the Belmont, burst on
the island. In the course of these engagements the redan was finally
knocked to pieces and ceased to reply; and, on April 1st, an expedition
from the fleet landed, drove off a detachment of the First Alabama which
was guarding it, and spiked its guns. The work of erecting new batteries
and mounting guns, as well as repairing damages, was continued as long
as the island was occupied.

On the night of March 17th, General McCown left for Fort Pillow with the
Eleventh, Twelfth, and Colonel Kennedy's Louisiana, Fourth, Fifth, and
Thirty-first Tennessee, Bankhead's and six guns of Captain R.C.
Stewart's batteries, and Neely's and Haywood's cavalry, leaving at
Madrid Bend the First Alabama, Eleventh and Twelfth Arkansas, and
Terry's Arkansas Battalion, three Tennessee regiments, commanded
respectively by Colonels Brown, Clark, and Henderson, Colonel Baker's
regiment of twelve companies called the Tennessee, Alabama, and
Mississippi regiment, five guns of Captain Stewart's field-battery, and
Captain Hudson's and Captain Wheeler's cavalry. Besides these were the
companies of heavy artillery, and what other troops, on the island and
below, the reports do not show. Most, if not all of the troops taken to
Fort Pillow by General McCown, proceeded to Corinth and joined the force
which General A. S. Johnston was gathering there. General McCown on his
return arrived below Tiptonville on March 20th, and established his
headquarters at Madrid Bend next day.

General Pope had now established his army and batteries on the right
bank of the river, so as to prevent the escape of the enemy until the
river should fall. To capture them he must cross the river. General
Halleck telegraphed to him on March 16th to construct a road, if
possible, through the swamp above the bayou, which comes into the river
just above New Madrid, to a point on the Missouri shore opposite Island
No. Ten, and transfer thither enough of his force to erect batteries and
aid the fleet in the bombardment of the island. Pope despatched Colonel
Bissell to examine the country with this view, directing him at the same
time, if he found it impracticable to build the road, to ascertain if it
were possible to dig a canal across the peninsula, from some point above
the island to New Madrid. The idea of the canal was suggested to General
Pope by General Schuyler Hamilton, an officer whose gentle refinement
veiled his absolute resolution and endurance till th