"The Battle of New Madrid and Island" Topic

Quite interesting link.

"In preparation of the defense of the Mississippi River, Confederate General Gideon Pillow, commanding the newly formed Army of Liberation, arrived in the small hamlet of New Madrid, Missouri in late July of 1861. The region was to be the first line of the Confederate defense of the Mississippi River Valley and the base for future expeditions up the river, both by land and water.
The site was chosen for several reasons. New Madrid was the terminus of the main river road leading to St. Louis, 175 miles distant. The town itself was located at the top of the second of two horseshoe bends of the river, sweeping arcs which appeared on the map like the letter "S" laid on its side. Up river from New Madrid lay Island Number 10, situated in the middle of the river, which could be easily fortified to block Federal passage. Engineers proclaimed the Island as being without equal for the defense of the River. However, Pillow, a political General from Tennessee, had different aspirations. His first object was an invasion of St. Louis, which became bogged down when he attempted to join up with General William J. Hardee. The construction of fortifications was ignored and his grand army sat idle.
The following month Kentucky became the new object of the Confederate commander's attention, and Pillow reported to Gen. Leonidas Polk, now in Memphis, that the strategic value of the great bend was "vastly overrated." Polk, a West Point graduate who had spent most of the past twenty years in the ministry depended on Pillow's knowledge of the lay of the land. The two agreed that the high bluffs at Columbus, Kentucky were superior for defense, and the army moved into Kentucky. The move created a political backlash, as Kentucky had proclaimed its neutrality to both sides.
Pillow's move left what little works that were begun in New Madrid unfinished, leaving the completion of them to Brig. General M. Jeff Thompson and his contingent of the Missouri State Guard. The works at Island No. 10 were completely abandoned. However, after Polk moved his headquarters up to Columbus he directed that the works at New Madrid and the Island be completed, recognizing the importance of maintaining a fall back position from the Kentucky Fortress. Col. Edward Gantt, commanding two Arkansas Infantry regiments was assigned to New Madrid to complete an earthwork fort and Capt. A. B. Gray of the Topographical Engineers was assigned the task of completing a series of land batteries at Number 10 with local slave labor. Throughout the winter months Gray worked tirelessly on the Island No. 10 defenses. Three main batteries were constructed on the head end of the Island and work begun on five more positions on the Tennessee shore, together with a redoubt behind the land batteries.
After the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers the first line of Confederate defense of the Mississippi Valley was breached and Columbus was now vulnerable to an overland attack from the East. General Polk quickly moved his headquarters to Humboldt, Tennessee and ordered a division from Columbus to New Madrid and Island No. 10. Brig. General John P. McCown, a Tennessee West Point graduate and former Captain in the U.S. regulars, was placed in command. He was an unknown for the most part, and described as "dilapidated;" but he was experienced in the artillery, which the defenses at the Island required…"

See here.
link

Hope you enjoy!.

Amicalement
Armand

"The Battle of New Madrid and Island"

That would of course be "Island No. 10".