As
its name implies, the Mississippi River’s Island Number Ten was downstream from
nine other islands. Located close to Columbus, Kentucky, it was fortified by
Confederates who planned to close the river to Federal traffic. In a dramatic
ship-to-shore operation, forces under Major General John Pope and Flag Officer
Andrew H. Foote took over the island on April 8, 1862.
The
victorious Union soldiers and sailors were dumbfounded to discover among their
captives “a female invalid generally known as Harriet Redd.” Questioned, she
admitted to having come to the military installation to be with her Confederate
husband. Refusing a pass, Harriet said she preferred to remain with him, so she
joined the men in an improvised prisoner-of-war camp.
A
memorial statue was erected in 1979 to honor Harriet and her husband near
Columbus, Kentucky.
