Battle of Island Number Ten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Island No. 10
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Bombardment and Capture of Island Number Ten on the Mississippi River, April 7, 1862
Date February 28, 1862 (1862-02-28) – April 8, 1862 (1862-04-08) Location New Madrid, Missouri and Lake County, Tennessee 36°27′32″N 89°28′15″W / 36.4588°N 89.4708°W / 36.4588; -89.4708 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States of America (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
John Pope Andrew H. Foote	John P. McCown William W. Mackall
Units involved
Army of the Mississippi Western Gunboat Flotilla	Garrison of New Madrid Garrison of Island No. 10
Strength
23,000 6 gunboats 11 mortar rafts	~7,000
Casualties and losses
78 total (23 killed 50 wounded 5 missing)	7,000 surrendered 30 killed & wounded

The Battle of Island Number Ten was an important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on the Mississippi River from February 28 to April 8, 1862. Island Number Ten was a small island that the Confederates controlled. It was a great spot to stop Union ships from moving south on the river. Ships had to slow down to make sharp turns around the island, making them easy targets.

Union forces began to attack in March 1862. The Union Army of the Mississippi, led by General John Pope, first moved through Missouri. They captured the town of New Madrid. The Confederate commander, John P. McCown, left New Madrid after a day of heavy bombing. He moved most of his troops to Island No. 10.

After New Madrid fell, Union gunboats and mortar rafts attacked Island No. 10. For three weeks, they bombed the island. At the same time, Union troops dug a canal to bypass the island. This canal allowed Union ships to cross the river and attack Confederate troops on the Tennessee side.

General Pope convinced Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote to send a gunboat past the island's defenses. The USS Carondelet slipped past on April 4, 1862. Two nights later, the USS Pittsburg also passed. With these gunboats, Pope's army could cross the river. They trapped the Confederates, who were trying to escape. The Confederates realized they were surrounded and surrendered. The island's defenders also surrendered to Flag Officer Foote.

This Union victory was the first time the Confederates lost a spot on the Mississippi River. The river was now open for the Union Navy up to Fort Pillow. This was a big step in the Union's plan to control the Mississippi River.

Why Island No. 10 Was Important

The River's Tricky Turns

Island No. 10 was named because it was the tenth island south of where the Mississippi and Ohio rivers meet. It was a large sandbar, about 1 mile (1.6 km) long. The island was about 10 feet (3 meters) above the water.

The river's path around the island was very important. The Mississippi made a big clockwise turn, then a counter-clockwise turn. This double bend is called the New Madrid Bend. Ships had to slow down a lot to get around these turns. This made them easy targets for cannons on the island and nearby shores.

Land Around the Island

Battle map of Island No.10. See the Rebel Fortifications on the Mississippi River on island and at New Madrid.

The land behind the island on the Tennessee side was mostly swamps and lakes. There was only one good road, which led to Tiptonville, Tennessee. This road was the only way for soldiers to get to or leave the island by land. This meant the island was safe from land attacks from Tennessee. But it also meant that if the road was cut off, the soldiers on the island would be trapped.

The land on the Missouri side was higher. However, it was not high enough to give cannons a big advantage over ships. During high water, the cannons on shore were at the same level as the ships' guns.

Who Was in Charge?

Confederate Leaders

The Confederate forces in the West had many different leaders. This made it hard to know who was responsible for what. Leonidas Polk was in charge of Department No. 2, which included New Madrid. Later, Albert Sidney Johnston took over.

In early February 1862, P. G. T. Beauregard was sent to command the Army of the Mississippi. He understood how important Island No. 10 was. He ordered soldiers from Columbus, Kentucky to move there. John P. McCown became the local commander at Island No. 10. He was later replaced by William W. Mackall on March 31, 1862.

The Confederate Navy on the Mississippi River was led by George N. Hollins. He had to work with both the army commanders at Island No. 10 and in New Orleans.

Union Leaders

The Union forces also had changes in command, but it did not affect this battle much. Major General John Pope led the Union Army of the Mississippi. His army was part of a larger department led by Major General Henry W. Halleck.

The Union warships were part of the Western Gunboat Flotilla. Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote led this group. Even though Foote was a Navy captain, his flotilla was part of the Army. So, he reported to General Halleck.

Getting Ready for Battle

Confederate Defenses

The Confederates knew the Union might try to invade by river. So, they built many defenses along the Mississippi. These included forts at Fort Pillow and Columbus, Kentucky.

Work on the batteries near Island No. 10 started in August 1861. Captain Asa B. Gray led this work. But at first, it was not a top priority. This changed when Fort Henry and Fort Donelson fell to the Union in February 1862. Columbus was then cut off. General Beauregard ordered its soldiers to move to Island No. 10.

When John P. McCown arrived, he had enough resources to build strong defenses. By mid-March, there were 24 cannons on the shore above the island. The island itself had 19 cannons in five batteries. A floating battery called New Orleans had nine guns. Two forts, Fort Thompson and Fort Bankhead, were also set up at New Madrid.

The Confederate Navy also helped. Flag Officer George N. Hollins had six unarmored gunboats. They were positioned between Fort Pillow and Island No. 10.

Union Preparations

The Union started preparing for the attack on New Madrid before Columbus was evacuated. On February 23, 1862, Major General Pope took command of the Union Army of the Mississippi. His army, with 10,000 men, marched even in winter. They reached New Madrid on March 3.

Pope asked for heavy cannons for a siege. These arrived on March 12. The Union gunboats under Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote were not ready at first. They had been damaged at Fort Donelson. They finally arrived on March 14. The Union fleet also had 14 mortar rafts. Each raft had a huge 13-inch mortar.

The Battle Unfolds

First Fights

General Pope did not want to attack the forts at New Madrid directly. Instead, he sent troops to Point Pleasant. This town was across the river from Island No. 10. Confederate gunboats tried to stop them, but the Union troops would just move out of range. They occupied Point Pleasant on March 6.

The Union's heavy cannons arrived on March 12. They surprised the Confederates. These cannons stopped Confederate gunboats from moving on the river. They also prevented soldiers from Island No. 10 from helping at New Madrid.

The big guns started firing on New Madrid on March 13. John P. McCown realized his soldiers were too tired to fight off a long attack. So, he decided to leave the town and its forts that night. A heavy rainstorm helped hide their movements. Most of the soldiers escaped, but they had to leave their cannons behind. On March 14, Union soldiers found the town empty.

After New Madrid was lost, some Confederate units moved to Fort Pillow. John P. McCown was replaced by William W. Mackall at Island No. 10.

The Siege Begins

Siege of Island Number 10. Union forces surrounded the island.

The Union gunboats and mortars arrived on March 15. The siege of Island No. 10 began. General Pope and Flag Officer Foote were separated by the island. They did not agree on how to attack. Pope wanted to act fast. Foote wanted to slowly bomb the island into surrender. Foote's orders from General Halleck were also confusing.

Pope kept asking for gunboats to pass the Confederate batteries. This would allow him to cross the river and trap the Confederate soldiers. Foote refused, saying his boats could be destroyed. He worried a damaged boat could fall into Confederate hands. Foote was also in pain from a wound he got at Fort Donelson.

For two weeks, the Union mostly used mortars to bomb the island. But the mortars did not do much damage. The biggest damage was to the Union side. On March 17, a gun on the USS St. Louis exploded. Three sailors died, and a dozen were hurt.

After Foote refused to send gunboats, someone suggested digging a canal. This canal would let Union ships bypass the batteries. The canal was finished in two weeks. It was not deep enough for gunboats, but it was useful for transports and supply ships. This meant Pope did not have to rely on land routes for supplies.

Gunboats Make a Daring Run

Carondelet runs past the Confederate batteries at night.

Pope still needed a gunboat to help his army cross the river. Foote held two meetings with his captains. At the first meeting, they agreed not to risk the gunboats. But General Halleck told Foote to help Pope as much as possible. So, Foote called a second meeting. This time, Commander Henry Walke of the USS Carondelet volunteered to take his boat through.

The Carondelet was prepared for the dangerous trip. Sailors covered it with rope and chains for protection. A coal barge filled with coal and hay was tied to its side. The ship's steam exhaust was redirected to make it quieter. They waited for a very dark night.

To make the run safer, Union sailors and soldiers attacked Confederate Battery No. 1 on April 1. They spiked its guns, making them useless. On April 2, Union ships focused their fire on the floating battery New Orleans. It was hit many times and drifted away.

On April 4, the night was perfect for the run. It was moonless, and a thunderstorm started. The Carondelet moved downstream. It was not seen until it was near Confederate Battery No. 2. Its smokestacks caught fire, giving away its position. The Confederate batteries fired, but their shots missed. The Carondelet made it through without damage. Pope asked for another gunboat, and two nights later, the USS Pittsburg also made the run.

Now, Pope could cross the river with his army. On April 7, he sent the gunboats to destroy the batteries at Watson's Landing. After that, transports carried his troops across the river. They landed without any problems.

General Mackall realized his situation was hopeless. He ordered his men on the mainland to retreat toward Tiptonville. Pope's spies found out about the retreat. Pope sent his soldiers to Tiptonville to cut them off. It became a race. The Union gunboats also interfered, slowing the Confederate retreat. Pope's men reached Tiptonville first. The Confederates were trapped and surrendered.

At the same time, the soldiers on Island No. 10 surrendered to Flag Officer Foote and his gunboats. The Mississippi River was now open for the Union Navy up to Fort Pillow.

What Happened After?

The Confederate forces at Island No. 10 were completely defeated. Only a few hundred soldiers managed to escape by wading or rafting across Reelfoot Lake. General Pope claimed he captured 273 officers and 6,700 soldiers. However, Confederate records suggest there were fewer soldiers there, probably less than 4,500 captured.

The number of soldiers killed or wounded in this battle was very low. The Union army and navy lost only 7 killed, 4 missing, and 14 wounded. Confederate losses were also low. Many captured Confederate soldiers were sent to a prison camp in Madison, Wisconsin, called Camp Randall. Conditions were not good, and about 140 prisoners died there.

The Battle of Island No. 10 was overshadowed by the much bloodier Battle of Shiloh, which happened on the same day. But Island No. 10 was important because of the Carondelet's daring run. This showed a new way of fighting. Ships could now run past fixed forts instead of fighting them head-on. This tactic was used many times later in the Civil War. It showed that fixed forts were not as strong as they used to be. The weather also played a role. The high water in spring helped the Union navy. If they had arrived later, their options would have been limited.

Images for kids

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  Union transport "Terry" pushing through the swamps

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  The mortar rafts bombard the island