Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-05
The LAKE Providence EaBsl.
orresPondence of the Missouri Democrat.

/ tCorfespondenee OF the Missouri Democrat
LAKE Providence, La, Feb. Is, 1865.
arrived here yesterday from the lower
feet before Vieksburgh, and found nv I'D
/ friend, Colonel George W. Deitzler. in com
mand of the post, who has Commenced tbe
cutting OF new canal to get around the
rebel stronghold, which, from what have
seen and heard, promises to be a perfect
success.
Soon after the arrival Of General Grant
before Vicksburgh, be ordered General Nc.
Arthur to send one brigade from his own
division to this point for the purpose of
aseertaining the praeticabiity Of letting
the Mississippi river into Lake Provi-
denee, and Of opening a passage for gun
boats and small stern wheel boats from the
lake into the Red river. General Near
thur ordered Colonel Deitzler to execute
the order. Accordingly, on the 1st instant,
the lst brigade was put on board trans
ports, and arrived at this place the next
day. Immediately upon landing, Colonel
Deitzler mounted about one hundred in
fantry upon mules, and proceeded around
the lake, distance Of some fifteen miles.
meeting and capturing Captain Williams
and three rebel soldiers. This reconnois-
sanee satisfied Colonel Deitzler that the
project Of cutting the levee and letting the
Mississippi into Lake Providence, and Of
opening canal from thence into Bayou
Macon, which is naTigable to Red river.
was entirely practicable, and so reported
to General Grant. Without waiting for
farther orders, the gallant and energetic
Colonel set 300 men to work upon the
canal at once, plsnuing and directing eve
rything in person. Immediately upon
the receipt Of Col. n.'s report, Gen. Grant
repaired to the new canal-the boys call it
Deitzler's canal-and after looking at the
river, lake and bayous leading therefrom,
expressed himself highly pleased with the
prospect Of the enterprise, and ordered the
entire l7ih army corps, General McPher-
son commanding, to this point to assist in |
pushing the work to an early completion. /
The I'd and Cd brigades, MeArther's diyi |
sion, arrived here several days ago. The /
divisions of Generals Quimby and Logan (
are expected from Memphis every day
When they arrive, one viii probably be |
sent to Floyd and the other to the mouth /
1f Baxter's Bayou, both on Bayou Macon. /
Colonel BisseIs Engineers have also been
ordered here.
The surface of the water in the lake is
about twelve feet lower than that Of the
Mississippi river, and the distance from
he river to the lake is less than four hun
lred yards. The levee once cut-the work
# two days will complete 1.-THE water
will fail into the lake with q rushing cur
'ent, and fill the Lake bank full, if not in
Indate the whole country below.
Before the water is let in, however, con-
work will be required in cutting
rees and cypress knees out OF Bakers
Bayou, through which it is proposed to
pen a passage into Bayou Macon. Lieu
enant Ullfrees, an engineer on General
irants staff, has just returned from an ex-
,loration of Bakers Bayou to its mouth, q
istanee Of fourteen miles, and reports that
t is deep and wide enough for large b ats,
he only distractions being those named
bove, and these can be removed in less
han three weeks energetic work Bayou
IacOn, a wide aid deep stream, uuites
Nth Bayou Tensas and Washita river, and
orms Black river; which empties into Red
iEer.