ISLAND

NUMBER

CHAPTER XIV.

APRIL, 1862.

TEN-CHANNEL CUT ROUND IT-TRANSPORTS PASS THROUGH-ATTACK ON UNION CITY-SPIKING OF A BATTERY-GUNBOATS RUN THE BATTERIES-POPE CROSSES THE MISSISSIPPI AND CAPTURES THE ENEMY-SURRENDER OF ISLAND NUMBER TEN-BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING, FIRST DAY-SURPRISE OF SHERMAN'S AND PRENTISS' DIVISIONS-GUNBOATS TAKE PART IN THE BATTLE-SECOND DAY'S BATTLE-DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES-SANITARY COMMISSION.

IN the beginning of April, 1862, the public interest was centered on the Army of the Potomac. Some anticipated movements, about to be made, were withdrawn, and certain stirring news from the West, again made the great Father of Waters the centre of attraction. The bombardment of Island Number Ten, on the Mississippi, was a tedious process which wearied the people, and the possession of the place seemed as remote as ever. To send transports to Pope below would facilitate the work, and a plan was laid for this purpose.

A lake extended inland through a swamp from the river where the fleet lay, and communicated with a stream which fell into the Mississippi below Island Number Ten, and not far from New Madrid. If Commodore Foote should be able to send some light transports through this lake, he could protect them from the batteries by means of gunboats. Pope undertook to perform this task, and when taking his position at New Madrid, sent Colonel Bissell, of the engineers, to see if batteries could be erected on shore. opposite the enemy's works. The undertaking was reported by Bissell as impossible, but that he could cut a way through the lake for transports. Pope gave him permission to obtain all that he needed, and he at once sent to Cairo for four steamboats, six flats, and as many guns as Icould be obtained. He was to undertake the herculean task of opening a channel, twelve miles long, through timber, crooked bayous, brush, and stunted trees. Some of the trees, six feet in girth, had to be sawed off four feet below

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the water. Twenty men, with machines on rafts and flats, cut down the trees. and large gangs of men ahead of them cleared away the drift wood and fallen timber. Then came two barges and a steamer, the last hauling out the heavy logs by means of lines. The fleet came last, and the flat boats carried batteries, as the enemy might find out what was going on, and attack them with sharpshooters from the swamp. With incredible labor, this great feat of engineering skill was performed, and the Federal commander who originated it received much praise.

While this great undertaking was being carried out, two brilliant exploits diversified the dullness of the flotilla above the island. Colonel Buford, with one thousand men, drove the rebels from Union City by a surprise in the night, which caused them to leave behind all their camp equipage. The enemy had been very troublesome to the Union men of Hickman. Another exploit, was a night attack by boats upou the upper battery on the island. The officers were weary of the slow prospect of taking the enemy's works, and the men, also, were wearied by two weeks' idleness. An expedition of fifty men, with five boats, was therefore prepared, under Colonel Roberts, for the purpose of getting at the upper battery unperceived and spiking the guns. On the night of the 2d of April, the little force left the shore, dropped down the river, and getting opposite the battery, landed, formed in line, and with bayonets fixed, started for it, at the distance of two hundred yards. They had to wade through two feet of water which had overflowed, but except the splashing made by their feet in the water, all was still. The storm which had threatened, now burst forth, and they reached to the ditch in front of the works. They now saw a flash in front, the crack of a gun was heard, followed by another, and while they pursued the affrighted sentry who fired it, another crack was immediately heard. The flash of lightning which lit up the darkness was followed by loud roars of thunder. The enemy knew that some design was on foot, and, if any thing could be done, it must be done promptly. The colonel spiked five guns, and a splendid ten inch Columbiad; thus, in ten minutes, achieving what the cannonading of the fleet in a fortnight failed to perform.

Movements of greater importance were now about to

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take place, one or two gunboats were required to protect the transports which now arrived at New Madrid, in carrying troops to the other side. Consequently, two days after the exploit of Colonel Roberts, the Carondelet was prepared to run the risk of passing the batteries. Chains was coiled round the pilot house, the guns were run in and the ports closed. The crew was well armed, and twenty sharpshooters were also aboard. On the side next the batteries, was a boat loaded with hay, which was balanced by a barge freighted with coal on the other side. At ten o'clock on the night of the 4th, the Carondelet started on its hazardous voyage. The night being very dark, and the rain falling in torrents, accompanied with thunder, perfectly concealed the movements of the vessel, though, at intervals, lightning shot athwart the sky, and the mighty Mississippi resounded with the echoes of conflicting elements. The Carondelet steered her course for the batteries wrapped in the thunderstorm. With breathless awe, those left behind listened for the first gun which should announce her discovery to the enemy. The soot of the chimneys, at this critical moment, caught fire, and the flames, though soon subsiding, by opening the flue caps, incurred the risk of revealing her purpose. All expected the signal of discovery to be raised, which would give the warning to each battery, but as none appeared, the hope sprang up that the blinding storm had concealed the approach. Just as the vessel was abreast of upper fort, the chimneys again caught fire and blazed in the face of the enemy. Signal rockets rose. The roll of drums, and the explosion of a cannon shook the shores. The Carondelet swept on in silence; the soundings were taken amid the whistling balls, which threatened the destruction of the vessel, even should she be able in the darkness to keep the channel. She was near shoal water, when the flash from the guns revealed the danger of grounding, and she swung back into the channel, keeping near the enemy's guns, so that they could not be depressed sufficiently to reach her. She got out of range at last, the concerted signals told those above the island that she was safe, and at New Madrid it was known that friends were coming. There was loud exultation in the fleet above, and the army below. The soldiers at New Madrid, overjoyed to see the sailors arrive in safety, after their perilous voyage, carried

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them in their arms to the hotel. On Sunday night the Pittsburg also passed uninjured by the batteries. Thus the doom of Island Number Ten was sealed. The batteries on the Kentucky shore were soon silenced by the gunboats, and Pope's army crossed. The rebel army scattered in the woods, and five thousand were at last captured. The rebel commander on the island, General William D. McCall, then capitulated with a few hundred men. A hundred heavy guns, several field batteries, small arms in abundance, tents, wagons, horses, and provisions, were the fruit of the victory. Great joy was diffused throughout the North. The great Mississippi was now open as far as Forts Wright and Pillow, sixty miles above Memphis, and Foote prepared to attack these also.

Meanwhile, a great battle was in progress at Pittsburg Landing on the banks of the Tennessee. Thus, on the same Sunday night on which the Pittsburg ran the enemy's batteries, the two armies lay on the field where they had fought desperately the entire day; and when our troops were crossing to victory on the Kentucky shore, our army was strug gling to recover the field which it had lost the preceding day. The battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, lasted two days. It commenced on the 6th of April.

It has been already related that Johnston, after retreating south, through Tennessee, proceeded toward Memphis, and subsequently massed his army at Corinth, in Mississippi, near the Tennessee line, ninety-three miles from Memphis.

General Ulysses S. Grant had moved up the Tennessee river, and placed his army on the west bank, at Pittsburg Landing, where he awaited Buell's corps from Nashville. The design was to combine their forces, and advance on the rebel camp at Corinth. Johnston moved his entire army on the 4th of April, intending to assault Grant on Saturday, but bad roads detained him until Sunday morning. There is a road from Pittsburg Landing to Corinth, distant twenty miles. This road, two miles from the Tennessee, river, divides, and while one fork continues right on in its course, the other runs to lower Corinth. From Hamburg Landing, some miles up the river, a road crosses that before mentioned. Two roads branch off on the right, in the direction of Purdy. It was on these several roads, and between thein, at a distance of from two to five miles from

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Pittsburg Landing, that the Federal army lay encamped. The divisions furthest advanced were those of Prentiss, Sherman, and McClernand. Hurlbut's and Smith's divisions lay between them and the river. Smith being sick, his division was commanded by W. H. L. Wallace. Sherman's brigade held the right, Prentiss the centre, and Colonel Stuart the left. The extreme left was deemed sufficiently protected by precipices and a ravine.

On the rebel side, General A. S. Johnston commanded, and had especial charge of the centre; Generals Braxton Bragg and T. P. G. Beauregard commanded the two wings; and Hardee, Polk, and Breckinridge held subordinate positions. Their plan was to make an attack on the Federal centre, and then on each of the wings, front and flank. The rebel troops numbered seventy thousand men.

The enemy attacked the Federals as some were at breakfast, and others lying around. It was a complete surprise. The pickets had been driven in suddenly, and the enemy's artillery cast shot and shell among the regiments. So unexpected was the assault, that officers were bayoneted before they rose from their beds. There was a general panic before any line of battle could be formed. The attack on Buckland's brigade of Sherman's division, was made so suddenly that the officers had not time to dress. The men, snatching up their muskets as best they could, ran to the other portion of the division in the utmost disorder. Sherman made herculean efforts to get the division in position to abide the coming shock. McClernand, meanwhile, was trying to fill up the gap caused by Buckland's disordered flight, and was gallantly stemming the tide of battle, amid the rolling smoke, the crash of muskets, and the roar of artillery. Sherman saw that he could not resist the fearful odds which were hurled against him, and issued the order to fall back.

Meanwhile, the division of Prentiss was in a more deplorable plight. It is true that there was time to form in line of battle, but, being drawn up in an open field, they were exposed to a murderous fire, poured on them by the enemy from the edge of the woods, and were mowed down with great slaughter. They stood their ground with cool courage, and their volleys were rapid and steady. But Grant was not on the field, and there was little concert of action, as each commander could only take care of his own divi