Questions about Battle of Island Number Ten
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the Battle of Island Number Ten and when did it take place?
The Battle of Island Number Ten was a Union siege of a fortified Confederate position at the New Madrid Bend on the Mississippi River, fought from the 28th of February to the 8th of April, 1862. The Union Army of the Mississippi under Major General John Pope forced the surrender of thousands of Confederate troops while suffering minimal casualties. The battle opened the Mississippi River to Union navigation as far south as Fort Pillow, a short distance above Memphis.
Why was Island Number Ten considered a strong defensive position during the Civil War?
Island Number Ten sat inside a double bend of the Mississippi called the New Madrid Bend, which forced any approaching vessel to slow and face its guns head-on. The Confederate garrison installed dozens of guns on shore batteries, on the island itself, and aboard a floating battery moored at the island's western end. On the Tennessee side, Reelfoot Lake, stretching 40 miles long and up to 10 miles wide, and miles of surrounding swampland made a land attack nearly impossible.
Who commanded the Confederate forces at Island Number Ten?
Command changed several times. General P. G. T. Beauregard ordered the Columbus, Kentucky, garrison to reinforce the island in early February 1862. Major General John P. McCown served as the local commander who oversaw the buildup of its defenses, and Brigadier General William W. Mackall replaced him on the 31st of March, 1862, and held command until the final surrender.
How did Union forces capture Island Number Ten?
Union forces dug a canal to move supply vessels past the island, then obtained Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote's approval to run gunboats past the Confederate batteries at night. The USS Carondelet made the first run on the 4th of April, 1862, followed by a second gunboat under Lieutenant Egbert Thompson two nights later. With gunboat support, Major General Pope crossed the river, cut off the Confederate retreat to Tiptonville, and forced the surrender of both the mainland and island garrisons.
How many Confederate soldiers were captured at the Battle of Island Number Ten?
General Pope claimed to have captured 273 officers and 6,700 private soldiers, but Confederate records indicate that no more than 5,350 men were present in total, making the actual number captured probably less than 4,500. Pope's figures were widely considered a significant exaggeration.
What happened to Confederate prisoners captured at Island Number Ten?
About 1,400 prisoners, many from the 1st Regiment Alabama Infantry, were transported by railroad to Madison, Wisconsin, marking the beginning of Camp Randall's use as a prisoner-of-war camp. From late April to the end of May 1862, 140 prisoners died there in unsanitary conditions and are buried at Confederate Rest. General Beauregard sought early release for the prisoners, but the Union declined.