The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-11
From Lake Providence.

has returned, the new route into the Suoaower
having been voted a magnificent failure The
affair, farce at first, came near becoming .
tragedy lg43 za ls 4rF
Several weeks ago, Col. Bssell, of the Engi-
neer regiment, who las discovered and expert
mented upon more new routes than all the other
officers combined, on one of bis trips entered
Steeles Bayou, and prospected far enough to
satisfy himself of its practicability. "a
Commodore Porter desired to examine the
route for himself, aud with couple of musquit,
oes he entered the Bayou, and prospected as far
as Black Bayou, below the junction of Steele's
Bayou and Deer Greek. Black Bayou is mar
row, miserable stream, with scarcely water
enough to float the steamers, and not wide
enough to turn in. When about half way to
the Supfower, the enemy, 500 strong, got after
him. They felled large number of trees
standing on the bank, and put a period to his
further progress. He attempted to return, but
found they were behind him as we'll. thou
sand negroes were engaged in telling trees, 60
that for a time his capture seemed inevitable.-
At this juncture the enemy appeared in force
and brisk engagement ensued between their
sharpshooters and the mosquitoes. This was
the heavy firing mentioned in previous letter
as being beard at Providence, The enemy
were kept at bay, and the gunboats hemmed in,
with no prospect Of escape, unless reinforce
ments from below should arrive. As soon as
Com. Porter discovered the trap into wi ich he
had fallen, he contyived to send word to Gen.
Grant, who at once sent Gen. Sherman with
several brigades to his relief Gen. Sherman
made excellent time, and came upon the enemy's
rear quite unexpectedly. He Immediately en-.
gagged them, aud after d brick little fight, put
them to fight. he captured q thousand negroes,
nd fuO hind vrbi to nonr sha
set at work cleaning out the distractions in the
Bayou, and Commodore Porter, was sent on his
way down Steeles Bayou rejoicing. The SOL
diers with their prisoners followed shortly after,
and by this time have doubtless joined their
companions before Vicksburg. This informa-
ton was derived from the dispatch boat which
landed at the landing in Steeles Bayou opposite
the corduroy road across Eagle Bend, and
have no doubt it Is substantially correct. .&s7
The gunboat Chillicothe passed this post about
daylight this morning, whence 4 Judge the Yazoo
Pass Expedition has been definitely abandoned.
If this is SO, there is but one more chance to
exercise that wonderful strategy" for which
the campaign has SO far been distinguished.
refer to the Lake Providence and Bayou Macon
route to Red River. am not in the secret of
the authorities. and cannot say what will be done
in this direction. 1t appears to me the most
|
Vieksburg can be taken. First, by direct as
sault in front. Second, by Irregular military in.
vestment in the rear, and last, by military occu.
patton of the county between the Mississippi
and Red River. The first would require the
sacrifice Of many lives, ard might not be sue
cesstul The second would require the return
of the army to Memphis, snd the making Of tina,
the base Of operations, advancing upon jackson
by way of Grenada and the Mississippi Cent? al
Railroad. This would require but little loss Of
lite, and would, doubtless, eventuate in the fall
of Vicksburg without fight. The latter, the
military occupation of the Red River country
could be brought about without retreat-whicb
in the present temper Of the North, would moi
fail Of disastrous results. Once let US occupy
and firmly hold that portion Of Louisiana Dor
dering on the Guchita and Red Rivers, and bott
Vicksburg and Port Hudson must be abandoned
Once in Red River, Alexandra, Shreveport
Marksville and all important points fall into oul
and be made the base of operations in the inte
rior. When the Federal army had established
themselves firmly there, it would not pay Il
hold Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and the GOV
eted fruit would drop into our hands fully ripe
The whole campaign has so far been mos
criminally conducted. twas worse than Grim.
"a blunder from the start. We should never
have left Memphis at all, except by land, by va,
of Grenada. We could then have taken tina
city easily. It was expected, and. because ex-
pected, most loosely held by our enemies. Their,
were no Notifications of account there, and onc'
on the banks of the Yallabusha We had an ad-
vantage which three months campaigning OF
the Mississippi and its tributaries has, tailed Il
u give us. ss.ss - -.
There is a rumor that General Ransoms brig.
ade, now on q cotton gathering expedition ~