The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-06-05

Col. BIssEL.-You have probably heard
of this gentleman, as being the one who en-
gineered the canal around Island No. TO-
Well, he is here now, engineering some
thing else. he is a man of energy, skill,
an undying perseverance, and in all of
General Pope's army corps there is not
man who excels the Colonel in devising
and planning ingenious contrivances for
worrying the enemy. he proposed, some
time since, TO cut canal from Pennington
to the Tennessee river, with sufficient
breadth and depth to admit of the safe pas
sage of gunboats up. This proposition
was made that our left might be made Sc
cure beyond any doubt But the project
was of course not faYorably thought of, and
/ mention it only as an incident character
istic of Col. BisselIs giant ideas. He has,
however within the past few days, construct
ed simple arrangement, which avoids re-
connoisances in Pope's division-several
large trees have been stripped of their
limbs, spliced together, and planted on a
high hill. Running from the surface of the
ground to the summit of the pole is a rope
ladder, of easy ascent and giving the look
out an altitude of several hundred feet, and
afording, with a telescope, an entire view
of Corinth and the surrounding country.
Perched on this aerial eminence can be
seen, at any time when the sky is clear
and cloudless, some one indefatigably peer
ing toward the Corinthian stronghold
This idea in its application and construc-
ton Is original. There have been observa-
tories erected for similar purposes, but do
not remember, in my military researches,
to have met with any point that was recon-
noitered from the top of pole Cor. Gin.
Gazztte, jane 2.
When the writer was on a late visit to
the 25th Indiana Regiment, he saw Capt.
v. o. Larkin of that regiment, constructing
q lookout on plan similar to the above,
and persons just from that regiment say
that Capt. L. had it successfully at work
when they left. Gen. Halleck had sent of
heers to use Capt. Larkin's observatory,
nd much useful information was gained
thereby. By means of it, the whereabouts
Of Gen. Beauregard's headquarters were as
certained, also that of the rebel line of en-
trenchments. In this way facts were learn
ed that were offgreat use in the subsequent
bombardment that routed the rebels from
their nests.
The writer heard Capt. Larkin speak of
MS plan as early as the zlst of May. The
Gazette's correspondence is dated May 26th.
Col. Bissell was in the left army corps,
Capt Larkin in the right The distance
between was from four to eight miles
Communication between, except for. the
higher officers, was very difficult aud rare.
1t may be that Capt. L. heard of Col. BIS
plan and copied from it; but we think it
more probable that Capt. L. was the orig
lnator OF the plan. 1t was so understood
in Gen. Yeatch's brigade. E9
Capt. L. should at least share the credit.
The discovery was useful one in the alb
sence OF balloons, which we're much needed
there "Honor to whom honor is DUE"
Capt L. is noted for erecting long poles.
He put up one at Mt. Vernon during the
last Presidential campaign that was high
enough to g knock the persimmonss'