The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-03-25
least ten miles. the river sweeps down direct

least ten miles, the river sweeps aoWn olrect--
ly to the South, when by gentle course It
bears directly east short three miles. where
it rounds sharply to the South, and then
West, and, running the latter course to point
due South of the entrance of the ditch, it
forms tongue of land one and one-eighth of
mile across, which will be the true length
of the artificial channel. There is formed a
complete ox-bow, the ditch running from
North to directly South across or,near the top
of the bow, while Vicksburg lies due East on
the convex side of the bow, on the bluffs, or
walnut hills, which stretch themselves froa
South West to North East, from point neae
the mouth of the ditch, where they. receds
from the river, OF sink into alluvion; to where
they are cut in twain by the black and narrow
Yazoo, some seven miles North East of
Vicksburg.
The land for many miles along the river in
this part of Louisiana, is low, denominated
"tSe swamp" 1t is protected from the rise
of water by heavy embanBment or levee,
extending along and near the river around the
entire peninsula cnt by the ditch, and for
miles above and below. This levee is near
40 feet wide at the base, 80 feet high, and as
many feet in width on its summit. The ditch
is to cut this levee twice, and the distance
one mile between the points where it is to dc
so, when the water is let in, is being excava
ted by manual, and that on the river side by
dredge labor. The earth taken out is thrown
on to the right side of the channel, and a lev
ee formed of the height and dimensions o
of the old one. The excavation is 60 feet il
width and 8 feet in depth, that is, below th'
surface of the ground, making depth of L
feet from the top of the levee. The rive
now being feet higher than the land on it
right bank, will make the depth of water il
the channel ten feet, which is adequate for al
boatable purposes And but for rebel batter
les now being erected rearly opposite tn
mouth of the ditch, permitting free transit fo
transports, mosquitoes, turtles and rams, a
the various novel craft here is respectiyel
characterized. The surface of the water i
the river is feet higher at the entrance tha
at the mouth of the ditch, thus insuring am
pie fall for an adequate current. 1t is expect
ed that this current and the consequent rus
of water will greatly enlarge the channel
Ultimately this will undoubtedly be SO. Blu
for the present, actual excavation must be re
lied on. Two causes prevent any effect b
the sole action of the water, for the presen
, 1st, The entrance of the water into the ditc
} ought to be where it strikes the right bank i
its long sweep from the North, instead of, 3
, at present. after their rebound they are moF
ing in partially counter direction. I'd, Th
exceeding tenacity nf the clay constitutin
the present bed of the channel.
The hour of eight in the morning willse
as many as 1000 men busily at work her,
quite Indifferent to shells or solid shot, whic
! are every day attempted to be thrown int
: our midst from rebel batteries below th
"many hilled city"
: With the hope that before these lines reac
your readers, this ditch will have been pre-
nounced ga success,'' thing which you, de;
: Democrat, are we'll known to be-" 1 lay N
down to sleep"
, Yours, HOB.