to New Madrid, but the road had not been repaired for years, was in very bad condition, and in many places entirely impassable. The weather was cold and wet, a drizzling snow and rain was falling upon us, and adding to our almost insuperable difficulties from the time we marched from Commerce until we reached New Madrid. I can only account for the fact that the enemy attempted no opposition to our march by their belief that the country at that season of overflow was entirely impracticable.

I landed at Commerce on the night of the 21st of February, 1862, with the small escort I have mentioned. Regiments were sent me rapidly from St Louis, from Cincinnati, and from Cairo, most of them entirely raw, having had their arms first placed in their hands when they embarked on the steamer to join me. Few of them had ever served at all, and as they had never served together or been even brigaded, I was forced to make a complete organization of them at Commerce. In this difficult task I was so ably assisted by Generals Schuyler, Hamilton, Stanley, Palmer, and Granger, that within one week of the day I landed, almost alone, at Commerce, we began our march to New Madrid. This organization was the nucleus of the corps afterwards designated the army of the Mississippi, widely known and greatly distinguished in the west for its discipline, its gallantry, and its effectiveness, and for the soldierly and cordial good feeling which characterized both officers and men. It is not only proper, but it is my duty to say here, that during my whole experience in this war, I have never seen troops which would compare with this little army. Of the mobility and esprit-de-corps, of the courage in battle, and patience and fortitude under exposure, labor, and privation, and of the cordial harmony which existed among the officers and men, from the highest to the lowest, the services and the reputation of this little army from the beginning to the end of the war, whether acting together or separated and serving in other organizations are sufficient evidence. I cannot at this day think of them, and recall my association with them, as their commander, without emotions which could not be expressed in such a paper as this. As long as I live I shall never cease to remember them, nor fail to acknowledge the deep and lasting gratitude I owe them for the cordial support they gave me while I served with them, and for their earnest sympathy and unfaltering confidence during the most trying and darkest period of my life. I esteem it the highest honor to have belonged to this little army, and regard every officer and soldier connected with it as a personal friend, from whom neither time nor circumstances can ever estrange me. After incredible labor and exposure, wading through the swamps and in many places dragging wagons and artillery by hand, we appeared before New Madrid on the 3d of March, and at once drove in the pickets and outposts of the enemy and closely invested the place. I append hereto my official report of the operations against New Madrid, the reports of division and brigade commanders, and my official correspondence with General Halleck by letter and telegraph. I also attach hereto a return of the force engaged, which exhibits in detail its entire organization and every regiment of which it was composed.

For report of division and brigade commanders, see appendix.

REPORT OF OPERATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAPTURE OF NEW

MADRID.

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 the town with the forces under my command on Monday the 3d instant. I found the place occupied by five regiments of infantry and several companies of artillery. One bastioned earthwork, mounting fourteen heavy guns, about a 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 gunboats, 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 several 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 intrenchments, 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 percipitately. It was found impossible to induce them to trust any considerable force of their infantry outside of their intrenchments. As soon as I found 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 position as to blockade the river, so far as transports were concerned, and to cut off supplies and re-enforcements 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 Colonel Plummer, eleventh Missouri, to that point, with three regiments of infantry, three companies of cavalry, and a field battery of 10-pounder Parrott and rifled guns, with orders to make a lodgement on the river bank, to line the banks with riflepits for a thousand men, and to establish his artillery in sunk batteries of single pieces between the rifle-pits. The 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. Colonel Plummer marched with all speed, and after some cannonading from gunboats which he found there, he succeeded in making a lodgement, constructing his batteries and rifle-pits, and occupying them in sufficient force to maintain them against any open assault. After repeated and persistent 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 re-enforce New Madrid from Island No. 10 until, on the 12th, they had nine thousand infantry, besides a considerable force of artillery, and nine gunboats. The fleet was commanded by Commodore Hollins, the land forces by Generals McCown, Stewart, and Gantt.

On the 11th the siege guns were delivered to Colonel Bissell, engineer regiment, who had been sent to Cairo for the purpose. They were at once shipped to Sikeston, reached here at sunset on the 12th, 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 13th, just thirty-four hours after they were received at Cairo. One brigade, consisting of the tenth and sixteenth Illinois, under Colonel 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 Colonel Groesbeck, and the forty-third and sixtythird Ohio, under Colonel Smith. Captain 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 Colonel 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 3 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 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 Captain 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 Captain 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 24-pounder 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. While the cannonade was thus going on on our right, I instructed General Paine to make a demonstration against the intrenchments on our left, and supported his movement 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 11 o'clock that night, and continued almost without intermission, until morning. Just before daylight, General Stanley was relieved in the trenches with his division by General 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 General Hamilton to ascertain whether such were the fact, and Captain 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 disclosed 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 with

out 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 superior small-arms, with hundred of boxes of musket cartridges, tents for an army of ten thousand men, horses, mules, wagons, intrenching tools, &c., are among the spoils. Nothing except the men escaped, and they only with 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 re-enforced 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 Colonels 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 12th, 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 13th under furious and incessant cannonading from sixty pieces of heavy artillery. At the urgent 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 13th, are beyond all praise, and delighted and astonished every officer who witnessed it. The division of General Stanley, consisting of the twenty-seventh, thirty-ninth, forty-third, and sixty-third Ohio regiments, supported the battery from 2 o'clock a. m. on the 13th to daylight on the 14th, 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 13th, and to General Hamilton, who relieved him on the morning of the 14th, I am specially indebted, not only for their efficient aid on the last days of the operations here, but for their uniform zeal and co-operation during the whole of the operations near this place. Brigadier General Plummer, commanding at Point Pleasant, is entitled to special commendation for the bold and skilful manner in which he effected a lodgement at that place, under fire of the enemy's gunboats, and for the determined persistence with which he maintained himself and the blockade of the river for days under heavy fire of the enemy. Captain 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. Colonel 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 Captain L. H. Marshal, aides-de-camp, and Major Corse, inspector general, were prompt and efficient in conveying my orders under the fire of the

enemy.

I transmit, enclosed, the reports of division and brigade commanders, immedi ately concerned in the final operations, as also of Captain Mower, commanding in the batteries, and of Major Lothrop, chief of artillery. Colonel J. W. Bissell, engineers, has been too incessantly occupied to make a written report, but desires to mention the following officers of his regiment, who displayed unusual gallantry: Lieutenant Colonel Adams, Captains Dean, Hill, and Tweeddale, and Lieutenants Odenbaugh, Randolph, and Besier. Our whole loss during the operations 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 more than a hundred new graves attested that he must have suffered severely.

I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brig. General G. W. CULLUM,

JNO. POPE,

Brigadier General Commanding.

Chief of Staff and of Engineers, Dep't of the Mississippi.

As I have already stated New Madrid was the weak point of the system of defence on and around Island No. 10, and if New Madrid could be captured, we would gain a point on the Mississippi river, below the island, which would at once intercept communications and cut off re-enforcements and supplies sent by water. Neither troops nor supplies could reach its garrison in any other manner. New Madrid in our possession, furnished us a base of operations against the island, which made its capture a simple matter of time. Immediately upon the occupation of New Madrid, I began operations for the reduction of Island No. 10. I append hereto my official report and correspondence, as also the reports of division and brigade commanders, which give as full and complete a history of the operations against Island No. 10 as is necessary to a thorough understanding of the subject.

REPORT OF OPERATIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAPTURE OF ISLAND NO. 10.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSippi,

Camp five miles from Corinth, Miss., May 2, 1862. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations. which resulted in the capture of Island No. 10, and the batteries on the main shore, together with the whole of the land forces of the enemy in that vicinity. A brief sketch of the topography of the immediate neighborhood seems essential to a full understanding of the operations of the army.

Island No. 10 lies at the bottom of a great bend of the Mississippi, immediately north of it being a long narrow promontory on the 'Missouri shore. The river from Island No. 10 flows northwest to New Madrid, where it again makes a great bend to the south as far as Tiptonville, otherwise called Merriweather's landing, so that opposite New Madrid also is a long narrow promontory. From Island No. 8 across the land to New Madrid is six miles, while by river it is fifteen; so, likewise, the distance from Island No. 10 to Tiptonville is five miles, while by water it is twenty-seven. Commencing at Hickman, a great swamp, which afterwards becomes Reelfoot lake, extends along the left bank of the Mississippi, and discharges its waters into the river forty miles below Tiptonville, leaving the whole peninsula opposite New Madrid between it and the river. This peninsula therefore is itself an island, having the Mississippi river on three sides, and Reelfoot lake and the great swamps which border it on the other. A good road leads from Island No. 10 along the west bank of Reelfoot lake to Tiptonville. The only means of supply, therefore, for the forces at and around Island No. 10, on this peninsula, were by the river. When the river was blockaded at New Madrid supplies and re-enforcements were landed at Tiptonville, and conveyed across the neck of the peninsula by land. There was no communication with the interior except by a small flat-boat which plied across Reelfoot lake, a distance of two miles, and that through an opening cut through cypress swamps for the purpose. Supplies and re-enforcements, or escape to any cosiderable extent, were therefore impracticable on the land side. One mile below Tiptonville begin the great swamps along the Mississippi on both sides, and no dry ground is to be found, except in occasional spots, for at least sixty miles below. By intercepting the navigation of the river below Tiptonville, and commanding by heavy artillery the lowest point of dry ground near that place, the enemy would be at once cut off from his resources, and prevented from escaping. Immediately after the reduction of New Madrid this subject engaged my attention. The roads along the river, in the direction of Point Pleasant, followed a narrow strip of dry land between the swamps and the river, and were very miry and difficult. With much labor the heavy guns captured from the enemy at New Madrid were dragged by hand and established