Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-06-11

his untiring zeal and energy in constructing
/ tins dam, which proved the salvation of the
/ iron clads, and perhaps the army. 1t will be
regarded as one of the most remarkable op-
erations of the war. To dam a river that
never was damned Except by word of mouth)
/ in the space of four days, in such place and
/ with such material, is no common occur
renee, and the gallant constructor will long
be remembered with kindly feelings by the
navy. | am happy to say that the officers of
this feet have started in circulation a sub
scription for a testimonial to Col. Bailey. 1t
was only Just started when it reached us, but
the amount subscribed already exceeded $780,
The Hound City went over the dam ON the
18th. and on the 18th, in the afternoon, the
evacuation took place. As early as 10 A. NJ.
+, the town was discovered to be on fire, and
several squares were soon enveloped by the
devouring element. And now commenced a
scene of frequent occurrence iii the South
since this war began, but one that would ere
ate a sensation throughout the whole North
were it to happen in town of the size of
Alexandria. Frantic women were running
here and there, trying in vain to save some
thing of their household stores but it was
all in vain +; the hungry flames Tapped up their
goods even after they were in the street.
Although there was scarcely breath of wind,
vet the fire spread with the greatest rapidity.
Gen. Banks made some Intellectual attempts
to stay the progress of the flames, and tore
down several buildings, but the soldiers did
not work with much interest. An engine
was hauled to the river, but the hose was
found to be cut. After this it was allowed
to have its own way.
Various opinions as to how the fire Origi-
mated are in circulation. Some say it was
started by drunken soldier; others that it
was entirely accidental, and others, still,
think it was fired by the secesh, to delay our
ammunition trains. The latter cause | think
the most probable. When we left, at about
p NJ, the fire had swept everything ON the
main street for the distance of over half
mile. The destruction of property was very
great.
The guns that were taken from the boats
above the falls were bursted, and everything
being ready, we went off, leaving the place
wrapped in a dense volume of smoke. We
proceeded down some ten miles and laid up
for the night.
On the morning of the 18th we started in
regular order, the CdrOndelet taking the lead,
with large sidewheel transport as a tender
and cOnsort, then another gunboat, then a
transport, and so on with all the iron-clads
The transports were to help the gunboats off
the ground when necessary and the gunboats
TO protect the transports when attacked
The Lexington, Fort Hndnldl and Sinclair
brought up the rear. We came along slow
ly, occasionally Smelling the woods as some
party of rebels would fire on the transports
from the north side, We having no forces on
that side of the river. We tied up at night
at the wrecks of the Signal, Co0ingtO,. and
HuTe1a The casualties as far as know to-
day have been two men killed on the Emerald,
one on the Clara Bell and one killed and one
wounded on the monitor Ozark.
We are now up with the advance of the
army, who have been skirmishing with the
enemy all the day, driving them slowly be-
fore them. The river is very slack water,
and full of all kinds of filth, dead horses,
mules, and occasionally the body of man is
seen floating about But all such are buried
as soon as discovered. On the bank where
we lay were found two or three thousand let
tiers captured from the Warner, as she carried
out large army mail. Several thousand
dollars were lost it is said, as the army was
recently paid off and many were sending home
a portion of their pay. We are now forty
miles below Alexandria and thirty above Fort
DeRussy, where we hear our gunboats are.
We have found no batteries as yet, but hear
of them below.
On the 18th four gunboats and the flagship
Cricket started ahead and proceeded at good
speed down the river. We encountered 800
rebels on the north side who fired into u.s.
but we gave them a good shelling and left
them running. We had no more trouble and
reached Fort De Russy at p. m. Here we
received our mail, the first we had had for
over three weeks We passed on down by
the Choctap and Benton and soon met dis
patch boat bearing the news that Gen. Grant
~, NH oh IoI 80
great cheering. If we could have been re-
turning from a great victory think the cause
of Uncle JEFF. would have been about played
out. Our greatest consolation is that we got
out at ALL But we have learned the rebels
that low water won't catch US in this river,
and don't think they will depend on it again.
Since coming into the river we have lost
the following named boats: WOodford, last
ings, La Crosse, City Belle, Warner, Edstport,
Signal, CoUagton, Champion No. 8, Champion
No. and the Emma The five first named
and the last are army transports, the others
belong to the navy We left several tons of
iron and ammunition in the bottom of the
river, also few guns, fold style.) But had
it not been for the feet not a single trans
port would have gotten out of the river.
The ChUicOthe, Mound City, Pittsburgh and
Sinclair are to proceed down the Atchafalaya
presume 10 see DaIlkS SaIe across tnaL Day
GU on his retreat.
The different descriptions of the battle
of Pleasant Hill in your paper, are all
nearly correct, as much so as can be got
at, and to Gen. Banks we can lay the cause
of our turning our forces down stream
The idea of fighting a large battle with
wagon trains, l don't think ever origi-
mated with any other man. The experiment
was failure and didn't. pay. Gen. Smith is
bringing up the rear, because there is fighting
to be done there and he and his boys are the
kind of folks that do that sort of business.
At point some ten miles above Fort De
Russy the army was obliged to leave the riv-
er on account of the low, marshy ground
They struck off intending to cross the Atcha-
falaya at Simmesport. The feet came by way
of the river and entered Bayou Atchafalaya.
The transports stopped in Old River, and the
ChiUicotte, Carondolet, Mound City, Louisville,
Pittsburgh and GGzele came to Simmesport
where they arrived at noon.
The mail goes. Au reyoir. ]. B. A.
Tuesday, May l6.
The FEELING IN RIcHNoND.-We extract
the following from paper called the South
err, ChaTchnadn, published in Richmond, and
which is the organ of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the Confederate States."-
The date Of publication is April 22d, and we
call particular attention to the sentence
printed in italic: -A rrr r.f
The present time, in the history of the war,
we do not think can well be over-estimated.
1t seems by common consent, both among us
and our enemies IN ha paoardad os n on;s;s