OPERATIONS ON THE MISSISSIPPI: Progress of the Bombardment of Island No. 10; SLACK FIRING ON BOTH SIDES (3/23/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 3/23/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

CAIRO, Saturday, March 22.

The Ohio River is rapidly rising at this point, (Cairo.) In the last twenty-four hours it has risen a foot. The streets are covered to the depth of four feet in some places.

A balloon was sent to the fleet of Commodore FOOTE, yesterday, for the purpose of making a reconnoissance of the works of the enemy.

The dispatch boat arrived this morning, and represents that the condition of affairs at Island No. 10 is without change.

The mortar and gunboats indulge in occasional shots, but so far without further perceptible results.

Steamers are continually moving with troops from St. Louis and elsewhere.

A messenger just returned from Cape Girardeau reports that the rumored attack on that point by JEFF. THOMPSON is without foundation.

A special dispatch to the Post, of this city, says that only four shots were received from the rebel batteries at Island No. 10, yesterday, and that our fleet fired about thirty.

There are numerous reports that the rebels are evacuating the island, and marching across the peninsula to Merriweather's Landing. It is impossible to ascertain the truth of the reports, but existing circumstances favor them.

CAIRO, Saturday, March 22.

The latest advices from Island No. 10, which are later than those brought by the dispatch boat, which arrived here at 6 o'clock this morning, state that the position of the National gunboats and mortars has not changed.

Firing is kept up at intervals to prevent the enemy from strengthening or repairing their works.

Correspondence of the Chicago Post.

FOUR MILES ABOVE ISLAND No. 10.

Sunday, March 16, 1862.

At an early hour, this morning, great activity prevailed among the fleet. The gunboats, when your correspondent awoke, were performing mysterious evolutions in the stream;

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4048709/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Operations on the Mississippi: Progress of the Bombardment of Island No. 10 – 2-4
Capture of New-Orleans: The National Flag Believed to by Waving Over the City – 4
From Southern Tennessee: The National Army at Savanna-Gen. Grant in Command – 4
News from Washington: Issue of Certificates of Deposit by the Treasury Department – 4-5
News from the South: The Death of McCullock and McIntosh-Jeff. Davis Going West – 5
The Capture of Yancey: A Letter from Key West, Giving the Particulars – 5
Safety of the Frigate Vermont – 5
Editorial: The Rebel Lines in the Southwest – 5-6
Editorial: The Heroes of the War-A Contrast – 6
Editorial: The Future of Southern Free Negroes – 6-7
Rewards for the Brave – 7
General News – 7

[Scarlett156]

I not only read these because I like history. I read them because it reminds me there actually used to be such a thing as reporting the news.

[Psalm 73]

Almost done reading U.S. Grant's autobiography - fascinating stuff.
A very aggressive general - (no balls, no babies).

[Conan the Librarian]

Reminds me of the American Heritage books and others that had the famous painting of the bonbardment of Island #10. I found it fasinating as a child.

[M Kehoe]

Hi Professor.

“It is impossible to ascertain the truth of the reports, but existing circumstances favor them.”

Well damn, sometimes journalists do practice journalism.

5.56mm

[BroJoeK]

"Today" is the war's 89th engagement, at Kernstown, VA, Kimball's Union V Corps vs. Stonewall Jackson's Confederate Division -- a tactical Union victory, strategic Confederate victory because it forced Pres. Lincoln to reinforce Union forces in western Virginia by weakening Gen. McClellan's forces:

Virginia Engagements. 1861 - 1862 to date

Date	Engagement	Military Units	Losses	Victor
May 18-19	Sewell's Point, VA	Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery	10 total	inconclusive
May 29- June 1	Aquila Creek, VA	Union naval squadron vs Confederate shore artillery	10 total	inconclusive
June 1	Fairfax Court House, VA	detachments from CSA & USA armies	8 on each side, 1 each killed	inconclusive
June 1	Arlington Mills, VA	detachments from USA ( ~200 McDowell) & CSA (~9 Bonham) armies	Union 2-total (1 killed); CSA 1 wounded	inconclusive
June 10	Big Bethel, VA	Union (Butler) -3,500, CSA (Magruder) -1,400	Union 71-total (18-killed); CSA: 10-total (1-killed)	CSA (CSA outnumbered)
June 15	Hooe's Ferry (near Mathias Point) VA	Union schooner Christina Keen; CSA Farmer's Fork Grays	none -- Christina Keen captured and burned	CSA
June 17	Vienna, VA	Detachments from both Union & CSA armies	Union: 12-total (8 killed); CSA: none reported	CSA
June 27	Matthias' Point, VA	Union gunboats ~50 vs. Confed garrison ~500	Union: 1-killed, 4-wounded; CSA none	CSA
July 18	Blackburn's Ford, VA (pre-Manassas)	Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Richardson) -3,000 vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -5,100	Union: 83-total; CSA 70-total	CSA
July 21	Bull Run/Manassas, VA	Union Department of NE Virginia (McDowell, Patterson) -54,000 (18,000 engaged) vs. Confederate Army of VA (Beauregard, Longstreet) -34,000 (18,000 engaged)	Union: 2,708-total (481-killed); CSA 1,897-total (387-killed)	CSA
Aug 7	CSA burned Hampton, VA	Union (Butler) vs. Confederate Cavalry (Magruder)	Union unknown; Confederates unknown	CSA
Aug 8	skirmish at Lovettsville, VA	Union vs. Confederate	Union unknown; Confederates 6-total	USA
Aug 25	Mason's Hill, VA	Union (Lowe's observation balloon) vs. Confederate Army NVA (Longstreet, Stuart)	Union unknown; Confederates unknown	USA
Aug 31	Munson's Hill, VA	Union Army of the Potomac vs. Confederate Dept of Northern VA	Union 5-total; Confederates unknown	USA
Sep 3	Bailey's Cross Roads, VA	Union & Confederat detachments	Union 8-total; Confederates none	CSA
Sep 11	Lewinsville, VA (McLean, Fairfax County)	Union 79th NY Highlanders (Stephens ~1,800) & Confederate 1st & 13th VA (JEB Stuart ~400)	Union 12-total (3-killed); Confederates none	CSA (CSA outnumbered)
Oct 21	Ball's Bluff, VA	Union MA, NY, MI, MN & CA Infantry, RI Artillery (Stone -1,720) & Confederate VA & MS Infantry, VA cavalry & artillery (Evans -1,709)	Union 1,002-total, including Lt. Oliver Wendell Holmes (223-killed including US Senator Edward Baker R-OR)), Confederates 155-total (36-killed)	CSA
Nov 26	Skirmish at Hunter's Mills, VA	Union 3rd PA Cavalry (Bell ~94) & Confederate 1st NC Cavalry (Ransome ~120)	Union 33-total (1-killed), Confederates unknown 0?	CSA
Dec 20	Drainsville, VA	Union Pennsylvania Volunteers (Ord ~5,000) & Confederate VA, KY & NC Volunteers (Stuart ~4,000)	Union 71-total (?-killed), Confederates 230-total (?-killed)	USA (1st larger Union victory in VA)
Jan 3, 1862	Cockpit Point, VA	Union gun boats (Wyman ) & Confederate shore battery (French ~50)	none	Inconclusive
Mar 8-9	Hampton Roads, VA	Union Navy (Marsten, Worden, USS Monitor +11 ships) & Confederate Navy (Buchanan, Jones CSS Virginia +5 ships)	Union 369 total (261 killed, 7 ships sunk), Confederate 24 total (7- killed)	Inconclusive (Strategic USA)
Mar 23	Kernstown, VA	Union Army of Potomac V Corps (Kimball ~9,000) & Confederate Stonewall Division (Jackson ~4,200)	Union 590 total (118-killed), Confederate 718 total (80- killed)	USA tactical, CSA strategoc

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of March 23, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
South Carolina	1	1	1	3
Virginia	5	11	6	22
North Carolina	3	0	0	3
Florida	1	0	0	1
Louisiana	0	1	0	1
Tennessee	2	0	0	2
Arkansas	1	0	1	2
Total Engagements in CSA	13	13	8	34

Engagements in Union states/territories:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
Maryland	1	0	1	2
West Virginia	9	2	2	13
Missouri	11	9	1	21
New Mexico	0	7	0	7
Kentucky	4	3	2	9
Oklahoma	0	3	0	3
Total Engagements in Union	25	24	6	55
Total Engagements to date	38	37	14	89

Total killed or wounded on both sides was ~1,300 bringing the war's total to nearly 48,000 total casualties, including 4,600 killed in action.