The Portland daily press., 1864-06-10
Friday Morning, June 10, 1864.
Admiral Porter's Report.
HOW THE RED RIVER FLEET WAS SAVED.

HOW THE RED RIVER FLEET WAS SAVED.
Admiral David p. Porter's official report to
the Navy Department, dated at the mouth OF
the Red river, May 16, gives vivid sccountof
the ingenious devices by which the iron-olad
fleet accompanying Banks's expedition was
saved from destruction. The following is the
material part Of the report
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 arrange
ments TO eyacuate the country, saw nothing
before me but the destruction Of the best part
of the Mississippi squadron. There seems to
have been an especial Providence looking out
for us in providing man equal TO the emer-
gency. Lieutent- Colonel Bailey, acting engi-
neer OF the Nineteenth army corps, proposed
plan OF building a series OF dams across the
rocks at the falls, and raising the water high
enough to let the vessels pass over. This pro-
position looked like madness and the best en-
gineers ridculed it, but Colonel Bailey was so
sanguine of success that requested General
Banks to have it done, and he entered heartily
into the work. Provisions were short and for
age almost gone, and the dam was promised to
be finished in ten days, or the army would
have to leave us. l was doubtful about the
time, but had no doubt about the ultimate sue
cess II time would only permit. Gen. Banks
placed at the disposal of Colonel Bailey all the
force he required, consisting OF some three
thousand men and two or three hundred wag-
ons. All the neighboring steam mills were
torn down for material, two or three regiments
ofaMaine men were set to work telling trees,
and on the second day after my arrival in Al
exandria from Grand Ecore the work had fairly
begun. Trees were falling with great rapidi-
"; teams were moving In all directions bring
ing 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 avigor have seldom seen equalled, while
perhaps not one In flfty believed in the success
OF the undertaking. These falls are about a
mile in length, filled with rugged rocks, over
which. at the present stage OF water, 1t seemed
to be impossibleIto make channel.
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,
bricks and stone, cross-tied with other heavy
timber, and strengthened in every way which
ingenuity could devise. This was run out a.
bout three hundred feet into the river; four
large coal barges we're then filed with bricks
and sunk at the end OF it. From the right
bank OF the river cribs filed with stone were
built out to meet the barges. All OF which was
successfully accomplished, notwithstanding
there was current running of nine miles an
hour, which threatened to sweep everything
before it. 1t will take too much time to enter
into the details of this wonderful work. Suf-
fee it TO say 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 Hindman, Usage and
Neosho 10 get down and be ready to pass the
dam. In another day ii would have been high
enough to enable ali the other vessels to pass
the upper falls. Unfortunately, on the morn
Ing OF the 9th inst the pressure of water be-
came so great that it swept away two of the
stone barges, which swung in below the dam
on one side. Seeing this unfortunate accident,
Jumped on horse and rode up to where the
upper vessels where anchored and ordered the
Lexingtonto pass the upper falls, If possible,
and Immediately attempt to 60 through the
dam. thought / might save the four vessels
below, not knowing whether the persons en-
ployed on the work would ever have the heart
to renew the enterprise.
"Ihe Lexington succeeded in getting over
the upper falls just In time-the water rapidly
falling as she was passing over. She then
steered directly for the opening in the dam,
through which the water was rushing so fu-
riousIy that it seemed as IL nothing but de-
structlon awaited her. Thousands of beating
hearts looked on anxious for the result. The
silence was so great as the Lexington ap-
preached the dam that piu might almost be
heard to fall. She entered the gap, with full
head OF steam on, pitched down the roaring
torrent, made two or three spasmodic rolls,
hung for moment on the rocks below, was
then swept into deep water by the current,
and rounded to safety In to the bank. Thirty
thousand voices rose in one deafenlng cheer,
and universal JOY seemed 10 pervade the face
Of every man present. The Neosho followed
next, all her matches battened down, and every
precaution taken against accident. She did
not fare as well as the Lexington, her pilot
having become frightened as he approached
the abyss, and stopped her engine, when
particularly ordered full head of steam to
be carried; the result was that for a moment
her hull disappeared from sight under the
water. Every one thought she was lost. She
rose, however, swept along over the rocks
with the current, and fortunately escaped with
one hole in her bottom, which was stopped in
the course OF an hour. The Hindman and
Usage both came through beautifully, without
touching thing, and thought that IL | was
only fortunate enough TO get my large vessels
as well over the falls, my fleet once more
would do good service on the Mississippi.
The accident to the dam, instead of disheart-
ening Colonel Bailey, only induced him to re-
new his exertions after he had seen the sue
cess OF getting four vessels through.
"The noble-hearted soldiers seeing their Ia
Dor OF the last eight days swept away in
moment, cheerfnlly went to work to repair
damages, being confdent now that ali the gun
boats would be finally brought over. These
men had been working for eight days and
nights up TO their necks in water in the boil
ing sun-cutting trees and wheeling bricks
and nothing but good humor prevailed amongst
them. On the whole 1t was very fortunate
the dam was carried away, as the two barges
that were swept away from the centre swung
around against some rocks on the LETT, and
made fine cushion for the vessels, and pre-
vented them, as 1t afterwards appeared, from
running on certain destruction. The force of
the water and the current being too great TO
construct continuous dam of six hundred
feet across the river In so short time Colonel
Bailey determined TO leave gap OF iifty-five
feet in the dam and build a series OF wing
dams on the upper falls. This was accom-
pished in three days time, and on the llth
instant the Mound City, Carondelet and Pitts
burg came over the upper falls, good deal OF
labor having been expended in hauling them
through, the channel being very crooked
scarcely wide enough for them Next day
the Ozark, Louisville, Chillicothe and two
tugs also succeeded in passing the upper falls
Immediately afterward the Mound CITY
Carondelet and Pittsburg, started in success.
sion to pass the dam, all their matches batten.
ed down, and every precaution taken to pre.
vent accident. The passage Of these vessels
was most beautiful sight, only 10 be realized
when seen. They passed over without an ac.
cldent, excepting of one or two rudders
This was witnessed by all the troops, and thu
vessels were heartily cheered as they passed
over. Next morning. at 10 O'Clock, the Louis
vile, Chillicothe. Ozark and two tugs passe,
over without any accident except the loss O
man, who was swept off the deck OF one 0
the tugs. By o'clock that afternoon the yes
he all Lad .<lr. a