. The history of the Civil War in America; comprising a full and impartial account of the origin and progress of the rebellion, of the various naval and military engagements, of the heroic deeds performed by armies and individuals, and of touching scenes in the field, the camp, the hospital, and the cabin . fixedupon the movements of this flotilla. It was then supposed that the greatbattle for the possession of the Mississippi was to be fought at Island Num-ber Ten. Tlie enemy being driven from that stronghold, it was thoughtthat the fleet could sweep the river, almost unimpeded, to New Orlean
. The history of the Civil War in America; comprising a full and impartial account of the origin and progress of the rebellion, of the various naval and military engagements, of the heroic deeds performed by armies and individuals, and of touching scenes in the field, the camp, the hospital, and the cabin . fixedupon the movements of this flotilla. It was then supposed that the greatbattle for the possession of the Mississippi was to be fought at Island Num-ber Ten. Tlie enemy being driven from that stronghold, it was thoughtthat the fleet could sweep the river, almost unimpeded, to New , however, doubted whether it would be possible for the gunboats tosilciice the immense batteries on the island and the adjacent shore. The fortifications onthe island and the main-land were, as we havestated, formidable bothin the number of theirguns and the weight ofmetal which they were also wellposted to protect eachother. The Nationalfleet could not comewithin short range ofbattery A, as may beseen by the diagram,without being subjectto the concentrated fireof the other gunboats were alsocompelled to fire fromanchorage, otherwise therapid current of theriver would sweep themdown into the enemyshands. They could not,THE ATTACK ON ISLAND NO. 10. by keeping up steam,. CAPTURE OP ISLAND NUMBER TEN. 263 breast the current, so as to fire from the stem, since, with but one excep-tion, they were only iron-plated on the bows and the sides. After a careful reconnoissance, the gunboats were anchored just abovethe point of the promontory which was opposite the land batteries. Theland of this promontory, which here creates so remarkable a bend in theriver, is so low that the batteries on Island Number Ten, two miles and ahalf distant, could be distinctly seen across the point from the decks ofthe gunboats. On the morning of the 16th of March the bombardmentwas commenced by throwing shells over the promontory into the rebelworks. It was opened simultaneous
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectuniteds, bookyear1879
