In war times the island had been an important place, for it commanded the situation; and, being heavily fortified, there was no getting by it.

It lay between the upper and lower divisions of the Union forces, and kept them separate, until a junction was finally effected across the Missouri neck of land; but the island being itself joined to that neck now, the wide river is without obstruction.
In this region the river passes from Kentucky into Tennessee, back into Missouri, then back into Kentucky, and thence into Tennessee again.

So a mile or two of Missouri sticks over into Tennessee.
The town of New Madrid was looking very unwell; but otherwise unchanged from its former condition and aspect.

Its blocks of frame-houses were still grouped in the same old flat plain, and environed by the same old forests.

It was as tranquil as formerly, and apparently had neither grown nor diminished in size.