BOMBARDMENT AND CAPTURE OF ISLAND NO. 10—THE BATTERIES—AT
RUCKER’S BATTERY—CANAL CUTTING—A NIGHT ATTACK—RUNNING THE
GAUNTLET—AN UNFINISHED MEAL—THE ATTEMPTED EVACUATION—RETREAT
TO TIPTONVILLE—MACKALL’S ORDER—THE SURRENDER—ACROSS REEL-FOOT
RIVER.
Island No. 10 is, or was, in the Mississippi River, opposite the
boundary-line between Kentucky and Tennessee. The river approaches the
island in nearly a southerly direction, then runs to the northwest about
twelve miles to New Madrid, where it makes a semi-circular sweep, and
takes its course to the southeast for sixteen miles to Tiptonville,
Tenn., forming a great horseshoe bend of six miles in width, and opening
to the southeast. Across this opening, a few miles to the eastward,
is Reel-Foot River or bayou, emptying into the Mississippi below
Tiptonville; in high water expanding into a lake, and connecting with the
Mississippi above Island No. 10, cutting off all approach except by boats.
At the beginning of the bombardment, Gen. McCown was in command of the
Confederate forces, augmented, by the evacuation of New Madrid, to some
ten or twelve thousand men. More than half these troops were, however,
withdrawn about the last of March. The batteries, which had been ably
planned, but imperfectly constructed, under direction of Capt. Harris,
of the Engineer Corps, contained forty-four guns, mostly 32 and 42 pound
smooth-bores, with a few 64-pounders and one or two 100-pound rifles.
Twenty-seven guns, not mounted, were scattered along the river bank
and on the Island. The batteries were distributed as follows: On the
Tennessee bank of the river were six—No. 1 (Rucker’s), six guns; No. 2,
four guns; No. 3, three guns; No. 4, four guns; No. 5, two guns; No. 6,
seven guns; total, twenty-seven. On the Island were four batteries—No.
1, six guns; No. 2, four guns; No. 3, five guns; No. 4, two guns; total,
seventeen. A floating battery—the old Algiers floating dock—was moored to
the left bank of the Island; and on the deck of this nondescript craft,
wholly unprotected, were eight guns.
The enemy, upon the evacuation of New Madrid, established batteries there
and soon after at Point Pleasant, opposite Tiptonville—thus cutting off
approach to the island by river. Boats made a landing at Tiptonville
and—when it became too warm there—at a point just below, and thus
communication was kept up till the gunboats ran the Island 10 batteries,
a few days before the surrender.
On the morning of March 15th the Federal fleet arrived from above, and
opened fire upon the Confederate works. There were seven iron-clads:
the “Benton,” “Louisville,” “Carondelet,” “Conestoga,” “Pittsburgh,”
“St. Louis” and “Mound City,” armed with ten heavy guns each, and
eight mortar-boats, each carrying one thirteen-inch mortar. Their fire
concentrated on Rucker’s and the Island batteries, was continued all day
and slowly on Sunday, the 16th. Monday morning the iron-clads, lashed
three together, dropped down the river, stern foremost, to within a mile
and a half of Rucker’s Battery and anchored. They maintained a heavy fire
all day, throwing, with the mortar fleet, 1,350 shot and shell, of which
1,000 were hurled at Capt. Rucker’s guns and 350 at the Island. There
was no one hurt on the Island, though there were many narrow escapes.
At Battery No. 1, on the main land, a shot passed through the parapet,
dismounting a gun, killing Lieut. Clark, of Capt. Rucker’s company, and
wounding several men. These were the only casualties during the siege.
Elcon Jones, of the Signal Corps, was stationed at Rucker’s Battery.
During the day his signal-flag was twice shot from his hand. In one
instance he was transmitting a message, and he picked up the flag and
continued his communication without missing a word. He was afterwards
complimented in general orders by Gen. Beauregard and promoted.
The Confederate artillery practice was very good; the iron-clads were
repeatedly hit, and before night they hauled off, continuing their fire
with their long-range rifles. One shot struck the “Benton,” passed
through her iron-clad side into the Captain’s cabin, bounded from the
floor to the ceiling and landed on the table. The dismounted gun at
Battery 1 was placed in position again that night, not having been
seriously damaged.
Tuesday the bombardment was resumed, but the fleet did not come within
good range of the Confederate smooth-bores, and our fire was, in
consequence, slack. Capt. Rucker’s company, exhausted by its severe
labors, was relieved by the First Alabama. The river continuing to rise,
the working of the guns in Battery No. 1 was rendered difficult, if not
impossible, by the water, which was two feet deep on the platforms. All
the powder and shell had to be removed from the magazine, and, without
other protection than a tarpaulin, stowed in an angle of the breastworks.
On rainy days some of the guards would creep under the tarpaulin,
propping it up with a handspike so as to get air; but this improvised
tent would invariably attract the enemy’s attention, and a shell would go
shrieking over, causing the hasty striking of the shelter. A deep slough
connecting with Reel-Foot Bayou cut off all approach to this battery
except in boats, and as the relief details had to be sent up after dark,
a trip on stormy nights was attended with some risk. On one occasion a
boat was carried by the swift current into the swamp and capsized; the
crew were not rescued till daylight—passing the night, cold and wet, on
stumps or driftwood.
In the meantime the enemy’s engineers were clearing a channel, or canal,
through the swamps and bayous on the west side of the river, from a point
above the Island to one below, to enable them to get small transports
below the batteries and to transport troops across the river and take the
Confederates in the rear. But little digging was required, as the high
stage of the river gave the necessary depth of water; but the trees had
to be cut out of the way. The trees were felled, leaving the stumps just
above the water. A cross-cut saw, forming the lower side of a triangular
frame, was then pivoted by the upper angle to the stump, so as to swing
freely—the blade of the saw being four feet below the surface of the
water. Twenty men on a side operating this simple device could cut off
a stump two feet in diameter in a few minutes. The canal was completed
early in April, and several transports were at once sent through,
arriving safely at New Madrid. As the gunboats were of too deep draught
to use the canal, preparations were at once made to run one of them by
the batteries, and, as a preliminary step, it was decided to spike the
guns in the dangerous upper battery.
On the night of April 1st five boats were made ready with crews from the
gunboats “Cincinnati,” “St. Louis,” “Benton,” “Pittsburgh” and “Mound
City,” and volunteers from the Forty-Third Illinois Infantry, all under
command of Col. Roberts. In each boat were twenty men, exclusive of
officers. Every precaution was taken to insure secrecy; the oar-locks
were muffled, and the expedition did not start till midnight, when all
was quiet. The night was dark and stormy, and the only difficulty was in
finding the battery; but a flash of lightning revealed its position as
they got abreast, and a landing was effected without opposition. But two
sentinels were on the battery; these fired their guns and ran back to
the main guard, who were on the parapet of the breastwork in the rear.
By the time the alarm was fairly given the enemy had spiked the guns and
re-embarked. The successful termination of this attack was due largely
to the fact that the battery being submerged except the parapet, there
was no place for the guard immediately around the guns, though there
was, undoubtedly, carelessness in not having more men on duty. A boat
was despatched to camp with the alarm, and a fresh detachment of men was
sent up. Co. K, prior to this event, had received no arms, but during the
alarm a lot of old muskets and ten rounds of cartridges were distributed.
Two of the guns were unspiked during the nights of the 2d and 3d.
The night of April 4th set in dark and threatening; in the midst of a
terrific thunder-storm the long-roll sounded, and the battalion was
hastily formed in line of battle in the rear of the batteries. Mingled
with the almost continuous roll of the thunder was the roar of a heavy
cannonade, while the lightning and the flashes of the guns, rendered more
vivid by the intense darkness of the night, combined to render it a scene
of wonderful grandeur. The firing continued but for a brief period, and
quiet being restored, the men were dismissed to their quarters.
In the morning it was ascertained that the iron-clad “Carondelet,”
protected by barges of baled hay, had successfully run the batteries.
She was first discovered by the sentinels at Rucker’s Battery, who fired
their muskets, giving the alarm. An attempt was made to use the two guns
which had been unspiked, but the charges were damp, not having been drawn
after the guns were unspiked, and they could not be fired.
During the 5th the fleet shelled the camp of the First Alabama and other
regiments, but no one was hurt. The following night the enemy crossed
a small force opposite New Madrid, and spiked the batteries of light
artillery stationed there, but immediately retired.
Sunday, the 6th of April, was clear and pleasant, and passed quietly. At
dress-parade the troops were ordered to be in readiness to march at the
sounding of the long-roll. The signal came while the men were preparing
or eating supper, and leaving everything—the tents standing, cooking
utensils scattered around, in some cases the food half cooked in the
kettles—the battalion of the First Alabama in camp, numbering about 325
men, formed on the parade-ground and marched to the general headquarters.
About 350 of the regiment stationed on the Island, 60 at Battery No. 1
and a considerable number sick in camp were left behind.
The commander of the forces at this time was Gen. Mackall, Gen. McCown
having been relieved April 1st. It was dark when the troops, about
fifteen hundred in number, left headquarters, the First Alabama in the
advance. After marching ten miles, the column was halted in the woods,
and formed in line of battle about half a mile from the river and nearly
opposite New Madrid. It soon began to rain, and as fires were not
permitted, the condition of affairs was anything but pleasant. The object
of the move was, ostensibly, to prevent a landing of the enemy, crossing
from New Madrid. The night, however, passed without alarm, except a
slight stir caused by pickets bringing in a prisoner. A heavy cannonade
in the direction of Island No. 10 announced that another iron-clad had
stolen by in the darkness. This vessel, it was afterwards learned, was
the “Pittsburgh;” she was protected in the same way as the “Carondelet,”
and received no injury. Daybreak found the men cold, wet and hungry,
many of them having eaten no supper. The wagons arrived about 7 o’clock;
flour, bacon and cooking utensils were issued to the companies, and an
attempt was made to prepare breakfast; but orders to resume the march
compelled the men to leave the half-cooked meal on the coals. Information
had been received that the Federal troops were crossing lower down the
river, and that the garrison was in danger of being cut off. Many of
the troops were unaccustomed to marching, and upon leaving camp had
overburdened themselves with baggage. As a consequence, the road along
which the men were hurried was strewn with every kind and description
of apparel and not a few blankets. It was nearly dark when the command
approached Tiptonville, and, making a detour, passed around and below
it. That landing was already in possession of the enemy, and a force
of their cavalry were following close in the rear of the retreating
Confederates, picking up stragglers. While opposite Tiptonville there was
an alarm, and the column was halted and brought to a front; but no attack
was made, and the march was resumed. About three-quarters of a mile below
Tiptonville the command was formed in line of battle, and there remained
all night, the men sleeping in ranks, with their arms by their sides.
Gens. Gantt and Walker, who had been stationed opposite New Madrid, had
retired with our command, and the combined force numbered between 2,000
and 3,000 men.
At 11 o’clock, Monday night, Gen. Mackall arranged terms for the
surrender of his army, but the soldiers were not made aware of it until
the next morning, otherwise many would have made their escape. The
universal feeling among men and officers was, that the surrender was
utterly uncalled for, and that the greater portion of the force could
have been safely taken out while a few men held Gen. Pope’s army in
check. Many denounced Gen. Mackall as a traitor, and asserted that the
surrender had been arranged several days before. While this report was
wholly without foundation, yet of his incapacity no one who was present
could have any doubt. Gen. McCown was removed by Gen. Beauregard because,
after the fall of New Madrid, he had pronounced the position at Island
No. 10 untenable, and Gen. Mackall was ordered there, with instructions
to hold it at all hazards until further orders. On the morning after
the gunboat “Carondelet” passed the batteries, he issued the following
address to the troops:—
HEADQUARTERS, ISLAND NO. 10, April 5, 1862.
SOLDIERS:—We are strangers—the commander to the commanded, and
each to the other. Let me tell you who I am.
I am a general made by Beauregard—a general selected by Gens.
Beauregard and Bragg for this command when they knew it was in
peril. They have known me for twenty years; together we have
stood in the fields of Mexico. Give them your confidence! Give
it me when I have earned it!
Soldiers! the Mississippi Valley is entrusted to your courage,
to your discipline, to your patience. Exhibit the vigilance and
coolness of last night, and hold it!
(Signed)
WILLIAM D. MACKALL,
_Brig.-Gen. Commanding._
Gen. Beauregard, in a communication published since the close of the war,
expressed himself as satisfied with Gen. Mackall’s performance of the
trust, but his troops saw only a series of blunders.
Gen. Mackall surrendered 3,000 men, 4,000 stand of arms, 75 siege guns
and 24 pieces of light artillery. The enemy captured four transports
afloat, and two transports and the gunboat “Grampus” which had been
scuttled, and a considerable amount of stores and ammunition.
The following are the members of Co. K who were surrendered at
Tiptonville: Capt. J. F. Whitfield, Lieut. D. S. Hall, Lieut. C. E.
Tuttle, Sergts. Thompson, Rodgers, Merritt and Sears, Corps. Williamson
and Blaylock, Privates Adams, Bledsoe, C. W. Brown, Cook, Dennis,
Farmer, Frank, Fay, Hurd, Killough, May, C. H. Royals, Rice, Roe, D.
P. Smith, J. S. Tunnell and Josiah Tunnell; total, 3 officers and 23
enlisted men. The commissioned officers were sent to Columbus, Ohio,
and afterwards transferred to Johnson’s Island; the enlisted men were
sent to Camp Butler, near Springfield, Ill. Several of the company were
sick, and, with their attendants, were taken prisoners at the camp or
in the hospital, viz.: Privates A. P. Brown, E. F. Brown, Fergerson,
J. C. Hearn, Hearndon, C. J. Moncrief, W. L. Moncrief, J. F. Smith and
Tarleton; total, 9. These were sent to Madison, Wis., and afterwards
transferred to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill. J. F. Smith, mentioned above,
started from the Island 10 camp with the company, but was attacked with
measles, and was sent back to the hospital. Several hundred of the troops
escaped across Reel-Foot River by wading and by boats. Among these were
the following members of Co. K: Sergt. Norman Cameron, Corp. J. M.
Royals, Privates Averheart, Durden, Hancock, Hutchinson, Elijah Hearn,
George Hearn, Holston, Junius Robinson, G. H. Royals and Wilkins; total,
12. Some of these were on detail at Battery 1 and elsewhere, and others
were on the sick-list when the company left camp.
The companies of the First Alabama stationed at the Island batteries were
surrendered by direction of Gen. Mackall to Commodore Porter, Monday
night, and were afterwards sent to Camp Butler, Ill.