for days, under a heavy fire of the enemy.

Capt. Mower, first United States infantry, who, with two companies of his regiment, (A and H,) had charge of the batteries and served the guns, I desire to present to your special notice. A more gallant and efficient officer is not to be found with this command, and his eminent services during the reduction of this place, entitle him to special notice. Col. J. W. Bissell, engineer regiment, rendered me most valuable service, both before and during the bombardment of the place. He conducted the erection of the heavy batteries, and remained in them until the enemy evacuated the place. Major Lothrop, Chief of Artillery, has distinguished himself throughout the operations.

My personal staff, Major Butler, Assistant Adjutant-General, Major C. A. Morgan, and Capt. L. H. Marshall, Aids-de-Camp, and Major Corse, Inspector-General, were prompt and efficient in conveying my orders under fire of the enemy.

I transmit, enclosed, the reports of division and brigade commanders immediately concerned in the final operations, as also of Capt. Mower, commanding in the batteries, and of Major Lothrop, Chief of Artillery. Col. J. W. Bissell, Engineers, has been too incessantly occupied to make a written report, but desires to mention the following officers of this regiment who displayed unusual gallantry:

Lieut.-Col. Adams, Captains Dean, Hill, and Tweeddale, and Lieuts. Odenbaugh, Randolph, and Besier.

Our whole loss during the operation was fifty-one killed and wounded. A detailed list will be transmitted as soon as it can be made. The enemy's loss cannot be ascertained. A number of his dead were left unburied, and over a hundred new graves attested that he must have suffered severely.

I am, General, respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

John Pope, Brigadier-General Commanding. Brig.-Gen. G. W. Cullum, Chief of Staff and of Engineers, Department of the Mississippi, St. Louis.


Correspondence between General Pope and rebel officers.

headquarters District of the Mississippi, New-Madrid, March 17, 1862.
Captain: I transmit the enclosed correspondence between Major-General McCown, commanding confederate forces, and myself, for the information of the General commanding the department.

Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

John Pope, Brigadier-General Commanding. Capt. A. H. Mclean, Assistant Adjutant-General Department of the Mississippi.

headquarters Madrid Bend, March 17, 1862.
General: I have many sick. Humanity demands that they should be placed where they can receive treatment away from the conflict of arms. Dr. Yandall, Medical Director, is commissioned to propose measures for their relief.

Your obedient servant,

J. P. Mccown, Major-General Commanding Confederate Forces.

headquarters New-Madrid; March 17, 1862.
Brigadier-General Schuyler Hamilton, U. S. A.:
You will please repair to the upper redoubt and ascertain from Dr. Yandall, who brought me the enclosed letter, what measures he proposes in regard to the sick, and obtain from him such other information as will enable me to act understandingly.

Respectfully, General, your obedient servant,

John Pope, Brigadier-General Commanding.

New-Madrid, March 17, 1862.
At my request General McCown allowed me to take the present step for the purpose of removing some of our sick from Madrid Bend. I wish only to remove those who are too sick to bear transportation by wagon, and also, if it be allowed, to remove the women and children from Madrid Bend. No army stores or private property will be carried on the boat, save provisions for the persons on board. Madrid Bend is the same port as Island No.10.


headquarters United States forces, New-Madrid, March 17, 1862.
sir: Your note of this date, sent through Dr. Yandall, is before me. It is proposed to me that the sick of your command be permitted to pass down on the river to some place of safety.

This seems to me a singular request under the circumstances. After a successful reduction of this place for the simple purpose of blockading the river, I am asked to suspend the blockade in order that you may disembarrass yourself of the sick and disabled of your command during an attack which you must have anticipated long enough to remove them in advance.

I do riot feel justified in acceding to your request, as I do not propose to suspend the blockade under any circumstances, until the operations above me are concluded.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

John Pope, Brigadier-General Commanding. Major-General J. P. McCown, Commanding C. S.A., etc.


Col. J. Kirby Smith's report.

headquarters Second brigade, First division, army of the Mississippi, camp near New-Madrid, Mo., March 15, 1862.
General: In compliance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Second brigade of your division, under my command, in the action of the day before yesterday, (thirteenth instant.)

The brigade reached a point in front of the enemy's lower fort, and within supporting distance of our siege-batteries, a little after daylight, and was then placed in position, the Forty-third Ohio in the read leading west from the town, and the Sixty-third in the lane by which we marched to the position. [300]

Soon after the opening of the fire from the enemy, in response to one of our batteries, the brigade was moved forward a short distance, and placed under a low bank which ran at that point nearly parallel to the road, and forty or fifty yards in advance of it, and a company was deployed as skirmishers in front of the right. The ground between the road and the bank was wooded; in front and rear it was open.

The men were here sheltered from a direct fire from the lower fort, but exposed to an enfilading fire from gunboats, and apparently from some light pieces placed in or near the edge of the town. This fire of rifle-shells of large calibre, and twelve-pound spherical shot and shell, was exceedingly well aimed and heavy, and may, I think, be considered a fair test of the coolness and courage of the men composing the brigade. They received it in their exposed position with entire composure.

The Forty-third having lost some men, and the fire increasing in severity, I withdrew the regiment to the road before mentioned, on the edge of the wood, about forty yards in rear of the bank, but the movement was evidently seen by the enemy, and their fire was directed with a good deal of precision upon the new position. I then placed this regiment in the corn-field on the left of the lane, about one hundred yards in rear of the Sixty-third, and caused the men to lie down. Their position here not being visible to the enemy, they were exposed only to the direct fire from the fort at our batteries. The position of the Sixty-third seemed to be concealed from the enemy, as the enfilading fire from our left did them no damage, but the direct fire, which was at times very heavy, passed close over their heads during the entire day. The position of the brigade was not changed until it was relieved by a portion of General Hamilton's division on the morning of the fourteenth.

Early in the night of the thirteenth, three companies of the Forty-third, under Major Herrick, of that regiment, were moved to the right and front and deployed as skirmishers, the left resting near the right of the batteries, and the right reserved and a line of sentinels was then thrown in advance of them. Three companies, except a small reserve, occupied a strip of forest in front of the right of position.

About daylight, the brigade having been relieved, in accordance with your instructions, I withdrew it to camp.

I take great pleasure in saying that the officers and men who composed my command, without exception, merit high praise for their coolness under fire, but especially for their cheerfulness and soldier-like endurance of the fatigue of remaining thirty hours under arms, a large part of the time exposed to fire, and for some hours of the night of the thirteenth inst., to a drenching rain. It would be unjust to omit mention of the fact that companies A, D, G, F, and C, of the Forty-third Ohio, composing the right wing of that regiment, under command of Major W. F. Herrick, Forty-third Ohio volunteers, were at work in the trenches during a great part of the night before the attack, and that no word or sign of complaint or discontent was heard or seen from any officer or soldier of these companies during the thirty-six hours of unremitted exposure and exertion.



Col. John Groesbeck's report.

headquarters First brigade, First division, District of the Mississippi. New-Madrid, Mo., March 15, 1862.
Captain: I have the honor to report to the General commanding the First division the part taken in the late action before New-Madrid by the brigade under my command, consisting of the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth regiments Ohio infantry, under Col. Fuller and Lieut.-Col. Gilbert, respectively.

On the afternoon of the twelfth inst. I detailed companies A and F, Twenty-seventh, and I and H, Thirty-ninth Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Col. Kennett, Twenty-seventh Ohio, to drive in the pickets of the enemy, hold an advanced position, and cover the parties detailed to plant our heavy artillery. He drove in the pickets and took the position assigned him within eight hundred yards of the enemy's gunboats and principal fort.

At three o'clock on the morning of the thirteenth, I moved forward with my brigade, and took position on the right of our artillery. The enemy's skirmishers immediately commenced firing upon us, but without doing any injury. A few minutes afterward our artillery opened the engagement, and my brigade was ordered to fall back some two hundred yards, which it did, in good order, under a heavy fire of shot and shell.

While lying there, five companies of the Twenty-seventh Ohio were detached, to take a position several hundred yards to the left, upon a road leading past the lower fort, to guard against any flank movement.

I then moved the brigade a hundred yards to the left, and took position within easy supporting distance of the artillery, where the sloping bank of a bayou afforded considerable protection to the men. We remained thus placed during the day.

The firing ceased about sunset. Having thrown out a company of pickets in front of the extreme left, we remained in our position till daylight, when my brigade was relieved.

I take pleasure in mentioning the good conduct of my command. It behaved with great coolness, although exposed the whole day to a heavy fire. Considering the closeness and rapidity of the firing, the casualties were remarkably few, consisting of one killed and three badly wounded in the Twenty-seventh, and one very slightly wounded in the Thirty-ninth regiment.

I am, Captain, very respectfully your obedient servant,

John Groesbeck, Colonel Commanding. Captain George D. Kellogg, A. A. General First Division, District of the Mississippi.


[301]

Cincinnati Commercial account.

New-Madrid, Mo., March 14, 1862.
I did not intend to write you again until success crowned our efforts. To-day I can say our victory is complete and overwhelming. Ten days ago we arrived here, and opened up a little entertainment for the chivalry, strongly intrenched at New-Madrid. We had nothing but a few batteries of light artillery, while they played on us with from five to six gunboats, and eight thirty-two pounders upon the walls of two forts. Gen. Pope at once saw his position, and sent back to Cairo for four siege-guns--twenty-four-pounders. He kept, in the mean time, constantly harassing the enemy, without exposing his own men, awaiting the arrival of his guns. He likewise, during the darkness of one night, had rifle-pits dug, and a battery of Parrott guns planted upon the river-bank at Point Pleasant, seven miles below New-Madrid.

Gen. Plummer was placed in command. The first introduction to the chivalry were a few twelve-pounders and a shower of musket-balls, well aimed, at a couple of fine transports well laden with luxuries and comforts for New-Madrid and Island No.10. They suddenly wheeled about and left for Dixie. Such an insult must be wiped off the bank of the confederate river, and forthwith a gunboat was despatched to shell Plummer out of his holes. But the gunboat came a little too near and forthwith port-holes and pilot-house received hundreds of musket-balls from the sharp-shooters; and it speedily moved to the opposite side of the river, in easy shelling distance, and for seven days from one to three gunboats have done their best to dislodge the gallant Plummer, and without success.

The honor of this patent method of whipping gunboats should be given to Gen. Pope, as but few officers had any idea it would succeed. This little timely thought has prevented the enemy carrying troops or munitions of war on transports, either up or down the river, and left us all the rich supplies we to-day found at New-Madrid. But of the fight and the flight.

On Wednesday, March twelfth, our four guns arrived. We drove in their pickets at sundown, and a thousand spades were noiselessly making trenches and preparing hasty protections for the guns. They were in position before daylight, and as the fog lifted from the marshes and the river, four shells were gently thrown over into the upper fort, much to the astonishment and indignation of the gentlemen from Dixie. In a few moments nine gunboats were in position, some of them throwing sixty-four pound shells, and eighteen thirty-two pounders upon the two forts now doing their best to send us all, as the boys say, “to the happy land of Canaan.”

The Tenth and Sixteenth Illinois were placed in the trenches as sharpshooters, and the Thirty-ninth, Twenty-seventh, Sixty-third, and Forty-third Ohio regiments were placed on the flanks and in the rear to support the battery. The First Regular U. S. infantry, under Capt. Mower, manned the guns. Fortunately they had been well drilled as artillerists, and behaved admirably. Col. Bissell's engineer regiment were most valuable aids. While I have no desire to puff any regiment, I must say the Thirty-ninth and Twenty-seventh Ohio regiments deserve great credit for their coolness and bravery. On Wednesday evening, two companies of the Twenty-seventh and two of the Thirty-seventh, all under Lieut.-Col. Kennett, were ordered to drive in the pickets of the enemy without firing a gun, if possible, so that the engineers could lay out the earthworks and prepare for the guns. They came upon the rebel pickets and drove them in without firing a gun.

The rebel pickets, as they retreated, fired volley upon volley, but did not wound a man. These four companies took position, and remained upon the field until this morning, making thirty-six hours. The balance of these regiments took position at four o'clock on Thursday morning and remained at their posts until this morning. They were just in range of the guns from the fort and battery, so they flew at the guns they supported, and for twelve hours the shot and shell flew about and over them like hail. The two regiments were protected by a low bluff of a slough; besides, with pocket-knives and bayonets they scooped out the dirt, so that as small an amount of Ohio humanity as possible should be exposed. It is perfectly safe to say that one hundred shot and shell struck within from four to six feet of the Thirty-ninth without killing a single man. I heard men, this morning, proverbially profane say: “Well, it's no use talking, but God was with the Ohio boys yesterday.”

The casualties that occurred I append below. Three of the Twenty-seventh had their legs shot off with the same ball. Col. Fuller saw the ball he thought almost spent, and remarked it might break some poor fellow's leg; yet it broke through the fence, knocked off three legs, and continued on its way. One thirty-two pound ball struck the ground, bounded and struck the knapsack of a soldier of the Thirty-ninth as he lay flat upon the ground, knocked the breath out of him, and leaped on its onward journey. The fellow recovered himself soon enough to see his vanishing visitor. Another ball struck a bayonet, bending it double, as it hung by the side of a soldier, and distributed his day's rations in his haversack to the company generally, much to his dissatisfaction.

A gun in the hands of a member of the Twenty-seventh was struck and bent at right angles. Shells frequently buried so near that, exploding, would cover with dirt twenty men. Gens. Pope and Stanley rode down and witnessed for a time the firing, and they remarked that it was a miracle that so few were killed or wounded. One round-shot from the enemy struck one of our large guns on the muzzle and knocked a piece out of it six inches long, unfitting it for further service, at the same time killing two men and wounding two or three more. The boys, toward evening, got tired of lying flat; and if the firing ceased for a moment, every fellow would jump up and yell so as to be heard a mile. [302]

The day was delightful, the warm spring air, the first-fruits of mother earth in sweet spring flowers opening their buds amid the green grassblades. But as night approached the sun sank in the red horizon, and before midnight there came on a most terrific thunder-storm. The lightning blinded you by its brightness, and left you bewildered, while the thunder put to blush the puny columbiads that had all day jarred upon our ears. Amid this storm our men stood to their posts, and moved still nearer to their enemies. Amid the same storm, while Jupiter hurled his thunderbolts with such fury, the evacuation of fort and barracks took place; for lo! as daylight appeared, not an enemy was seen upon the works. Our flag was soon floating at both forts, and as I write the sound comes to me from a band, with “Hail Columbia” and “Yankee Doodle,” while the boys catch the song, and loud, prolonged cheering is taken up camp by camp.

Gen. Pope and staff rode over the ground this morning, and were astonished at the great strength of the works and the splendid prize of guns and ammunition left behind. Eighteen thirty-two pound guns were upon the walls spiked — so hastily was it done that Yankee ingenuity in a few hours removed sixteen of the spikes, and turned their grinning mouths to look for gunboats from Island No.10. There was a large stock of ammunition of every kind, sabres, guns, clothing, cooking-utensils, suppers on the table not eaten, whole baskets of champagne and claret unopened — wagons, three hundred horses and mules, and tents to accommodate six thousand men — left standing.

One side of the fort was filled in by sacks of shelled corn — enough to make mush for all Ireland for one year. Many fine pieces of light artillery were tumbled over the banks.

Derricks have been rigged, and we will raise most of them to-morrow. We got a large number of flags which belonged to the various regiments. But in the great haste in which I am compelled to write you this, I cannot enter into detail ; suffice it to say, it is a rich haul. They have suffered to the tune of five hundred thousand dollars, at a very low estimate. Beside, by their own hands the town, a very pretty one, has been laid in waste. Whenever a building interfered with their guns, it was forthwith burned. The shrubbery and forest-trees were cut for a like reason.

Two men were found asleep in the fort this morning, not knowing their friends had, during the night, left for Dixie. They, you may judge, were a couple of astonished individuals. A canoeload likewise came up to the wharf and landed, tied up their boat, and were dumbfounded that of all the gay chivalry they left the evening before, not a knight remained. The dwellings were all vacated — negroes and all, save and except the dogs. The last-named bristled up and barked, and snorted at you from under ruin of porch and from kennel where so lately they had been petted and fed. What ruin and desolation these men are bringing on their loveliest and most fertile spots. This is one of the wealthiest counties in the State.

The houses in the suburbs are, many of them, elegant, and splendidly fitted up. Their parlors, with fine pianos and rosewood and mahogany furniture, all left. The fireside around which so many fond recollections cluster, desolate. All these luxuries and comforts, and the multiplied blessings that have crowned their lives, were accumulated and enjoyed under the old flag; but they wished simply to wipe out some of the stars and a few of the bars, and possibly they have got wiped out instead. Well, they shot at me several times, and I am not much in a mood to pity them. Well, it is a great victory, and shows as much generalship as in any battle yet fought. Gen. Pope could have taken the fort the first day of his arrival; but he told his officers, “It would be at a sacrifice of one thousand of my men,” but, says he, “I will take it and lose but few. My conscience will not permit me to sacrifice uselessly the lives of the men entrusted to me.”

He sent messengers to Cairo for larger guns, and in thirty-four hours after they were loaded at Cairo, they were playing upon the forts at New-Madrid, behind safe breastworks, which the enemy never dreamed were built under their very noses. To a rash general, desirous of glory, this was a strong inducement to go in and win the laurels. The General's reply to some of the anxious officers, “Gentlemen, you shall have the fort; but my conscience will not permit me to uselessly sacrifice the lives of my men,” gives an insight into what I call true generalship, and really requires more bravery to carry it out than the man who, for fear of public opinion, or desirous to make a name, rushes headlong at the first sight of his adversary. But what puzzled many was, how four guns of twenty-four pounds could take two forts, with eighteen thirty-two pounders, and five or six gunboats in the bargain. But it has been done.

An order has just been issued that Gen. Stanley's division, consisting of the four Ohio regiments mentioned, together with the First Regular infantry and Bissell's engineers, “in view of the distinguished part” they took in gaining the recent victory, be allowed to march through the fortifications and over the field of battle to-morrow morning. Our boys will accept it as a mark of distinction and favor, as many of them have not yet had a near view of the implements that for ten days have ministered almost as much to their amusement as discomfort.

I have not spoken of regimental officers nor of division and brigade commanders. I can say Ohio need be ashamed of none of them. Of the men, I have spoken not half complimentary enough. They have proved soldiers in the truest and best acceptation of the term.

I will now give you as perfect a list as I can of the killed and wounded — my list of the wounded is full. The killed did not come under my observation, and will not be reported by name until to-morrow morning: [303]

Peter Nord, Co. F, Twenty-seventh Ohio, shot in both hands by a shell; died in six hours.

Jos. Adams, Co. H, Twenty-seventh Ohio, amputation above the knee; is quite comfortable to-day.

John Clark, Co. H, Twenty-seventh Ohio, amputation above the knee; doing well.

Jos. Estell, Co. H, Twenty-seventh Ohio, amputation above the knee.

W. J. Breed, Co. I, Forty-third Ohio, fracture of the leg; doing well.

Isaac A. Davis, Co. E, Forty-third Ohio, fracture of the leg; doing well.

John Friend, Co. E, Forty-third Ohio, amputation below the knee; quite restless, shock great; will, I think, recover.

Jos. Pearce, Co. E, Forty-third Ohio, amputation above the knee; very restless to-day; will recover, I think.

----Clark, Co. A, First Regular infantry, bad flesh-wounds in face, shoulder, and arm.

Corporal Rosey, Co. A, First Regular U. S. infantry, compound comminuted fracture of clavicle and scapula; serious.

Wm. Peacock, Co. A, First Regular U. S. infantry, four flesh-wounds; serious.

John Johnson, Co. A, First Regular U. S. infantry, penetrating wound of abdomen; will likely die.

----McGown, brought into the hospital dying; lived six hours after losing a teacupful of brains.

Wm. John, Co. A, First Regular U. S. infantry.

All the regulars were at the guns, and injured by the one shot, as mentioned, striking the gun.

A private of the Eleventh Ohio battery was killed by a round-shot, name lost. Three other deaths reported, but not from Ohio regiments, and names not remembered. Many others received slight wounds, not requiring treatment. The Lieut.-Col. of the Forty-third Ohio had his horse killed by a round-shot, a moment after dismounting.

We found on entering the fort that we had done them far more damage than they had us. We had knocked over three of their heaviest guns and one small one, shot through the boiler of one of their boats, and played smash with them generally. Of their number of killed we do not know correctly, and I will not guess. There were many fresh graves; we found two unburied, and a grave begun and spades and picks left, it unfinished.

And so ends the battle of New-Madrid. We control the river, and no guns or stores leave Island No.10 for Dixie. Tell Com. Foote to send them along this way. There are large supplies at No. Ten. Neither men nor supplies will reach Dixie until the war closes.

A large transport hove in sight this morning from Island No.10, but, seeing the Stars and Stripes and the guns ready to work, wisely turned about, and landed above and on the opposite side, and I suppose her troops are skedaddling through the Kentucky woods for better society.

Com. Hollins commanded the rebel gunboats. Gens. Stuart and McGown commanded the land forces. Gen. Stuart was a class-mate and roommate of Gen. Pope at West-Point, and was so impolite as to leave this morning without saying good-by.

O. W. N.


Cincinnati Gazette account.

New-Madrid, Mo., March 15.
On the anniversary of the birthday of George Washington, the army of the Mississippi, under command of Major-Gen. John Pope, left St. Louis to commence its momentous journey down the river. The force was a small one, compared with the vast aggregation of men composing the armies on the Potomac and of Kentucky, but it included some of the best troops in the Federal service, men originally of fine physical and moral constitution, and disciplined by a long course of arduous and trying service. They were well appointed and equipped in all points, and were led by officers of experience and tried merit.

The army landed at Commerce, on the twenty-fourth day of February, and on the twenty-eighth took up their line of march toward New-Madrid, where the rebels were reported to be fortified in considerable force. Up to this time no incident of importance had occurred.

On the second day after leaving Commerce, however, the advance guard reached Hunter's farm, a place of some notoriety in connection with rebel operations in this section, and learned that the notorious Jeff. Thompson had just left there, having been for several days in the neigh-borhood with a force of cavalry for the purpose of watching, and if possible, obstructing the movements of our forces. On learning the approach of our troops he had, as usual, fled, and although immediate chase was given, he could not be found.

On the following morning, however, two companies of the Seventh Illinois cavalry, under Capt. Webster, suddenly came upon Jeff., who was attempting to make a stand against Capt. Noleman's independent company of cavalry, which had previously been upon his track. The rebel force consisted of about two hundred mounted men, with three pieces of artillery. These were very advantageously posted at the extremity of a long causeway, where the road led through a dense swamp. After several ineffectual attempts on the part of our men to outflank the rebels, which were uniformly defeated by their changing position, Capt. Webster determined, although the rebel force somewhat exceeded his own, to charge upon them; and placing himself at the head of his own and Capt. Noleman's commands, led them in a dashing charge toward the foe. As he neared them, however, the heart of Jeff. failed him, and wildly delivering one scattering volley, which went far over the heads of our men, he and his command turned tail and fled. Our cavalry closely pursued them, and there ensued a scene which has scarcely been equalled since the days of Chevy Chase. The rebels dashed on at the utmost [304] speed of their horses through the mud, occasionally turning to discharge their shot-guns at their pursuers, who replied with carbines and revolvers. Every now and then squads or scattering individuals of the rebels would break into the woods on either hand, hiding behind trees to fire at our men as they passed, until barely one fourth the original force of the enemy were left together. The road was strewn with guns, blankets, hats, and coats, lost or thrown away by the rebels in their frantic flight. Among them was the famous hat of Jeff. Thompson himself, with its white plume, almost as well known in this region as was that of Henry of Navarre to his followers. His three pieces of artillery also were all run down and captured. Thus for nearly twenty miles the flight and pursuit swept on until they approached New-Madrid, and the remnant of the flying foe sought the shelter of its friendly guns. Beside the artillery and small arms, our men captured six prisoners, two of whom were officers, and killed and wounded several of the enemy, besides most effectually dispersing them. It was reported afterward by prisoners taken in the fort at the time of its capture, that Jeff. entered the town at a tearing gallop, his horse almost exhausted by the race, and immediately applied to Col. Gautt, commanding the post, for two regiments of infantry and a field-battery, to go out and give battle to the audacious Federals. On being refused, some high words ensued between him and Col. Gautt, when Jeff., in high dudgeon, called his men together and left the fort, nor has he been seen in the neighborhood since.

On the following day the main column arrived in the vicinity of New-Madrid, and not knowing exactly the position of the enemy, three regiments, with a battery of light artillery, pushed on toward the river to reconnoitre. On emerging from the woods into an open field, they were met by a volley of shells from the gunboats lying in the river, which, however, passed over their heads without doing any harm. The column immediately fell back out of range, and encamped. On the next day they took positions surrounding the town and the rebel fortifications.

Nothing of remarkable note took place for several days after the arrival of our troops at their respective positions. Several skirmishes occurred between pickets and reconnoitring parties on either side, but without serious loss to either. Gradually, however, our lines were advancing nearer, until every available spot not actually swept by the enemy's cannon, was occupied.

Several persistent attempts were made by our field-batteries to drive away the enemy's gunboats, but without effect. Fearing that the rebels might receive reenforcements from below, Gen. Pope despatched a force under Colonel (now Brigadier-General) J. B. Plummer, to plant a battery at Point Pleasant, some ten miles below, for the purpose of stopping reenforcements or supplies coming to the enemy from that direction, and also of cutting off their retreat by that route.

On Monday, the tenth, Gen. Pope, finding that our gunboats were not likely soon to arrive to his aid, and that the field-batteries which he had with him were unable to cope successfully with the heavy artillery of the enemy, despatched Col. Bissell, of the Engineer regiment, to Cairo, for some heavier guns, preferring, as he himself expressed it, to spend a little more time in reducing the place by siege than to sacrifice the lives of the men under his command, in an attempt to carry it by assault. Col. Bissell procured three thirty-two pound siege-guns and an eight-inch mortar. These were taken across the river to Bird's Point, thence by railroad to Sykestown, and then overland to their place of destination. Immediately on their arrival there, a force was sent out to drive in the enemy's pickets, and under cover of the darkness two parapets, eighteen feet in thickness and five feet high, were thrown up three hundred yards apart, with a curtain twelve feet thick connecting them, and flanked on each side by a breastwork and rifle-pits one hundred yards long. The platforms of hewn timber which had been previously fitted were laid down, the guns placed in position, and ere daylight they were in readiness to commence their work. It is an instructive illustration of what the efforts of one energetic man can accomplish, that in thirty-five hours from the time when the guns were loaded upon the cars at Bird's Point, they opened upon the enemy.

During this time they had been carried twenty miles by railroad, unloaded from the cars and placed upon carriages, drawn twenty miles more over a rough road, through mud in some places almost impassable for teams, the enemy's pickets had been driven in, these extensive earthworks thrown up, the gun-platforms placed and the guns put in position within twelve hundred yards of the enemy's entrenchments, and all so quietly that the enemy had no idea of what was going on; and when at daylight some of their pickets opened fire upon what they evidently supposed to be a simple breastwork for sheltering our infantry, they were answered by the boom of a thirty-two pounder, which sent them scurrying back to the fort in the wildest alarm.

No sooner did the enemy discover the presence of these new batteries, than, evidently fearing their effect, they opened upon them from the gunboats and the fort. Our gunners replied briskly, directing their fire chiefly at the boats. The air seemed filled with smoke and fragments of bursting shells. Some of our field-pieces were also brought into requisition, and for a time probably not less than sixty guns were being worked to their fullest capacity. After a time, the fire on our side was slackened to allow the guns to cool, and for a while the rebels seemed equally willing to allow a cessation of hostilities; but ere long it was renewed with all its original fury, and thus it continued, with occasional intervals, during the entire day. The gunboats would run down the river until they were hidden by trees from the sight of our gunners, and there re-loading, would steam back to a good position, and hurl their broadsides in quick succession at our batteries. [305] These replied most gallantly, and in spite of inferiority of numbers, managed to return almost gun for gun with their heavier armed adversaries. Our guns were handled by companies A and H of the First United States regular infantry, under command of Capt. Mower. The firing on both sides was generally accurate. Early in the day one of our guns was struck fairly in the muzzle by a shot from the enemy, breaking off a large piece from the side and killing and wounding no less than eight men, and during the day their shells and shot fell all around our guns, and ploughed up the parapet and the ground around in every direction; but, fortunately, this shot was the only one which took effect within the batteries. Another shot, however, passed through the line of the Twenty-seventh Ohio regiment, as they were marching in column behind the batteries, and took off the legs of three men. I saw the poor fellows at the hospital. They were all young, fine-looking men, of the best class of our volunteers, and my heart ached for them.

Our cross-fire was apparently not less effective. Several of our shots were distinctly seen to strike the gunboats, and it is probable that one or two of them were seriously injured. Early in the day one of the boats, shortly after receiving one of our shots, hauled off and was not seen afterward. Later in the day, immediately following a volley from our guns, a cloud of white steam was observed to burst from another of the boats, completely hiding her from view, and when next seen she was apparently floating with the current and soon disappeared behind the trees. In the lower fort, also, as we afterward found, three of their guns had been struck by our shot, and two of them disabled.

During the afternoon of Thursday, an attempt was made by the enemy to flank our batteries. Two or three regiments were sent out from the upper fort with directions to pass around to the right, and if possible get behind and capture our batteries. In the course of their route in the woods they came suddenly upon one of our fieldbatteries, which was posted there, supported by an Indiana regiment, and which opened upon them so fiercely with grape and canister that they retired in confusion to their works, nor did they attempt another sortie during the engagement.

All day Thursday there had been indications of an approaching storm, and shortly before midnight it burst upon us with frightful fury. I think I never saw lightning more fierce or thunder more sharp and apparently near. The whole sky was one sheet of lurid flame, across which sharp tongues and spires of yet more vivid brightness dashed and darted in every direction, while the earth fairly trembled with repeated crashes of thunder, and the rain seemed to fall in solid masses of water. During all this terrible commotion of the elements, the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio, and the Tenth and Sixteenth Illinois regiments, were on duty guarding the batteries and rifle-pits. Notwithstanding that they had been under arms since three o'clock of the previous morning, and had lain all day in the trenches, exposed to the terrible fire of the enemy, enduring a strain upon the nervous system unappreciable by one who has never been under fire, not a man of them flinched. Like statues they stood there — each wrapped in his blanket, motionless as marble, and chiefly solicitous to keep their muskets and ammunition dry.

As they stood there, muffled in their dark blankets, from which the rain was dripping, alternately revealed and hidden as the vivid flashes came and went, they scarcely seemed creatures of flesh and blood, and the mind involuntarily went back to some of those old stories in the Arabian Nights, in which whole armies are suddenly turned to stone by the power of enchantment, and a vague feeling of wonderment came over us, whether after all these stories might not be true and the phenomenon actually before us. And I doubt not that if any, even the bravest rebel in the enemy's entrenchments, had looked forth and beheld them standing there so firm and immovable, he might have felt a wholesome dread of meeting on the battle-field men who for an entire day had so patiently endured the storm of their iron hail, and at night could as coolly face the conflict of heaven's artillery.

We little thought then that while our men were thus patiently enduring the storm, to guard themselves from a surprise, our frightened foes were hurrying on board their vessels, to flee away and leave the labor of months and thousands of dollars of property behind them. This discovery came later.

About daylight, most of the troops who had been under arms during the night, were relieved and marched back into camp for breakfast. We were fairly in the midst of the enjoyment of that meal, the men were grouped about their campfires, eating, drinking, laughing and joking after the fatigues of the night, when we were startled by a series of uproarious cheers in the direction of the fort. We listened. The cheers were repeated. What could it mean? Presently a rumor began to circulate that the enemy had evacuated their works during the night, leaving everything behind them. Could it be possible? Yes, for the next moment there comes a messenger confirming the fact. In a very few minutes your correspondent is mounted, thanks to the kindness of Major Noyes, of the Thirty-ninth, and in company with the Major and some other friends, is on his way to view the works of our late adversaries.

I have hitherto in my letter spoken of the fort, as if there were but one, for until after the evacuation, I, in common with most others, had supposed that to be the case. There are, however, two, or perhaps, more properly speaking the upper one might be called an intrenched camp, protected by a ditch and breastwork, and mounting four heavy guns. This is situated just in the edge of the village, at its upper side, and on the bank of the river. It encloses perhaps two acres of ground, and is nearly filled with tents, which had evidently been abandoned in [306] the greatest haste. The place more resembles a den of thieves than an encampment of a civilized army. It is strewn with the wrecks of all sorts of household and domestic property, evidently the plunder of the stores and houses in the village. Carpets, parlor and cooking-stoves, mirrors, tables, chairs, crockery, and glassware, were mingled in promiscuous confusion with old muskets, broken shot-guns, dilapidated wearing-apparel, hats and caps, rusty knives and swords, worn-out harness, leaky canteens, and odds and ends of every description. The village had evidently been totally abandoned by its original inhabitants, and completely gutted by the rebel soldiery, who, when they abandoned their camp, had thrown everything in confusion in endeavoring to select the most portable articles to carry with them. They had also thrown a large quantity of articles of every kind into the river, including a number of wagons and several pieces of cannon. They had raised such a mound of these things that the top of it projected above the water, and no doubt most of the more valuable articles, including the cannon, will be recovered when the river falls.

The lower fort is a much more complete work than the upper one. It is a square earth-work, with flanking-bastions on each corner, and is capable of holding a thousand men. It mounted twelve guns, as follows:

Five twenty-four-pound siege-guns, four thirty-two-pound columbiads, one eighteen-pound fieldpiece, one long eighteen pound siege-gun, one brass rifled six-pound field-piece.

In addition to these there was, at least, one field-battery, which the rebels took away with them. These guns were all spiked by the rebels before they left, but so imperfectly that in less than three hours after our troops entered the lower fort, the mechanics of Col. Bissell's regiment had extracted the spikes from nearly all, cleaned them and loaded them for action. The places of two or three, which could not immediately be made fit for service, were supplied by our own guns, and in twelve hours from the time the rebels quitted the fort — having rendered it, as they supposed, useless for a time at least — it was again in perfect order, and garrisoned by a detachment of Federal troops. It is supposed that the most of the rebel steamers passed up the river to Island Number10, with their loads on, and Gen. Pope proposes to give them a warm reception, should they attempt again to pass down the river.

The fort, like all their river-fortifications, is situated at a bend in the river, and commands the channel for a distance of several miles in either direction.

Below the lower fort, on the river-bank, is a camp capable of accommodating several thousand men. It is well built, with cabins and tents of good quality, and very comfortably furnished, but presents no remarkable features. Like the other, it was evidently vacated in great haste, as everything in the tents is left standing, just as the owners last used it. Near the camp is a wagon-yard and a corral containing probably two hundred mules and horses. Very few wagons, however, were found. These had either been removed some time previously or were thrown into the river by the rebels when they left.

I had intended to give you some idea of the present appearance of the town itself as left by the secession soldiery, and also some incidents of the siege and bombardment, but my letter has already reached an unconscionable length, and my time is exhausted, so I must reserve them for a future letter. I append the list of killed and wounded so far as I have been able to obtain them. The list is correct so far as it goes, and I believe it is about full.


killed.--Capt. Carr, Tenth Illinois; privates Lewis Nine, company B, Thirty-ninth Ohio; Peter Ward, company F, Twenty-seventh Ohio; Wm. Peacock, company A, First United States infantry; John Johnson, company A, First United States infantry; Wm. McGann, company A, First United States infantry; Timothy Nelligan, company A, First United States infantry.

wounded.--Corporal Chas. Laney, company A, First United States infantry; privates Michael Clark, company A, First United States infantry; Wm. Jahr, company A. First United States infantry; Wm. Van Horn, company G, Thirty-ninth Ohio; Joseph Adams, company H, Twenty-seventh Ohio; John Clark, company H, Twenty-seventh Ohio; Joseph Estell, company H, Twenty-seventh Ohio; W. J. Breed, company I, Forty-third Ohio; Isaac A. Davis, company E, Forty-third Ohio; John Friend, company E, Forty-third Ohio; James Pierce, company E, Forty-third Ohio.

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