Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-06-15

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swung in below the dam on one side.
Seeing ibis unfortunate accident, l jump
! ed en- horse and rode up to where the
upper vessels were anchored, and ordered
the Lexington to pass the upper falls i
possible, and Immediately attempt 70 go.
through the dam, I thought might be
able to save the four vessels below, not
knowing whether the persons empIoyed
on the work would ever haze ths heart
to renew the enterprise:
! The Lexington succeeded iu getting
over the upper falls just in time, the wa
ter rapidly falling as sLe was. passing
lover. She steered directly for the open
ing in the dam, through which the water
was rushing SO furiously that it seemed
as if nothing but destruction awaited her.
Thousands of beating hearts looked on.
anxious for the result. The silence was
50 great as the Lexington approached the
dam that a pin might almost have been
heard to fall. She entered tie gap with
full head Of steam on, pitched down
the roaring torrent, made two OF three
spasmodio rolls, hung for moment on
the rocks below, was then swept into
deep water by the current, and rounded
to safely into the bank.
Thirty thousand voices rose in one
deafening cheer, and universal joy seem
ed to peryade the face of every man pres
eut.
The NeosLo followed nezt-all her
matches battencd down, aE& every pre-
caution taken against accident. She did
not fare as we'll as the Lexington, her pi-
lot having Become frightened as he ap-
preached the abyss, and stopped her en-
giue, when l particularly ordered full
head of steam to be carried. The result
was that for moment her hull disappea-
red from sight, under the water. Every
one thought she was lost. She rose,
however, swept along over the rocks with
the current, ard Fortunately escaped with
only one hole in her bottom, which was
stopped in the course Of an hour The
Hindman and Osago both came through
beautifully, without touching a thing,
and thought if was only fortunate
enough TO get my large vessels as we'll
over the falls, my fleet ohcc more would
( do good service oa the Mississippi.
The accident to the dam, instead Of
dishcarteniac Col. Bailey, only iaduced
him to renew his ezertions, after he had
I seen the success Of getting four vessels
through The noblo-hearted soldiers,
seeing their labor Of the last eight days
swept away in a moment, cheerfully went
to work to repair damages, being conf
dent now that all the gunboats would be
finally brought over. The men had been
working for eight days and nights, up to
their neeks in water, in the broiling sun,
cutting trees and wheeling bricks, and
nothing but good humor preFailea among
them On the EhoIo. It was fortunate
the dam was carried away, IS the two
barges that we're swept away from the
! centre swung round against some rocks
on the left and made a fine cushion for
the vessels, and prevented them, as it
aftcrvard appeared, from running on
certain destruction.
The force of the Tator and the current
being too great to construct continuous
dam of six hundred feet across the river
in SO short time, Col. Bailey deteruiin-
ed to leave 4 gap Of fifty feet in the dam,
and build a series of wirs dams on the
upper falls. This was accomplished in
three days time, and on the 18th inst
:he Mound City, the Carondolet and the
Pittsburg came over the upper falls, q
good deal of labo9 haYing been expended
in hauling them through, the channel
being very crooked-scarcely vide emo
ugh for then. Next day the Ozark, Lou
isyille, Chillicothe, and two tugs also
succeeded in crossing the upper faIls.
Immediately aftorward the SIound City
Carondolct and Pitt>burs started in sue,
Hcessiou to pass the dam, all their hatches
battcned down, and every Precaution ia
ken to prevent accident
The passage Of these vessels was most
beautiful sight, only to be realized when
seen. They passed over without an acc =
dent, except the unshipping Of one or
two rudders This was witnessed by all
the troops, and tie vessels we're heartily
choerod whch tlay passed over.
/ Next morning a. 10 o'clock the Louis
Vile ChiIlicotle, Ozark and two tugs
passed over without s@y accident except
tbe loss of man, who was swept off the
deck of one Of the tugs.
By 8 o'clock that afternoon the vessels
we're all coaled, ammunition replaced, and
. all steamed down the river with the con-
voy Of transports in company. A good
deal Of difficulty was anticipated in get
ting over the lars on Lower Red river
depth of water reported only five feet