Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-06-09
Passage Down Red River.
Correspondence of the State Journal.
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, STEAMER MouND CITY
u;ro- NAV. 1864

commnnication has been cut off, The ques-
ton ros hou, long could we hold out here
waiting for rise jn the river When there
was not the slightest prospect OF such good
fortune Gen. Banks was in great hurry to
oct ont but without the gunboats his pas
9saoa ont was not altogether safe, and should
the. army leave the place the fate of the
onnboats was sealed. The rebels were con-
stantly attacking US on all sides, Pliognac on
the north side. but the greater force still on
the south side. The indomitable Smith was
constantly heard of fighting them, first in
one place, then in another, until his praises
were the theme of every tongue and a petit
ton was put in circulation N the feet recon-
mending him for promotion, which was signed
by nearly every officer.
Meantime the project was started of dam
ing the river at point nearly below the low
er rapids, and the work was given in charge
of Col Bailey, of the Engineer corps, and
hundreds of men went to work with will to
accomplish the task Capt. Langthorn of the
Mound City most ably seconded the efforts of
Col Bailey, leaving his ship every morning
at sunrise and only returning at or 9 o'clock
at night, and by dint of working day and
night Tor five days, the water was backed up
on the rapids so that the two little monitors,
the Fort Hmdnaam and Lexington got over
But it was still too low to admit of the heavi-
er vessels. The same night, from the i'm
mense pressure OF water, portion of the
dam gave way, 1t being almost impossible to
hold it with such means as were at hand
To add to our discontinue, we learned that
the gunboats CoUington and Signal were lost
on their way out. From one of the engi-
neers of the latter boat | learned the follow
ing particulars: The two gunboats were con-
yoying the transport Warner out, loaded with
troops They encountered a battery some
forty miles below here and commenced action
instantly. They could have both run the
battery without much damage, but the Var
1ler getting aground, caused them to be de-
tanned until the batteries on shore were rein
forced, and the Cou1mgtOm, becoming disabled,
was blown up. The Signal still kept up the
fight, and her commander gave orders for all
the unemployed men to get ashore, as the
steam pipe was cut and the boat unmanagea-
bic. Owing to the number of sharpshootel 5
this business of getting up the bank was ex-
tremely hazardous. The men succeeded how
ever, in joining party of the Coyington'S men
and proceeded up the river on foot. They
were scattered once in the woods by rebel
cavalry, but finally arrived here after a ia
tl9ulng march of forty-eight hours without
food.
From a scout we learn that several of our
vessels were at Fort DeRussy, but our
troubles all lie between here and there On
the 8th the ChiHicotte got over the upper falls
into the basin below. 1t being found impos-
sible to make the dam hold to raise the wa.
ter any higher, the order was given to light
en- the vessels as much as possible. Accord
ing everything of weight was taken off with
due regard to still leaving the boats in a
defensible condition. Part of each battery
old iron anchors and the iron plating on our
sides were taken off, and on the 18th the
Carondelet started over the shoals and got
hard and fast and nearly out of the channel
The Mound City started over and of course
she got aground. The soldiers started two
wing dams, one from each side of the river,
to throw the body of water into the channel
| never saw soldiers work with such a will
1t was amusing to see with what alacrity
they would lay hold of line when brought
to the shore. Sometimes as many as two
thousand were on one line, and often saw a
II inch hawser broke i'll twain by sheer
strength. Happily, on the 18TH we got over
and into the basin of back-water caused by
the dam below, and the Caro,ldelet soon fol-
lowed. The other boats continued tighten
ing, and as the wing dams were now of great
service the rest got over the same night
But now our trouble was only half over We
had yet before US the final leap to safety or
destruction. The main dam was stretched
across the river from the north side, only a
short portion of 1t projecting from the oppo-
site side, leaving space of about sixty feet
through which the water was rushing with
lightning rapidity, and in a short distance
descending some ten feet, with a surface as
l. IL,
rollers which tumbled about with deafening
noise. Truly it was a wild looking place to
run a large gunboat into. The Lerinqton,
Fort Hn,dman, NeoSho and Usage went over Z:
also the Admiraps tug Dahiio But they
were lighter draft vessels and the breach at
that time was wider and the current less
swift, although man was washed overheard
from the NeoShO and drowned. One man was
also lost from the tug. 1t was with many
misgivings that we surveyed the prospect.
As the Mound City was the first to get over
the shoals above and being the heaviest vessel
in the fotilla she had the honor of leading
off the race and at about six 2. NJ. we cast
off eur lines and prepared to take the shoot
Port holes were closed up, matches battoned
down, trunks and articles of wardrobe were
brought on deck from the rooms below, and
everything put in as safe condition as
possible. The old boat seemed 10th to en-
counter the ordeal and refused to turn
her bow to it for some time At last she
pointed directly for it some three hundred
yards above. | think every heart beat a
trife quicker as she approached the fearful
leap.
The scene was of much too thrilling inter-
est for me truly to describe. Every noise
was hushed on board the vessel except the
orders of Capt. Lnagthorn, given in a firm,
distinct tone to the Pilots at the wheel
Thousands OF our anxious soldiers were on
either bank to witness a success or a catas-
trophy. Brass bands had marched up on
both sides and were playing, one the 1Star
Spangled Banner" the other the Battle cry
of Freedom" Your correspondent was never
in such painful suspense as during the few
seconds before taking this tremendous slide.
He tried to execute a few steps of horn.
pipe, but the effort proved a miserable fail
ure. In less time than it takes you to read
this, our bow struck the head of the vortex
and a cheer rose from every throat of our
men. which was yociferously responded to by
the men on shore, but was instantly hushed.
With the velocity of locomotive we took
the fearful plunge. The steamer struck
the breakers and threw the water quite over
her But seei She strikes! She groans -
Her bow rises high out of the water. then
sinks again, while her motion is checked and
her timbers crack with an ominous sound to
q sailor. For an instant she is motionless.
and the water rolled furiously over her stern
and every one felt that wood and iron would
90 to pieces in a very few seconds. But
there She starts again, she moves, and the
noise caused by the rock beneath her passed
from stem to STERN and we dropped into our
bearings on the water below, and although
the loss of our rudder rendered US unman-
ageable. if we were not sinking, we were
safe. The pumps were sounded but no extra
water was found We struck the bank and a