treat of
Gen. Beauregard from Co the point on the
Mississippi river as
Island No.10, shows the penetrable of the accomplished engineer.-- was a second
Fort Donelson, as position was concerned.
It commune with
Tennessee by a railroad liable to pted by the enemy, and a retreat
Mississippi on steamboats was hazard the enemy could closely pursue our perhaps even attack them from the more, below
Columbus.
No. 10 the
Mississippi makes a and runs nearly due north, about , to New Madrid, where it again runs nearly due south to Obion it continues its general southern It thus forms a peninsulas, on between
Tennessee and
Kentucky, so while the distance by land from
Nantucket Island No.10 to the nearest the river about Ortonville is less miles, the distance by water is . To pass this distance the enemy to silence the fortifications both No. 10 and New Madrid.
This pen been regarded by very intelligent the real key of the
lower Mississippi the fortifications on and near it suced in September last; those at were begun somewhat later.
have gunboats at New Madrid, it almost impossible for the
Lincoln take and hold that place, or the of the
Mississippi below it, gunboats should succeed in pass No. 10.
As long as we hold that the
Tennessee bank of the river,
Mississippi furnishes a rapid and secure supply and retreat for the army at the island, and our gun as the control of both those .
country about New Madrid is known are quake region, from the terrible felt there in 1811.
About six of New Madrid lies an impassable which extends southward to the the
St. Francis with the
Mississippi Memphis, leaving a narrow strip between it and the
Mississippi.
distance east of the peninsula tioned lies Realfoot lake and river, channel of the
Mississippi, and sepa it by swampy ground, thus pre trong barrier to a land attack on at
Island No.10.
With an army in
West Tennessee kept active , to check a land attack, the pas
Lincoln gunboats below the pe be a difficult undertaking; if , the formidable works at Fort sent the next obstacle to their pre the
Mississippi.
Naturally the region of
Missouri and
Tennessee Madrid presents many obstacles ading force; under the guidance of those obstacles will be improved and genius, to the utmost extent.
