Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-06-07
Escape of Admiral Porters Fleet-His
Official Narrative of the Great Feat
Lieut. Col. Bailey the Master Engineer
Interesting Particulars.

ESCAPE Oh AumlraI fOrLerS Eleet-HlS
Official Narrative of the Great Feat
Lieut. Col, Bailey the Master Engineer
Interesting Particulars.
MISSISSIPPI Sons FLNasHIp - ra xO
MOURN RED RlyEa, Mpy 10, iabi j
SIR: have the honor to inform YOU that the
vessels lately caughth by low water above he falls
at Alexandra have been released from their un-
pleasant position. The water had fallen so low
that had no hope or expectation of getting the
vessels out this season, and, as the army had
made arrangements to evaeuate the country,
saw nothing before me but the destruction of the
best part of the Mississippi squadron.
LIEUT.. COL. BAILEY's PROPOSITION.
There seems to have been an especial Provi-
dence looking out for us in providing man
equal to the emergency. Lieut.. Col. Bailey,
Acting Engineer Of the 10th Army Corps, pro-
posed plan Of building series of dams across
the rocks at the falls, and raising the water high
enough to let the vessels pass over. This propo-
sition looked like Madness and the best engi-
neers rdculed il; but Col. Bailey was SO sau
guine Of success that requested Gen. Banks to
have it done, and he entered heartily into the
work. Provisions were short, and forage was
almost out and the dam was promised to be
finished in ten days or the army would have to
leave us. | was doubtful about the time, but
had no dOvbt about the ultimate success, if time
would only permit. Cen Banks placed at the
disposal of Col. Bailey all the force he requrd,
consisting of some 5000 men and 200 or 800
wagons. All the neighboring steam-mills were
torn down for material two or three regiments
of Maine men we're set at 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 all directions, bringing in brick
and stone; quarries were opened fatboats
were built to bring stone down from above, and
every man seemed to be working with vigor l
have seldom seen equaled, while perhaps not one
in fifty believed in the success of the under-
taking. These falls ave about mile in length,
filled with rugged rocks, over which, at the pre-
sent stage of water, it seemed to be impossible
to make channel
WONDERFUL woRK-THE TREE DAM.
The work was commenced by running out from
the left bank of the river tree dam, made Of
the bodies of very large trees, brush, brick, and
stone, cross-ted with 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 we're then
filled with brick and sunk at 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, notWith
standing there was a current running of nine
miles an hour, which threatened to sweep every
thing before it.
~ milA Nuht Auu muCu lllIe 10 enter lntO the
details of this truly wonderful work suffice it
to say that the dam had nearly reached compile
tion in eight days working time, and the water
had risen sufficiently on the upper falls to allow
the Fort Hindman, Osnge, and Neosho to get
down and be ready to pass the dam. In another
day 1t would have been high enough to enable
all the other vessels to pass the upper falls.-
Unfortunately, on the morning of the 9th lust !,
the pressure Of water became SO great that il
swept away two of the stone barges which swung
in below the dam on one side. Seeing this un-
fortunate accident jumped on a horse and rode
up to where the upper vessels were anchored,
/. and ordered the Lexington TO pass the upper
! falls if possible, and Immediately attempt to 60
through the dam | thought might be able ia
save the four vessels below, not knowing whether
; the persons employed on the work would ever
have the heart to renew the enterprise.
: A PART oR.THE FLEET GET OVER THE FALLS.
The Lexington succeeded in getting over the
upper falls just in time, the water rapidly falling
as she was passing over. She then stored
4 directly for the opening in the dam, through
which the water was rushing so furiOusly thai
it seemed as if nothing but destruction awaited
her. Thousands Of beating hearts looked on
anxious for the result.
10 The silence was so great as the Lexington ap
preached the dam that pin might almost havl
been heard TO fall. She entered the gap with
full head of steam on, pitched down the roarinl
torrent made two or three spasmodo rolls, hun
for a moment on the rocks below, was then swep
into deep water by the current, and rounded t
safely into the bank.
Thirty thousand voices rose in one deafenin
cheer, and universal joy seemed to pervade til
, face of every man present. The NeoshO fOllowe
NJ next-al her matches battened down, and ever
precaution taken against accident. She did nj
fare as well as the Lexington, her pilot havin
become frightened as he approached the abys
. and stopped her engine, when l particular
ordered a full head of steam to be carried. II
result was that for o moment her hull disal
- peared from sight, under the water. Every oil
thought that she was lost She rose, howeve
swept along over the rocks, with the currer
and fortunately escaped with only one hole
a. her bottom, which was stopped in the course
an hour. The Hindman and Usage both cal
Rs through beautifully without touching thin
aud thought if was only fortunate enough
get my large vessels as we'll over the falls, l
~ feet once more would do good service on
less Mississippi.
idle COL. BAILEY UND1sHEARTENED
=. The accident to the dam, instead of dsheart
,AN ing Col, Bailey, only induced him to renew
t exerhons, after he had seen the success of g
ting four vessels through. The noble hear
soldiers, seeing their labor of the last eight di
swept away in moment, cheerfully went
work to repair damages, being confident n
that all the gunboats would be finally bToul
lover. The men had been working for eight di
and nights, up to their neoks in water, in
broiling sun, cutting trees and wheeling brio
l.. and nothing but good humor prevailed am'
~ them. On the whole, it was very fortunate
dam was carried away, as the TWO barges t
coz were swept away from the center swung arol
Dug AGAINST some rocks on the left and made q
r, cushion for the vessels, and prevented them
tsyss Il afterward appeared, from running on GER
destruction.
The force Of the water and the current b'
q. too great to construct continuous dam Of
wood hundred feet across the river in so short ii
Col. Bailey determined to leave gap Of Fifty
- feet in the dam, and build a series of wing d
on the upper falls This was accomplished
three days time, and on the 1lth instant
Mound City, the Carondelet and Pittshu
DEL came over the upper falls, good deal Of Ii
having been expended in hauling them thro'