And  the  people  furnished  large  quantities  of  old
brass — andirons,  candlesticks,  gas-fixtures,  and
even  door-knobs."  These  were  all  sent  to  New
Orleans  to  be  used  in  cannou-founderies.  There
they  were  found  by  General  Butler,  sent  to  Bos-
ton, and  sold  at  auction.  Beauregard  had  thor-
oughly fortified  the  island,  and,  after  the  capt-
ure of  New  Madrid,  it  became  an  object  of  great
interest  to  both  parties,  for  it  was  besieged  by
the  Nationals.  For  this  purpose  Commodore
Foote  left  Cairo  (March  14, 166-i)  with  a  power-
ful fleet  of  gun  aud  mortar  boats.  There  were
seven  of  the  former  iron-clad  aud  one  not  ar-
mored, and  ten  of  the  latter.  On  the  night  of
the  15th  Foote  was  at  Island  Number  Ten,  and
the  next  morning  (Sunday)  be  began  the  siege
with  a  bombardment  by  the  rifled  cannons  of  bis
flag-ship,  the  Boston.  This  was  followed  by  the
mortar  -  boats,  moored  at  proper  points  along
the  river  shore,  from  which  tons  of  iron  were
hurled  upon  the  island  and  the  batteries  on  the
Kentucky  banks  opposite.  All  day  long  the  ar-
tillery duel  was  kept  up  without  much  injury
to  either  party.  Meanwhile  a  battery  of  Illinois
artillery  had  been  landed  on  the  Missouri  shore,
in  a  position  to  assail  the  Confederate  flotilla
near  the  island.  The  next  day  a  tremendous
attack  on  the  Confederate  works  was  made  by


was  chafing  with  impatience  at  New  Madrid.
