, 1864-05-31
THE RED RIVER FLEET.

THE RED RIVER FLEET.
Eow TaEY WERE RELEASED.
Report from Admiral Porter.
M1sslss1pp1 SQUADRON, ]
FLAG-sn1r' - BLAcK lIAwK,'t
MOUTH RED RIVER, May IL, 1854.
SIR: have the honor to Inform you that
the vessels lately canyht By low water above
the fulls at Alexandria, haye been released
from their unpleasant position. The water
lad fa}len SO low that had no hope or cz-
son, and rs the army had made arrange
mc1lts to evacuate the country, I saw moth
ing before ME but the destruction Of the
best part Of tie Mississippi squadron. =
The work was commenced by running
ont from the left bank Of the river tree
dam-naade Of the bodies Of very large trees,
other heavy timber, md d<strengthened in
every way which Ingenuity could DEVISE
This was run out nbout three hundred feet
into the river; tour large coal barges wera
then fllled with brick and sunk at the end Of
It. From the right bank OF the river cribs
nilel Viii 6kunE WcIt DULL uuI 10 lneGt Tie
targcs. Ali Of which was successfully Ac-
compllElei, Notwithstanding there was q
current rnnring Of nine miles au hour,
which Threatened to sweep everything be-
fore 1t.
1t will take too much time to cutter into
the details Of this truly wonderful work.
Suffice 1t to say that the dam had nearly
reached completion In eight dnys' working
time, and the wat er had risen sufficiently on
the upper falls to allow the Fort Hindm NJ.
Usage and Neosho to get down and be ready
to rass the dam. In another day 1t Woull
bavc been high enough to enable all the
other vessels to pass the upper fails. I'm
fortunately, on the morning Of the 9th inst,
the pressure Of water became SO great that
it swept away two of the stone barges,
which swung in below the dam on one side.
Seeing this unfortunate accident, l jumped
on horse and rode up to where the upper
vessels were anchored, and ordered the Lex
ipgton to pass the upper falls, If possible,
and im1n eliately attempt to go through the
dam. thought might be able to save the
fuur vessels below, not knowing whether
tie persons employed on the work would
tycr hare the heart to renew their enter
prise.
The Lexington succeeded in getting over
the upper falls just ID time-tle water rapid
u falling as she Was passing over. She then
stccIed directly for the opening in the dam,
Through WHICH Tue HALEr NHS Tu5i1luat 80 III
fiously that 1t seemed Us if nothing but de-
struction awaited her. Thousands Of beating
hearts looked on anxious for the result. The
silence ~as 50 great Is the Lexington ap-
preached the dam thnt pin might almost be
heard TO fall. She entered the gap with
full head Of steam on, pitched down the roar
Ing torrent, made tWo or three spasmodic
rolls, hung for moment on the rocks be-
low, was then swept into deep water bg the
current, and rounded to safcty into the bank.
Thirty thousand voices rose In one deH1cn11E
cheer, aud universal joy seemed to pcrvade
tte face Of every man present.
The Ncosho folio a ed next; NIL her hatcLcs
hattened down, and every precaution taken
against accident. She did not fare as we'll as
the Lexington, her pilot having become
frightened Us he approached the abyss and
stopped her engine, when I particularly or
dcred a fnii head Of steam to be carried; tue
result Was that for moment her hull disap-
peared from sight under the water Every
one thought she Was lost She rose. how
ever, swept along over the rocks with the
current, and fortunately escaped With only
one hole In her bottom, which was stopped
In the course Of an hour.
The Hindman and Usage both came through
beautifully, without touching thing, aud
thought IT l was only fortunate enough to
my fleet would once more do good service on
the Mississippi.
Tho accident to the dam, instead of dis
hcagtenipg Col. Bailey. only induced htu to
renew his exertfons alter be had seen the
eucccss Of getting four vessels through.
The noble hearted soldiers seeing their
labor OF the last eight days swept away in u
moment, checrfully vent to work to repair
tamuges, being confident now TINT all the
cuubt,uts woLf1 be finally brought over
Tic 1nen had been working for eight days
and nights up to their necks iu water in the
boilin1. sunEcpttius trees md Wheeling &c m
bricks-and nothing but good humor prc-
vailed smopsst them, On the whole ii vas
very fortunuic the dam was carried nray. as
tlc two basres that we're swept away iran
the centre Swung round against some rorks
on the lett. and made tlne cushion for the
vessels, and prevented them. as It afterWnrds
appeared, from running On certain destrac.
The force of the water and the current be-
ing too great to construct continuous dam
of six hupiired feet across the river In SO
short time, Col. Bailey determined to leave
cop of tfty-fiyc feet in The dam. and bnild
sefries Of wing dams On the upper falls.
This was accomplished in three daYs' time,
md on the 11th inst, the Mound City, Ca
rcudclet. and Pittsburg came over the upper
falls, d good deal of loDor having been ex-
pended in hauling them through. the chan.
mel being ycry crooked, aud Scarcely wide
enough Tor them. Nezt duy the Ozark, Lou
isyjue, Clillicotlc, and two tugs, also suc.
cccded in crossing the upper falls. Immedl-
and pittsburc started in succession to pass
the dam-all their batchcs battened down
and every prccsntfon taken to prevent accj-
dent. The passage Of these yessets WA a
most beautiful sight, only to be realized
when seen, They passed over without an a..
cfdent except the unslippIng rone or two
rudders,
vn11