From the Southwest.
loss of the Vanderbilt — Affairs at Island Number10. &c.
Augusta March 31.
--New Orleans papers of the 27th inst, received here, report the loss of the Confederate steamer Vanderbilt.
Her captain, five of the crew, and eight passengers, arrived safe on the Florida coast. One containing seventeen men had not been beard from.
The river steamer National had arrived at Memphis from Island Number10, with intelligence that the Federal were firing slowly and at long range, without doing our works any injury whatever.
The Appeal, of the 28th, has a private letter from Island No.10, dated on the 21th, which says, we feel safe here, so far as the Federal gunboats are concerned. They are afraid to come in reach of our guns. One boat has been already sung — another, supposed to be the Benton, would sing is the water was deep enough. The steamer Grampus bring by three Missourian, who report that the Benton had been shot through and through, and that twelve of her men has been killed.--They also report that over 1,000 Federal had been killed in the fight at New Madrid, All the Federal gunboats and transports had gone up the river out of sight. A few mortars and one gun can remain. The Confederate steamer Red Rover had been perforated by a piece of shell, which caused her to leak. This, however, was soon stopped, and no body was hurt.
Additional.
Gen. Van-Dorn and Gen. Jeff. Thompson are preparing for an early movement on some point on the Mississippi river.
With this force it is considered the Mississippi Valley is safe from the enemy.
Members March 29.--The Avalanche, of this morning says that the force of the enemy attempting no take Island No.10 have been throwing shell and shot for two hundred and forty hours. They have expended over three thousand 13-inch shell, and have burnt over one hundred thousand pounds of powder — yet they have done no damage to the parapets of our works, to the buildings, or to the magazines, or to our guns. Up to this time only one Confederate soldier has been killed. Communication with the Island by Tiptonville has been interrupted.
