the guns from Memphis, I will soon be enabled to say we are prepared.

I am, captain, very respectfully,

A. B. GRAY,

Captain, Topographical Engineers, C. S. Army

Captain E. D. BLAKE, A. A. A. G., Dept. Numbers 2, C. S. A.

Memoranda of batteries at Island Numbers 10, Madrid Bend, by Captain A. B. Gray, Engineer.

Batteries. Number of Caliber. Remarks.

guns.

Numbers 1 6 (3 naval 3 8-inch On the main-

(redan iron columbiads and land, left bank

fort)....... carriages and 3 smooth-bore of the

3 barbette). 32s Mississippi

River,

Tennessee

shore.

Numbers 4 (high 3 rifled 32s

2....... barbette and 1

carriages). smoothbore 32.

Numbers 3 (high 3 rifled 32s.

3....... barbette

carriages).

Numbers 4 (high 3 rifled 32s

4....... barbette and 1 8-inch

carriages). columbiad.

Numbers 7 (2 high 1 rifled 32, 3

5....... barbette and 8-inch

5 medium). columbiads, 3

smooth-bore

32s.

-

24 cannon in

position on

the main-

land.

Numbers 1 6 (medium- 2 8-inch In Battery

(Belmost height columbiads and Numbers 1 the

Battery). carriages). 4 smooth-bore large rifled

32s. 32-pounder

Belmont burst

at the third

fire at the

enemy on March

21. An 8-inch

columbiad takes

its place.

Numbers 4.......... 3 smooth-bore

2...... 32s and 1

rifled 24.

Numbers 5.......... 2 rifled 24s, 1

3........ 8-inch

columbiad, 2

smooth-bore

32s.

Numbers 2 (siege 2 8-inch

4....... carriages)... howitzers.

Numbers 2 (siege 2 8-inch

5....... carriages)... howitzers.

The naval 1 rifled 32 and On the upper

floating 8 8-inch end and north

battery New columbiads. side of Island

Orleans. Numbers 10 are

located these

batteries.

-

28 cannon in

position on

Island

Numbers 10.

NOTE.- Thirty-five of the above guns have been placed in position in batteries since March 1 by the Engineer Corps, including the Sappers and Miners. The three 8-inch columbiads in Battery Numbers 1 are guns I procured from the naval floating battery at Columbus, and mounted them as they now stand January 20 last, by order of Major-General Polk. The platforms had been built by me some six months previous, when I located and constructed the redan at Island Numbers 10. These three columbiads were the only guns fired by Captain Rucker during the engagement of March 17. The three smooth-bore 32-pounders were not fired. One other similar 8-inch columbiad I placed at the same time in Battery Numbers 5, where it now is. The floating battery New Orleans was placed on the north side of the island, to command the right channel of the river, which it effectually does. In all, at the present date, there are fifty -guns in position for the defense of Island Numbers 10.

A. B. GRAY,

Captain, C. S. Army, Chief Engineer Island Numbers 10.

CAMP POLK, ISLAND Numbers 10, MISSISSIPPI RIVER,

Engineer's Office, March 24, 1862.