April 6, 1862: USS Carondelet Makes Recon Down Mississippo

APRIL 6TH, 1862:  The USS Carondelet, Commander Walke, made a reconnaissance down the Mississippi River from New Madrid to Tiptonville, exchanging shots with shore batteries and landing to spike Confederate guns in preparation for covering the river crossing by Major General Pope's troops.

Once Pope's troops were across the river, it was just a matter of time before the Confederates on Island No. 10 would be forced to surrender.  Now, with the Carndelet south of the island, that crossing could take place.

--Old B-Runner

March 30, 1862: USS Carondolet Ordered to Run Past Island No. 10

MARCH 20TH, 1862:   Flag Officer Foote ordered Commander Henry Walke, USS Carondolet:  "You will avail yourself of the first fog or rainy night and drift your steamer down past the batteries, on the Tennessee shore, and Island No. 10 ... for the purpose of covering General Pope's army while he crosses that point to the opposite, or to the Tennessee side of the river...

"...that he may move his army up to Island No. 10 and attack the rebels in the rear while we attack them in the front."

Five days later, Walke made his heroic dash past Island No. 10 to join the Army at New Madrid.

--Old B-Runner

March 13, 1862: New Madrid, Missouri, Evacuated

MARCH 13TH, 1862:  Major General John P. McCown, CSA, ordered the evacuation of Confederate troops from Mew Madrid, under cover of Flag Officer Hollins' gunboat squadron consisting of the CSS Livingston, Polk and Pontchartrain.

--Old B-Runner

Tracking Down Charles Morfit, CSN, and His Letter-- Part 1

From www.jlkstamps.com.

I wrote about this man last week in this blog. This person sure did a lot of research on a person not well-known when it comes to the Civil War Navy. It also gives a good account of problems facing the Confederate Postal Service.

They were preparing a close look at the movements of both the letter and Mr. Morfit.

In early Feb. 1862, a letter was posted at Macon, Georgia, for Charles M. Morfit, CS Navy, CSS Steamer Ivy, at New Orleans, Louisiana. However, when the letter arrived, Morfit was no longer there as the Ivy had been sent upriver and the letter was forwarded to Columbus, Kentucky.

However, Fort Donelson fell on February 16th and Columbus was evacuated Feb. 20th so the letter was sent downstream to the Confederate stronghold at New Madrid, Missouri.

Forget Where's Waldo. Where's Charles? --Old B-Runner

The Siege and Surrender of Island No. 10

March 15 to April 8, 1862

After the fall of forts Henry and Donelson and evacuation of Columbus, Kentucky,  General Beauregard fortified Island No. 10 in the Mississippi River about 60 miles south of Columbus in an attempt to keep Foote's gunboats from joining Farragut's coming up from the south.

Union general Pope arrived outside of New Madrid, Missouri, on March 3rd and after reconnoitering and examining information, determined that because of 50 heavy guns and Confederate gunboats, New Madrid could only be taken by siege.  That same day, Confederates abandoned New Madrid and their commander was relieved of duty.

Looking at Island No/ 10, Pope decided that a canal would have to be dug to take it and it was finished by April 4th.  On April 7th, four Union regiments moved across the Mississippi to cut off the Confederate retreat.  Island No. 10 surrendered and 3,500 troops captured and 500 escaped.

The fall of the island opened the way to Fort Pillow.

Pope's success along the Mississippi led to his being chosen to command the Army of the Potomac and the disaster that later came at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

Old B-R'er