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Battle of Island Number Ten | HearLore
— Ch. 1 · The Double Bend Geography —
Battle of Island Number Ten.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 8
In the spring of 1862, a small sandbar sat at the base of a tight double turn in the Mississippi River. This location became known as Island Number Ten. The river made a clockwise turn of 180 degrees before immediately looping back in a counterclockwise direction. Ships traveling down the river had to approach this island head-on and slow their speed to navigate the sharp turns. For the Confederate defenders, this geography created an excellent defensive position. Vessels coming from upstream were forced to move directly toward the shore batteries for over a mile. However, the same geography that protected the island also trapped it. A single road connected the mainland behind the island on the south side to the town of Tiptonville, Tennessee. All other approaches were blocked by lakes, sloughs, and swamps. Reelfoot Lake stretched long and wide across the region, making movement impossible for heavy equipment. If Union forces could cut that single road, the garrison would be isolated and eventually forced to surrender.
Confederate Command And Fortifications
During the first year of the war, Confederate forces in the West underwent a series of confusing command changes. Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk initially commanded Department No. 2, which included New Madrid. He assigned Captain Asa B. Gray to develop defenses at the bend but denied him adequate resources. General Albert Sidney Johnston superseded Polk in September 1861 but took no active interest in Island Number Ten. In early February 1862, General P. G. T. Beauregard arrived to command the Army of the Mississippi. He recognized the importance of the location and ordered the abandonment of Columbus, Kentucky. Beauregard moved his troops to Island Number Ten but fell ill before taking personal charge. Major General John P. McCown was transferred from Columbus to become the local commander. McCown arrived on February 24 and immediately began strengthening positions from Battery No. 1 to Point Pleasant. By mid-March, five batteries containing 24 guns stood on the shore above the island. Another 19 guns were placed in five batteries directly on the island itself. A floating battery named New Orleans with nine guns was moored at the west end of the island. Two forts had also been set up at New Madrid: Fort Thompson with 14 guns and Fort Bankhead with 7 guns.
Union Strategic Planning And Logistics
Maj. Gen. John Pope assumed command of the Union Army of the Mississippi on the 23rd of February 1862. His army numbered 10,000 men when he began marching toward New Madrid. The troops corduroyed roads as necessary during their winter march. They arrived at New Madrid on March 3 but could not attack immediately. Heavy artillery arrived on March 12 to support the siege effort. Pope sent a brigade under Colonel Joseph B. Plummer to occupy Point Pleasant, Missouri, on March 6. This town sat almost directly opposite Island Number Ten on the right bank of the river. Confederate gunboats contested the movement but could only shell the Union positions for three days before withdrawing. The big guns opened fire on New Madrid defensive positions on March 13. McCown realized his reduced artillery companies would be too exhausted to resist further attacks. He decided to abandon the town that night. A heavy rainstorm hid troop movements from the enemy, allowing the evacuation to proceed without incident. On the morning of March 14, two deserters appeared bearing a white flag to inform Pope that the town was deserted.
The Canal Bypass Construction
After Foote rejected Pope's request to run gunboats past the batteries, someone suggested cutting a canal to bypass the defenses. Brig. Gen. Schuyler Hamilton claimed credit for suggesting the plan, though Colonel Josiah W. Bissell had already sketched out a design before the meeting. No one disputed that Bissell directed the actual work on the canal. The canal was completed in two weeks but proved not deep enough for gunboats to pass through. It did allow transports and supply vessels to cross the river neck east of New Madrid. This provided Pope with a way to move troops across the river without depending on land communications. The flotilla included 14 mortar rafts, each mounting a single mortar under Captain Henry E. Maynadier. These mortars conducted most of the bombardment over the next three weeks. High expectations for the mortars were dashed as they did very little harm to the enemy position. Self-inflicted damage occurred during a bombardment on March 17 when a gun exploded, killing three crew members and wounding a dozen others.
Naval Runs Past The Batteries
Commander Henry Walke volunteered to take his boat through the Confederate fire zone on the 4th of April 1862. His vessel, the Carondelet, was covered with rope, chain, and loose material found at hand. A coal barge filled with coal and hay was lashed to her side. Steam exhaust was diverted from smokestacks to muffle sound. Conditions were satisfactory that night as it was moonless and followed by a thunderstorm. Carondelet made its way downstream and was not discovered until she reached Battery No. 2. Her smokestacks blazed up due to soot buildup catching fire, revealing her position. The batteries opened fire but their shots proved inaccurate. Carondelet completed the run unscathed. Two nights later, another gunboat named Cincinnati made a similar run under Lieutenant Egbert Thompson. Pope now had the support needed to cross the river with his army without fear of interference from Confederate gunboats. He sent gunboats to destroy batteries at Watson's Landing on April 7 before transporting troops across. Landings proceeded without opposition while Mackall's men attempted to retreat toward Tiptonville.
Siege Tactics And Bombardment
The siege officially began when gunboats and mortars arrived on the 15th of March 1862. From the start, Pope and Foote disagreed on how to conduct operations. Pope wanted immediate action while Foote hoped to subdue the island through slow bombardment. For two weeks, fighting consisted mostly of long-range bombardment conducted by mortars. Occasionally Confederate batteries replied to Union fire. A raid by sailors and soldiers from the 42nd Illinois Infantry overran Battery No.1 on April 1 and spiked its guns. On April 2, the flotilla concentrated fire on the floating battery New Orleans. She was hit several times until her mooring lines parted. The vessel drifted downstream out of the war. High expectations for the mortars were dashed as they did very little damage to enemy positions. Self-inflicted damage occurred during a bombardment on March 17 when a gun exploded, killing three crew members and wounding a dozen others.
Surrender And Prisoner Handling
Mackall decided to surrender after realizing his position was hopeless and his troops were trapped. While this happened, the demoralized garrison of Island Number Ten surrendered separately to Flag Officer Foote. Only a few hundred individual soldiers managed to escape by wading or rafting across Reelfoot Lake. Pope asserted in official reports that he captured 273 officers and 6,700 private soldiers. Confederate records indicate not more than 5,350 men were present, suggesting fewer than 4,500 were actually captured. About 1,400 of the captured Confederate soldiers were transported by railroad to Madison, Wisconsin. This marked the beginning of Camp Randall's use as a prisoner-of-war camp. From late April to late May, 140 prisoners died at Camp Randall due to unsanitary conditions. They are buried at Confederate Rest. Several soldiers' wives who had been employed at the island chose to go north into captivity alongside their husbands.
Tactical Legacy And Historical Impact
The campaign for Island Number Ten fell from public notice because it coincided with the far bloodier Battle of Shiloh on April 7. The battle became memorable principally for the run of USS Carondelet past the batteries. This passage marked the introduction of a new tactic in warfare. The use of steam power meant ships were no longer forced to neutralize fixed defenses or batteries. This tactic later became commonplace during the Civil War, being employed by Farragut at New Orleans, Port Hudson, Vicksburg, and Mobile. David D. Porter also used similar tactics at Vicksburg. Although Farragut's decision to run the forts was made independently, he likely had not heard of events at the New Madrid Bend when making his move. Consequently, the value of fixed fortifications was much diminished but not completely destroyed. The restored nation had to consider this when designing its defense system after 1865. Seasonal weather played a crucial role in aiding Union efforts. If federals had arrived later in summer after spring freshets, naval options would have been more limited. No back channel could have been carved out, improving Confederate chances for defense or withdrawal.
What was the strategic importance of Island Number Ten during the American Civil War?
Island Number Ten served as a critical defensive position for Confederate forces in 1862 due to its unique geography. The river made a tight double turn that forced Union ships to approach head-on and slow down, exposing them to shore batteries for over a mile. This location allowed Confederates to control river traffic while trapping their own garrison if supply lines were cut.
Who commanded the Union forces at Island Number Ten in early 1862?
Maj. Gen. John Pope assumed command of the Union Army of the Mississippi on the 23rd of February 1862. He led an army numbering 10,000 men toward New Madrid and coordinated the siege operations against the island defenses. Pope worked alongside Flag Officer Foote to execute naval maneuvers including the famous gunboat runs past the batteries.
When did the Battle of Island Number Ten officially begin and end?
The siege officially began when gunboats and mortars arrived on the 15th of March 1862. Confederate forces surrendered after realizing their position was hopeless following events in late April 1862. The campaign concluded with the capture of thousands of soldiers who were subsequently transported to Madison, Wisconsin.
How many guns were positioned at Island Number Ten by mid-March 1862?
By mid-March 1862, five batteries containing 24 guns stood on the shore above the island. Another 19 guns were placed in five batteries directly on the island itself. A floating battery named New Orleans with nine guns was also moored at the west end of the island.
What tactical innovation occurred during the Battle of Island Number Ten?
Commander Henry Walke ran his vessel the Carondelet through the Confederate fire zone on the 4th of April 1862 without being discovered until reaching Battery No. 2. This passage marked the introduction of a new tactic where steam power allowed ships to neutralize fixed defenses or bypass them entirely. This method later became commonplace during the Civil War at locations including Vicksburg and Mobile.