Indiana State Sentinel

Our Army Correspondence-From the Mississippi River.
On Board Steamer Shingiss,
April 16 and 17, 1862.
J. J. BINGHAM, Esq.: The Captain of the steamer says the strange name she bears— "Shingiss"—was the name of an Indian queen, who ruled before the days of Braddock over the coal hills about Pittsburg, Pa., and was distinguished for many noble qualities. However that may be, the Captain is a clever man, and presides over a fast boat. By permission from the Naval Commandant at Cairo, Mr. Holloway and myself were allowed to take a room on the Shingiss, and run down with her to the fleet wherever that might be found.
We left Cairo at 2 P. M., and at 4 o'clock,the present writing, have just passed Hickman, a distance of forty miles, against a strong head wind, that sends the waves in spray clear over the cabin. The river is very high and rising. The rise is from both the Ohio and the upper Mississippi, and it is feared it will make against the operations of the land forces below. Yesterday morning, as I passed up, there was quite a little bank visible at Columbus, and now the water is over the streets and lots of the town. The situation of this whilom stronghold is, I presume, familiar to your readers. It is a semi-circular bottom, containing four or five hundred acres, skirted by hills or bluffs, with the river sweeping its front. The fortifications on these hills are very extensive and very strong-seemingly impregnable to any force that could be brought against them. They are well planned. The only defect is in the water batteries. They are entirely unprotected, and hence would have been, as Beauregard is said to have pronounced them, complete "slaughter pens" if our immense mortars had got range on them. It is thought the works will be kept up--the water batteries completed and the place made a depot for the heavy guns and ordnance stores captured and to be taken on the river.
AT TIPTONVILLE.
We passed New Madrid about dusk. Three steamers with horses and stores were still there. It was dark and raining when we reached Tiptonville. A regular New Madrid thunder and lightning earthquake storm was brewing. The orders of the Captain were to run directly to the fleet, but to keep out in the stream in such a storm as was raging, would be certain destruction to the craft, and the Captain determined to lay up until the fury of the storm was passed. Gen. Slack's brigade, in which was the 47th Indiana regiment, was encamped about a mile below, and we determined to visit them. Getting ashore in such a hurricane was a matter of some danger and difficulty, and groping our way through the horses and teams of a large body of cavalry, was no less difficult; but guided by the vivid lightning which lit up the entire encampment every few moments, we contrived to get through without a kick or a scratch. We found Gen. Slack still up with his aids Lieutenants DeHart and Daily, making himself master of his situation, receiving reports from scouts, &c. While the rain fell in torrents on the canvas covering, and the thunder roared as it only can bellow in this region, and the lightning flashed blindingly, we passed a very pleasant hour with our Indiana friends. By the way, the Indiana troops in the Mississippi division of the army are badly clad. The State is anxious to supply them, but red tape is somewhere at fault. Let it be cut at once, and not have our poor boys, as I have often seen them, searching for old coffee sacks in which to wrap their feet for want of shoes when ordered at night to the trenches.
DOWN THE RIVER.
By midnight the storm had blowed itself out. and one of those dull, hot, foggy calms peculiar to this region had succeeded it. The Captain resolved to take the chances and run anyway,as he had dispatches for Commandant Foote and a large mail for the fleet. It was a dangerous business, the pilots said. The fog was so thick that the green trees of the shore were not visible at over one hundred feet, and then very indistinctly. The bends had to be guessed at, but the pilots were familiar with the river and calculated the distance made, working out the situation of the craft in the same manner that marines do when an "observation" is not to be had.
At daylight we were met by a steamer with a peremptory order from General Pope to put back. The reply was that the "Shingiss" belonged to the Navy, and received orders from the Commodore only. In an hour more we were in the midst of General Pope's transports just above Plum Point bend. They were all afloat and such a rapid succession of shrill whistles as our arrival created was never heard before. It was like turning a fresh hog in a pen of old porkers. Every fellow had a grunt at us, and as we could only see their black smoke slowly winding up and back in the thick white mist, and they could only see our smoke, it completely mystified us. Presently the signal from the flag boat was heard to report. We ran close up, and General Pope and Assistant Secretary of War, Colonel Scott, with other dignitaries, became visible on the after-guard of the "Perry." They wanted to know what the devil we were doing there. Told them, and inquired where Commodore Foote was to be found, and was told he had not changed his position since the Shingiss left him. Some one wanted to know where the army was going, and was told that a portion was bound "up the Tennessee."
THE FLAG SHIP.
While rounding Florence Island and making for the Tennessee shore the mist lifted, so that the low black mass of the "Benton" was distinctly visible. Flag Officer's signal to "round to and report" was heard. A tug came along side; the "Shingiss" was ordered to lay to and await orders, and in a few moments we were on board of the flag ship. Her iron-clad deck was scrupulously clean and order reigned above and below. The finest cambric handkerchief might sweep her gun-deck without being stained, and the crew grouped about cheerful without being noisy, and in point of cleanliness presentable in any society. While my friends were engaged with the Commodore in his cabin. I was suffered to inspect the ship and had all my questions politely answered. I regret now that I did not also send in my card, for our party concur in representing Flag Officer Foote as affable and agreeable-a gentleman as well as a hero, and in this many thousands will agree with me that he differs from some of our fresh fledged Generals whose mushroom honors have made them so boorish that it will take years of civil life hereafter to make them decent pets in society.
THE BOMBARDMENT
Col. Fitch, who commands the advanced brigade of the army here, accompanied by his brother, LeRoy Fitch. of the navy, came on board to confer with the Commodore just as we were about leaving the Benton. An invitation to an early dinner on board of the ordnance ship and a promise that we should accompany a reconnaissance of the rebel batteries induced us to defer our return to the "Shingiss" and accompany them.
For two days the big guns on both sides have been sullenly silent. The rebels only stir themselves when our folks wake them up, and this was one of the days appointed to pitch a few shells into their nest. The defenses are at the first Chickasaw bluffs, on the Tennessee shore. On all maps that I have seen it is called Fort Randolph, and Fort Pillow is placed below. The river just above the bluff makes one of those abrupt bends so common on the Mississippi-the Arkansas shore running out like a promontory, the tall timber of which hides the bluff. From the middle of the river above nothing appears to vary the monotony of numberless similar scenes except the appearance of a slight elevation beyond the point, as if a cluster of trees had taken a notion to outstrip their neighbors in growth. From the Tennessee shore, however, where the flag ship lays, the high land is to be seen, dotted with tents which the rebels have been moving since yesterday The river narrows at the point; the bluff is bristling with cannon, so that a vessel rounding the point would run into their jaws. About a mile or a mile and a half above the promontory, and in the middle of the river at its present stage, is an island, or towhead bar. Parallel with the foot of this, on the Tennessee shore, the flag ship is anchored, with the navy transports above. Opposite the head of the bar and stretching upwards on the Arkansas shore, lay the army transports. The gunboats are anchored in the stream below, and the mortar fleet is in position on the upper side of the promontory or bend. The tugboats are here, there, and everywhere, skimming constantly over the broad expanse of water carrying messages and orders.
Shortly after meridian Captain Mynders of the army, the chief of the mortar fleet, announced all ready. The tug boat came alongside and Cols. Fitch and McLean, Mr. Holloway and myself with the naval and military gentlemen immediately interested, stepped on board. The active little craft ran down by the mortar fleet, Captain Mynders giving his orders to the several mortars as she passed the boats, and then she headed for the opposite shore, the pilot having orders to place her directly opposite the bend. As she passed it (the bend) the bluffs lifted to view and when we reached the middle of the river the upper rebel battery was to be seen distinctly with the naked eye. The tug headed up stream and kept steady while the officers swept the hill with their glasses. Presently the signal was given to the first mortar boat to open fire. A volume of smoke rose slowly up, a heavy roar so loud that I have not language to describe it succeeded and this was followed by a rumbling as of distant thunder as the shell sped through the air. These immense shells do not scream or screech in their progress as lesser missiles do-they rumble and reverberate almost beating nature in their imitation of thunder. Every eye was strained to note the effect of the shot. Moments elapsed. the thunder rolling on and on, when a small white cloud was seen immediately above the cliff which sent back a sound like a twenty-four pounder. The shell had burst-the range was right. Another and another succeeded in rapid succession from the other boats. followed and mixing up the thunder in such confusion that earth and water seemed to quake. They all had range. The rebel gunboats below steamed up to get out of the way, for we could see the black smoke from their stacks getting blacker and swaying in large clouds above them. The reconnaissance was over--the fight was opened, and Capt. Mynders gave orders to run for the mortar boats. The rebel batteries were slow to respond, but when they did open they kept up the fire briskly and with their heaviest guns. Their shells mostly burst in the woods on the promontory and their solid shot went clear over the mortar boats. The boats were hid from their view by the timber and they aimed for the smoke of the guns as it rose above the trees. In half an hour the fight was hot and the constant roar of such heavy artillery was deafening. The rebels evidently have some fine guns in position and of heavy caliber. A one hundred and twenty pound shot struck within a few feet of the Carondolet, dashing the water over Mr. Fishback of the St. Louis Democrat, as he stood, one of the group on her deck. The sight was grand. The decks of all the vessels were crowded with spectators and the panorama of the broad bay with its infinite variety of craft and the many thousands witnesses was exceedingly beautiful, if such a word can be appropriately used amidst such a stormy cannonade. For two hours the mortar boats thundered and the rebels replied, when orders were given to throw our shell every fifteen minutes and keep it up at that.
The trip to the fleet paid well if only to witness the bombardment of a few hours which I have so feebly described.
B.