Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-02
REPORT FROM ADMIRAL PORTER.
AisslssIrpI SQUADRON.
FLAG SHIP " BLACK HAWK,

SIR: have the honor TO inform you that the vessels
lately caught by low water above the falls at Alexandra
have been released from their unpleasant position. The
water had fallen low that had hope expectation
OF getting the vessels out this and as the army had
made arrangements evacuate the country nothing
before but the destruction of the best part OF the Mis-
sssippl squadron
There to have been especial providence look
ing out for in providing equal to the emergency
Lieut. Col. Bailey Acting Engineer Of the Nineteenth
Army Corps proposed plan of building series of dams
the rocks at the falls and raising the water high
enough to lot the vessels pass This proposition looked
like Madness and the best engineers rdculed it, but Col
Bailey sanguine of success that requested Gen
Banks to have it DONE and he entered heartily the work
Provisions short and forage almost out and the
dam promised to be finished in ten days. the army
would have TO leave US was doubtful about the time
but had doubt about the ultimate If time would
only permit Gen. Banks placed at the disposal OF Col
Bailey all the force he required consisting of some three
thousand and two three hundred wagons. All the
neghborng steam mills torn down for material two
three regiments of Maine set to work Telling
trees aud on the second day after my arrival in Alexan
dra from Grand Ecore the work had fairly begun Trees
were falling with great rapdty; teams moving in all
directions bringing in brick and quarres open
ed fat boats built TO bring stone down from above;
and every seemed to be working with v!gor have
seldom egualed, while perhaps not one in fifty be-
lieved in the success of the undertaking.
These falls about mile in length, filled with rug
ged rocks which ut the present stage of water 1t
seemed to be impossible to make channel,
The work commenced by running out from the left
bank OF the river tree dainade OF the bodies OF very
large trees brush brick and stnne tied with other
heavy timber and strengthened in every way which nge
nulty could device This was out about three hun
dred feet into the river four large coal barges then
filed with brick and sunk at the end of it, From the right
bank of the river cribs filled with built out to
meet the barges All sf which was successfully accom-
pshed notwithstanding there current running of
miles hour which threatened to sweep every thing
before it,
1t will taketoo much time TO enter into the details of
this truly wonderful work Suffice it say that the dam
had nearly reached completion in eightdays working time
aud the water had risen sufficiently the upper falls to
allow the Fort Hnduan Usage, aud Ne0sho TO get down
and be ready to pass the dam In another day it would
have been high enough enable all the other vessels
pass the upper falls Unfortunately, the morning Of
the 9th Instant the of water became 80 gceat
thatt swept away two Of the sone barges which swung
IN below the dam On one side Seeing this unfortunate
accident jumped horse and rode up to where the
upper vessels anchored AID ordered the Lexington
to pass the upper falls If possible, and mmed atey at
tempt TO go through the dam. thought might be able
to the four vessels below knowing whether the
employed the work would have the heart
to renew their enterprise.
The Lexington succeeded in getting over the upper falls
just IN tmethe water rapidly falling she passing
She then steered directly for the opening the
dam, through which the water was rushing uriousy
Thousands of beating hearts looked anxious for the
suit The silence great the Lexington approach
ed the dam that pin might almost be heard TO fall She
entered the gap with full head Of steam pitched down
the roaring torrent made two three spasmodic rolls
hung for moment the rocks below, was then swept
into deep water by the current and rounded TO safely into
the bank Thirty thousand voices in deaienDg
cheer and universal joy seemed 70 peryade the face of
every man present.
The Neosho followed next; all her matches battened
down. and every precauton taken against accident She
did not fare well as the Lexington her pilot having be-
frightened he approached the abyss and stopped
her engine, when particularly ordered full head of
be carried the result that for moment her
hull disappeared from sight under the water Every
thought she lost She rose, however, swept along
the rocks with the current and fortunately escaped
with only hole in her bottom which stopped in
the course of an hour.
The Hindman and Usage both came through beautifully
without touching thing, aud thought if only for
tunate enough TO get my lsrge vessels well the
falls my feet once more would do good service the
Mississippi
The accident to the dam, instead of disheartenng Col
Bailey only induced him 10 his exert0ns after he
had the success OF getting four vessels through
The noble hearted soldiers seeing their labor OF the last
eight days away in moment cheeruly went to work
tCrepar damages being confident that all the guDboats
would be finally brought over. These had been work
or eight days and nghsup to their necks In water in the
broiling sun-cuttng and wheeling bricks-snd no
thug but good humor prevailed amongst them. On the
whole il very fortunate the dam carried away the
two barges that swept away from the centre swung
ound against rocks the lefr and made fine
cushion for the vessels, and prevented them, it after
wards appeared, from running certain destruction
The force o the water and the current being too great
construct continuous dam Of six hundred feet across
the river in short time Col Bailey determined IL leave
gap Of ffyfve feet in the dam and build series of
wing dams the upper falls This accomplished in
days time and the II th instant the Mound City
Carondeet, and Pittsburgh the upper fais,
good dral Ut labor having been expended in hauling them
through the channel being very crooked scarcely wide
enough for them Next day the Ozark Louisville Chilli
cot ard ao succeeded crossing the upper falls
afterwards the M6utd City Iondeet and
Pttsbu al started in succession to pass the dsma their
matches baened down and every prevent
accident The passage Of these vessels beautiful
sgh,ony be realized when They passed without
accident except the uushppiug If two rudders
This witnessed by all the troops and the vessels
heartily cheered when they passed Next morning
at 10 O'clock the Louisville, Chicothc, Ozark and two
passed without accident except the loss of
man. who swept off the deck Of Of the tugs. BY
O'Clock that afternoon the vessels were all coaled
munon replaced and all steamed down the river, with
the convoy Of transports in company good deal Of diff
Guilty anticipated in getting the bars lower Red
Of water reported only five feetgunboas
we're drawing six. Pfovdentiay bad rise from the
back water the Mississippi that river being very high
that time the back water extending to Alexandria, one
hundred and fifty miles distant enabling to pass all the
bars and obstructions with safety.
Words inadequate to express the admiration feel
for the abilities of Lieut. Col Bailey This without doubt
the best engineering feat performed Under the best
circumstances private company would not have oompet
I'd this work under yesr aud to ordinary mind the
whole thing would have appeared utter mpossbily
Leaving out his abilities ns engineer the credit he has
conferred upon the country he has saved to the Union
valuable feet worth nearly two mill ions Of dollars. More,
has deprived the enemy OF triumph which would have
embodened them to carry on this war year or two