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and General Pope directed Colonel Bissell, of the engineers, to execute the plan. The route was, for two miles, through thick timber, and ten through narrow, crooked bayous, full of brush and small trees; but by almost incredible labor and skill, within nineteen days, an avenue fifty feet was cut across the peninsula, the trees, in many instances, being sawed off four and a half feet under water.

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The enemy, aware of the movement on the land, had erected strongbatteries to command the mouth of the canal, and one of their gunboats, the Grampus, was lying in wait to stop the boats, or annihiliate them if they attempted to come out. daring act must be accomplished to relieve our boats. had made an excellent move, and we were in check. of officers was held, at which it was decided that one of the gunboats must run past the batteries on the island. The Carondelet undertook it, and passed down on the night of the 4th, amidst a furious storm, towing a boat-load of hay on the side next to the enemy.

While these events were happening, the enemy had been concentrating their forces at Corinth, to await the attack of the Union troops. Van Dorn and Price, in Arkansas, were drawing towards Memphis, and the troops that evacuated New Madrid had sought the same destination. The soldiers of Island No. Ten seemed to be intended to

prevent Pope from re-enforcing Buell. On the 5th of April, a new commander was sent to that point, who, on assuming command, issued the following order :

"SOLDIERS: We are strangers, commander and commanded, each to the other. Let me tell you who I am. I am a general made by Beauregard, a general selected by Beauregard and Bragg for this command, when they knew it was in peril. They have known me for twenty years together. We have stood on the fields of Mexico. Give them your confidence now; give it to 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.

"W. D. McCown, Brigadier-General Commanding."

The transports for General Pope passed the canal on the night of the 6th of April, and on the same night the gunboat Pittsburg ran past the island, and attacked the enemy's batteries at the point destined for crossing. Meantime the division of General Paine embarked in the boats that had come through the bayou, and was followed by the other corps. By twelve o'clock, at night, the whole army was over the river, and had made good its landing, immediately attacking the enemy, who abandoned his batteries and retired upon the impassable swamps in his rear, where he was compelled to surrender. The capture was reported by General Pope as follows:

"Three generals, seven colonels, seven regiments, several battalions of infantry, five companies of artillery, over one hundred heavy siege-guns, twenty-four pieces of field artillery, an immense quantity of ammunition and supplies, several thousand stand of small arms, a great number of tents, horses, wagons, &c., have fallen into our hands. "Before abandoning Island No. Ten, the enemy sunk the gunboat Grampus and six of his transports. These last I am raising, and expect to have ready for service in a few days. The famous floating battery was scuttled and turned adrift with all her guns aboard; she was captured and run aground in shoal water by our forces at New Madrid."

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