The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-07-23
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
How the Red River Fleet was
saved.
Admiral Porser's Report.

A~C AsbF% ~ 1870 - 70 NHN
ingenious devices by which the ironclad fleet &C
Campaigning Banks expedition was saved from
destruction. The following is the material part
of the report
the water had fallen 80 low that | had no hope
or expectation of getting the vessels out this sea-
son and az the army had made arrangements TO
eyacuate the country, l saw nothing before NE
but the destruction of the best part OF the Mis-
sissippi squadron. There seems to have been an
especial Providence looking out for US in provid-
ing q man equal TO the emergency. Lieutenant
Colonel Bailey, acting Engineer of the Nine
teenth army corps, proposed a plan of building a
series Of dams across the the rocks in the river
at the falls. and raising the water high
enough to let the vessels pass over. This propo-
sition looked like madness, and the best engineers
ridiculed it, but Col. Bailey was so sanguine
OF success that | requested General Banks to have
it done, and he entered heartily in the work.
Provisions were short and forage was almost out,
and the dam was promised TO be furnished in ten
days, or the army would have to leave us. |
was doubtful about the time, but had no doubt
about the ultimate success if time would only
permit. Gen. Banks placed at the disposal of
Col. Bailey all the force he required, consisting
of some 1000 men and 200 or 300 wagons. All
the neIghbOring steam mills were torn down for
material, two or three regiments of Maine men
were set to work telling trees, and on the second
day after my arrival in Alexandria from Grand
Ecore the work had fairly begun. Trees were
falling with great rapidity; teams were moving
IN Oil directions bringing in brick and stone
quarries were opened fiat boats were built to
bring stone down from above and every man
seemed to be working with Il vigor L have seldom
seen equalled, while perhaps not one in Fifty be-
iieyed in the success of the undertaking.. These
falls are about a mile in length, filled with rug
ged rocks, over which, at the present stage of
water, it seemed to be impossible TO make u cham
mel.
The work was commenced by running out from
the left bank of the river a tree dam, made of
the bodies of very large trees, brush, bricks and
stone, cross-tied with other heavy timber, and
strengthened in every way which ingenuity could
devise. This was run out about 800 feet into
the river four large coal barges were then filled
with bricks and sunk ut the end of it. From
the right bank of the river cribs filled with stone
were built out to meet the barges. All of which
was successfully accomplished, Notwithstanding
there was u current running of nine miles an
hour, which threatened to sweep everything be-
fore it. 1t will take too much time to enter into
the details of this wonderful work. Suffice it to
FAY that the dam had nearly reached completion
IN eight days working time, and the water had
risen sufficiently on the upper falls to allow the
Fort Hndman, Usage and Neosho to get down
and be ready to pass the dam. In another day
would have been high enough to enable all the
other vessels to pass the upper falls. Unfortu-
nately, on the morning OF the 9th instant, 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 unfortu-
nate accident, | jumped on u horse and rode up
20 where the upper vessels We're anchored and
ordered the Lexington to pass the upper falls, if
and Immediately attempt to 90 through
The dam. L thought 1 might be able to save the
our vessels below, not knowing whether the per-
IONS employed on the work would ever have the
leart to renew their enterprise.
The Lexington succeeded in getting over the
upper falls just in lme-tlIe water rapidly falling |
IS she was passing over. She then steered direct
" fnr Tho nnpnInu m rho dam fhrnnnh vrhtoh I
he water was rushing so furiously that it seemed
g if nothing but destruction awaited her.
of beating hearts looked on anxious
or the result. The silence was so great rs the
approached the dam that a pin might
lmost be heard to fall. She entered the gap
With a full head of steam on, pitched down the
caring torrent, made two or three ~spasmodic
oils, hung for a moment on the rocks below, |,
Tas then swept into deep water by the current,
nd rounded to safely in TO the bank. Thirty /
voices rose in one deafening cheer, and
UNIVERSAL joy seemed to pervade the face of every
ian present. The NeOshO followed next. all her
atches battened down, and every precaution
ken against accident She did not fare as well
the lexington, her pilot having become fright
led as he approached the abyss, and stopped her
lgine, when | particularly ordered n full head
steam to be carried the result wns that for a
omeut her hull disappeared from sight under
10 water. Every one thought she was lost.
ne rose, however, swept along over the rocks
irh the current, and fortunately escaped with
lie hole In her bottom, which was stopped in the
,uIse of an hour. The HindH0n and OSage
9TH came through beautifully, without touch
& a thing, and | thought if l was only fUrtu-
ate enough to get my large vessels as well over
10 falls, my feet once more would do good ser
ca on the Mississippi. The accident to the
instead of disheartening Col. Bailey, only
dueed him to renew bis e~xertions after he had
en- the success of getting four vessels through.
The noble-hearted soldiers seeing their labor Of
q last eight days swept away in n moment,
went to work to repair damages,
ing confident now that all the gunboats would
finally brought over. These men had been
orking for eight days and nights up to their
cks in water, in the boiling sun-cutting down
ses and wheeling bricks-and nothing but good
ImOr prevailed amongst them. On the whole
was very fortunate the dam was carried away,
the two barges that were swept away from
e centre swung around against some rocks on
Q left, and made a fine cushion for the vessels,
d prevented them IS it afterwards appeared,
I'm running on certain destruction. The force
the water and current being too great to con-
a continuous liam GOO feet across the
Ter In so short a TIM, Col. Bailey determined
leave a gap of 55 feet IN the dam, and build a
lies OF wing dams On the upper falls. This
8 accomplished in IL rec days time, and on the
tn inst, the Mound CITY, Cdrondelet and
,ts5ury came over the upper falls, a good deal
labor having been expended in hauling them
the channel being very crooked, scarcely
de enough for them. Next day the Ozark,
uisriue and ChiHicotie and two tugs also sue
erward the Mound CIty, CdT0ndelet and Pits
g started in succession to pass the dam, all
'r matches battened down, and every precau-
n taken to prevent accident. The passage of =
sse vessels was C. most beautiful sight, only TO :
realized when seen. They passed over without