Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-14

was she cutting Of canal through the
bayou from shove Island No. 10 10 New
Madrid. In fact, these two achievements
brought about the military necessity
which compelled the rebels TO surrender
the Island, without the sacrifice of the
life Of . single soldier in the Federal
army; and We take it that the origina-
tors and successful prosecutors Of the
work deserve fully as much credit as
the hero of . hard fought battle. A
correspondent Of the Rochester Union,
a member of Col. Bissell's Engineer
Regiment, communicates to that paper
the following account of the labor Of
this body Of men in cutting the canal
through 10 New Madrid from above the
Island: ~
safer the SURF ender Of the forts at
New Madrid We (Col. Bissell's Engi-
neer Regiment were engaged for four
days unspiking guns, changing batteries
establishing new works, and Other engi-
neering matters. Then we were sent
over by Gen. Pope to ascertain whether
it was not practicable to establish bat
teries opposite Island No. 10, SO as to
eufilade their works OH the Kentucky
shore. We spent three days in the
swamps in canoes, with darkcys as
guides, but found the project impractical
Bile. Col. Bisscll, however, stated that
he could by hard labor get steamboats,
and fat-boats through the woods and
bayous, and by that means land our
forces nearly opposite New Madrid, and
take all the enemy's works in the rear.
Gen. Pope at once gave him carte
LluncAe, aud he sent to Caro- for four
steamboats,, six fats, and such guns as
could be spared. They sent the steam
ers w. B. Terry, John Trio, Gilmore
and Emma, with the barges, a quantity
of lumber, etc., and one 8inch colum-
bad and three 32-pouuders. Tools we
did not need, for tho regiment carries
everything, fro'n the heaviest ropes and
screws do xn to fine steel drills for IN.
spiking guns. Our route was about II
miles long, of which two miles were
through thick timber, and the remaining
ten through narrow, crooked bayous,
gro IN up full of brush and small trees.
We have cut our way right through, the
track being Fifty feet wide, in which
thirty feet are required for the bulls OF
the boats. The timber is cut four feet
below the surface of the water. In one
short stretch we cut seventy five trees
thus deep, not one less than two feet
through. The machines were rugged
from RATS and our lowest flats, and
worked each by about twenty men. In
the first place three large launches went
ahead to cut out and push ont Of the
track the underbrush and driftwood !;
then three rats followed on which we're
the men, who cut down aud cut of the
trees then the saws, then two large
barges, then one OF the steamboats,.
VERY large lines were provided to run
from the capstan Of the steamboat and
haul out by snatch. blocks what the men
could not handle. Then followed the
rest Of the fleet, men being engaged all
the time converting the tlat-boats into
floating batteries. From the river to
the levec the distance is about 500 feet ;
here the water was shallow and the route
full of stumps; it took one whole
day to pass this. Then the cut
in the levec. Here the fall was
over two feet, and the rush Of
water was tremendous. The largest
boat was dropped through with five
lines ahead. Then corn field, over
flowed from the cut in the lcvce. Here
was something of channel cut by the
swift water, and we got along we'll near
~ quarter Of mile to the woods
here was the labor-two straight and
long miles to the nearest point in the
bayou. This it took eight days to ge,
through. Then Wilson's Bayou, tEcn
East Bayou, then St. Johns Bayou,
which empties into the Mississippi at
New Madrid. 1t you have never seen
a southern swamp you have no idea
how thick it is; New York elm
swamp does rot begin. 1t sometimes
took twenty men a whole day to get out
4 haIfsunken tree across the bayou
Such place as that kept US all back, as
none Of the rats or fats could get BY,
and Ill had to wait The water, afte,
We got into tho woods, was about six
feet deep, with gentle current setting
across The peninsula. In the East Bay.
on, the cuiren. was tremcr dous, ant
the beats had to be checked down with
heavy head lines. Here we found some
distractions caused by drift heaps, bu'
cutting off one or two logs would star,
all down the current.
This is the hardest job / have dvel
seen undertaken, but Colonel BisselI i.
SO far down now as to cali it successful
for we are in sight Of the fences on tht
''tother side of Jordan
1.-THE sag of the saw gives the cor
rect arc OF the circle.
"At each end of the saw a rope thir
| ty feet in length is fastened and carried
to boats upon which men are situated
Ten men man and work each rope.
"When the saw runs right we have
cut off a stump two feet in diameter ir
fourteen minutes. Often it pinchec
and run crooked; then gang would BE-
two or three hours on one Of the same
size. If there happened to be any
brush under water it added much to tho
labor; it all had to be fishcd up and 90,
out OF the way"
Domestic Items.
| A fact is related by the Rocheste,
Union, brought to light by the commits