To Mrs. Lyon
March 30, 1862.—Jeff Thompson and Pillow both had headquarters here last winter and ravaged the country. The regiment is still at Mt. Pleasant doing nothing. We do not expect to join it until we can go down the river. Our forces are cutting a channel through from above Island No. 10, about one-half mile long, which leads into a bayou or slough and will give us water communication to New Madrid without passing the island. Our business here is to take care of a section of the railroad and to help in the trans-shipment from cars to wagons of supplies for the army at New Madrid.
