The battle was fought in and around Island Number Ten in the Mississippi River, near New Madrid, Missouri which was simultaneously attacked. In order to continue down the Mississippi, the Union found that it had to capture the heavily defended by island. The Confederates fortifications consisted of land batteries on the island and a floating battery off the coast of the island. OnMarch 16, 1862 Union gunboats started shelling the island fortifications, while Confederates were returning fire from land batteries. On April 4 at night, the gunboat Carondelet managed to pass by the island. On April 7 Pittsburg managed to join her. Then, under cover of these gunboats, Union troops under the command of Gen. John Pope crossed the Mississippi River and landed below the island, crossing a Confederate withdrawal way. On April 7, 1862, the Confederate garrison, of 7,000 men surrendered. The defeat of the Confederates opened the river for the capture of Memphis, Tennessee two monthes later in the Battle of Memphis.
Island Number Ten has since disappeared as a result of erosion from the Mississippi River.
The war on the Mississippi River _ night expedition to island no. 10 Lovie, Henri, artist.
Map of rebel fortifications at Island No. 10 and New Madrid, and Pope's operations against these positions, 1895.
Unfortunately a picket of the 2nd Rhode Island, which had established itself to the south near the ocean, was surprised and captured by a British raiding party.
The American battle was formed with Livingston and Tyler on the extreme western and eastern flanks respectively, with Varnum's brigade on the right of the line.
This battalion was commanded by Major Ward, and numbered perhaps as many as 140 men, who behaved as well as any troops who had never before been under fire.
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