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Capture of Island No. 10

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Autograph Letter Signed, "Amos Downing" 6th Maine Infantry, 4p. octavo, No. 10 Island, Mississippi, April 9, 1862, with cover, it reads in part: "...Island No 10 is ours, they surrendered Monday evening. We took four hundred prisoners, three large transports and all their cannons. One floating battery fourteen guns. I didn’t count the guns but I would think that there is about sixty heavy pieces ranging from 128 to 32 pounders. They are all good with the exception of five that we spiked when they had possession of the island. The main land batteries are all tore up by our shell. We would had the island long ago had it not been for the river rising so high thats all kept us back. The rebels found out that they was cut off by Gen. Pope and a great many made their escape. We heard that he had taken 6,000 prisones without firing a shot. We have all these tents, wagons and a great amount of provision they have plenty to eat with the exception of coffee and tea...All the prisoners taken here are all Irish. They say that they were forced in the service and are satisfied to be taken prisoner. They didnt know what to make of mortars. They said first a big smoke and next a noise like thunder and next thing the devil himself would come among them and that was worse than fighting with sticks. They say the first shell killed fifteen men..." VG.

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