Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-03-18
From Captain Downs.
LAKE PROVIDENCE, CARROLL PARISH,
Louisiana. Feb. 9th 1863

. LOGAoAdAAds GU - III 4COO
/ Der CkrOnicZs:-I last addressed you
from Memphis, and in that communica,
ton, informed you that our supposed
destination was Vicksburg On the Goth
inst, we struck our tents and moved on
board the transports, and on Sunday
morning February 22d. we commenced
steaming down the majestic Mississippi
I A run of twenty seven hours brought us
| to this place, $40 miles below Memphis,
and about sixty above Vicksburg. Here
we found Brigadier General McArthurs
/ (the 9TH Division of the I7th army corps
! Ito which we belong) encamped. They
had preceded us about two weeks and
had already done considerable towards
opening communication for transports
from the Mississippi river to Red river by
way of Providence Lake and Bayou
Macon. Our entire division (the 3d. is
now engaged in cutting the canal and in
clearing away the timber in Bayou Macon.
The whole country here has the appear
ance of being considerably below the level
of the Mississippi. The distance from
the river TO the lake is three-fourths of a
mile and the surface of the lake is four
teen feet and nine inches below the sur
face of the river. An old river bed or
channel leads from the levee to the lake
and requires but little digging. except
through the levee which is at that place
double. Bayou Macon has its rise in the
lake eight miles down the lake from the
river and contains at the present time
nearly water enough to float the trans
ports, but for a distance of fourteen miles
IS badly obstructed with timber. Bayou
Tensas also has its rise in the lake be-
tween the Mississippi and Bayou Macon.
but the latter bayou contains much the
most water and the least distractions.
We are also constructing a levee across
the head of Bayou Tensas to turn all the
water into the Bayou Macon. The route
Is regarded here as a much better one
than the cut of at Vicksburg and can be
opened with much less labor. The new
cut off via Providence lake will not only
open navigation, but overflow vast
amount of territory. The inhabitants
say it will overflow the whole country.
We have at work on the canal HOO
negroes and more are coming in every
day. A small Propeller about the size of
a canal boat has been hauled from the
river over into the lake and IS nearly
ready to assist in clearing tine Bayou. 1t
is fitted up for cutting off timber under
water. | should think that two weeks
would be time enough to get the canal
open. The scenery along the lake Is
beautiful and some of the plantations
excel by far anything | have yet seen in
the South. The water of the lake is clear
and affords us an abundant supply of good
wholesome water. 1t is the first time we
have had water abundant enough so we
could get that that was clear. 1t will be
very conducive to the health of the men.
The Peach trees are in blossom now and
so are many varieties Of early spring
plants. One of the most interesting ap-
pearances to persons from the North is
that presented by the branches of the
trees being covered with Spanish Moss,
and with the Mistletoe boughs.
We are encamped in an immense cotton
field containing several hundred acres,
and the cotton has been left unpicked.
Our camp ground is rather low but we
soon demolished several plantation
houses and made from the lumber floors
to our tents and by thorough ditching we
have made one of the pleasantest and
most comfortable camps we have ever
had. The health of my company is first
rate anu III lstcl there Is very little SlCk-
ness in either of the divisions encamped
here.
Rumors are afoat here about disasters
to the Queen of the West, and the Ram |
Indianola, but are not generally believed. /
Hoping that you will next here some
thing OF more importance from us will |
close. Yours respectfully,
L. c. DOWNS,
Captain Goth Ohio