This line will be the line of defense of the Eighteenth Corps reserves in case the enemy pass the redoubts on Camp Holly and to the right of the New Market road approaching down that road. A well has been made in the redoubt of Camp Holly, water being obtained at thirty-five feet depth. One has been commenced in the redoubt on Signal Hill and is now twenty-six feet deep. This prevents a cavalry dash down the road and past our redoubts. The corduroy road across the ravine between Aiken's Bridge and the high ground is progressing slowly.
Teams are scarce and the timber has to be brought from a distance.
A shaft three feet in diameter is sunk here eleven feet, and from the bottom a gallery is run in eighteen feet parallel to the gallery above. At ten feet from the end a gallery is made to the left to the distance of ten feet, as shown in the accompanying plan and section. From rough computation there remains but 4,500 cubic yards to remove now, which is being taken out at the rate of 400 cubic yards per day. On the Eighteenth Corps front wells have been sunk near the ditch of Fort Burnham to prevent mining by the enemy. The saw-mills have been at work steadily all the week.