The brave defenders of the Mississippi Valley
--The army correspondent of the Savannah
Republican, alluding to the defence of
Island No.10, on the
Mississippi, says:
‘
Rucker's battery is situated on the shore of the main land, somewhat in advance of the island batteries.
The enemy have made every effort to destroy it, having brought as many as eight gun boats and six mortar boats to play upon it for nine successive days and nights.
The battery mounts only — guns, but they are rifled guns; and the men have to stand in the water up to their knees all the time they are working them — sometimes from six to twelve hours before they are relieved.
The ammunition is carried through the water by hand.
The Mississippi is within one foot of high-water mark, and the banks and adjacent bottoms are overflowed in many places for miles.
’
Are not the brave fellows who thus stand up to their work in water and ice, and sleet and rain, worthy of a warm place in the hearts of their countrymen?
For nine long and weary days and nights have they opposed their manly breasts to the advance of the invader.
Through storm and sunshine, wet and cold, they have stood in the midst of the
Father of Waters, sentinels upon the watch-lower, suffering and laboring, and beating back the thronging thousands who came to subjugate us. All honor to the brave defenders of the
Valley of the Mississippi — They have not wavered for an instant; neither have they yielded to darkness and tempest, nor to bursting shells and crushing cannon balls, but thus far have successfully and gloriously guarded the entrance to this, our paradise.
There is a place in the heart of every loyal man and woman in all our suffering land for such gallant spirits.
Many of the enemy's shells explode after striking the water — sometimes ten feet under water.
They use what is known as the at guenon safety fuse.
Many of their shots fall short; while others, weighing 126 pounds, and some even as much as 180 pounds, cut in two large trees.
