The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-04-24
THE GREAT YANKEE TRICK.
'rnn sporting Boats across the Country
ut Island No. 10.
Correspondence of the Chicago Times J


The great feature Of this memorable
siege, and the immediate cause of tho glo
rious victory which followed, IL the trans
portaton OF four steamers across the
country to the aid of General Pope.
When the place was invested, Col. Bissell
came across the neck OF land which is
formed by tho bend of the river, i'll small
boat, tho water being 50 high that navisa-
ton WAS perfectly easy, with the exception
of the distractions offered by the trees and
underground.
lie announced that Gen. Pope, although
below the enemy, and in u condition to
cross ana completely surround them, was
in want Of boats for that purpose, Rnd
could make no movement until he wasskut
in possession of them. The enemy wGr0
in possession of tho bend Of the river, and
there was no means of passing them with
transports. Col. Bissell announced that he
was in readiness to attempt the task of taxi
ing them across the country, and arrange
ments were Immediately made to expedite
the project
The steamers w. B. Terry and Trio, being
of light draft, and drawing but thirty
inches of water, were placed at his dispos-
III, and the point for entering the woods was
selected at the foot of Island Nos Tho diff
ticulties of the work will be understood
when it is known that for II distance Of eyer
twelve miles the boats were to DO trans
ported through heavy forest, whcro the
trees were mcommonly large and close to-
gcthcr, and where the dense cottonwood,
underground and cane-bralc, peculiar to
this country, grew i'll all their native luXu-
riancc. There was plenty OF water, the
river having ovcrlIowcd its banks 10 Il
! depth of from five to fifteen feet, and III
many places deeper. The task Of clearing
ont the trees was one that would have dis
mayed stoutcr heart than Col. Bisscll's
! but for his engineering experience and nat
ural ingenuity, which came to his aid. He
attacked the primeval forest, and in few
hours, was buried from sight i'll its depths
Accompanied by large detachment Of men
in small boats and latboats turned with long
cross-cut saws and axes he made fast work
of it. The trees to be cut were selected
and chopped down, They We're, however
as much in the way rs ever, as thc BtumpS
were still above water. IN upright timber
was then fastened to the stump and to tho
top of this. some six feet high, was inS SteneC
| an uspillatng frame, swinging on bolt
and extending some iuur feet below the sur
face of the river. The saw Was fastened
to this frame at the lower end, and, with {
ropo extending each way, il was pullci
back and forth until the tree was sawed oil
In this way the largest trees succumbcC
and fell in a short time. Fifteen minutes
usually conquered an ordinary tree, anC
half.an-hour was sufficient for the giants OF
the forest. The work was not done then
however. The oyerhanging tree tops were
to he cut to allow the upper works ans
chimnics to pass, the trunks OF the iallei
trees were to be cleared away, and clca
channel as wide as u steamboat was to b
made 49, all Of which necessltatod the mos
arduous labor and perseverance,. The boat
p progressed sometimes slowly, and some
times with considerable speed, according I
= tho nature of the country. some day
they made no more than one or two length
, Of the boat, while others they moved
1 mile or more. They did not keep straigh
= course. hut turned aside when rayine 0
: valley offered less distractions, and IN TN
way they worked in a northwestern
+ course, which was not in the direction o
. New Madrid The great object was
|, reach deep bayou which emptied into tn
K river at that place. This bayou was tn
+ bed of creek which ran into a ravlne, an
L was comparatively clear of obstruction
k After much labor and disappointment, the
2 finally struck this bayou. about ten milC
/ from the place they started from, and aft,
! being in the woods week and hal
k They were then nearly as far from Ne
II Madrid as when they started, but the bayo
5, was comparatively free from trees and vi
e dergrowth, and they made rapid progre'
toward the river. Finally, after hayir
It been in the woods over two weeks, witho'
@ sight of dry land, they emerged into Il
e Mississippi once more, and with Joyi
1t hearts steamed up to New Madrid, amid Il
d enthusiastic welcomings of our soldier
e who saw in them the harbngers of chang
s. and relief. They had travelled about Gig
le teen miles in getting through.
4 This great feat of ingenuity ana pers
# verance was thus accomplished without
r, single drawback to its complete succes
G, The result of it was an immediate NOV
er ment by the enemy who saw themselv
" surrounded and cut off from all hope of {
10 cape The boats quickly transported t