Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-06-08

rough times of it on Red River The Benefit
was the last boat out, and since that time our
communication has been cut off, The ques-
ton was how long could we hold out here
waiting for rise in the river when there
was not the slightest prospect of such good
fortune. Gen. Banks was in great hurry TO
get out, but without the gunboat8 his pas
sage out was not altogether safe, and should
the army leave the place the tate OF the
punboats was sealed The rebels were con
staTltiy attacking on all sides, Piognac on
the north side. but the greater force stlll on
the south side. The indomitable Smith was
constantly heard of fighting them, first in
one place, then in another, until his praises
were the theme of every tongue and a petit
ton put in circulation n the feet recon-
mending him for promotion, which was signed
by nearly every officer.
Meantime the project was started of dam
ing the river at point nearly below the low
er rapids, and the work was given III charge
of Col. Bailey, of the Engineer corps, and
hundreds of men went to work with viii to
accomplish the task Capt.. Langthorn of the
Mound City most ably seconded the efforts of
Col Bailey, leaving his ship every morning
at sunrise and only returning at or O'Clock
at night, and by dint OF working day and
night tor five days, the water was backed up
on the rapids so that the two little monitors,
the Fort Hnd1aan and Lexington got over.
er vessels. The same night, from the i'm
mense pressure of water, portion of the
dam gave way, 1t being almost impossible to
hold 1t with such means as were at hand.
To add to our discontinue, we learned that
the gunboats Cogington and Signal were lost
on their way out. From one OF the engl-
neers of the latter boat ] learned the follow
ing particulars The two gunboats were con
voying the transport Warner out, loaded with
troops. They encountered q battery some
forty miles below here and commenced action
instantly. They could have both run the
battery without much damage, but the Var
lser getting aground, caused them to be de-
tanned until the batteries shore were rein
forced, and the C0gngt0n, becoming disabled,
was blown up. The Signal still kept up the
fight, and her commander gave orders for all
the unemployed men to get ashore, as the
steam pipe was cut and the boat unmanagea-
BILE. Owing TO the number of sharpshooters
this business of getting up the bank was ex-
tremely hazardous. The men succeeded how
ever, in joining party of the CoyiugtontS men
and proceeded up the river on foot. They
were scattered once in the woods by rebel
cavalry, but finally arrived here after IA
tguing march of forty-eight hours without
food.
From a scout we learn that several of our
vessels were at Fort DeRussy, but our
troubles all lie between here and there. On
the 9Th the ChiHjcothe got OYER the upper falls
into the basin below. 1t being found impos-
sibIe to make the dam hold to raise the wa
ter any higher, the order was given to light
en- the vessels as much as possible. Accord
ing everything Of weight taken off with
due regard To still leaving the boats in a
defensibIe condition. Part of each battery
old iron anchors and the iron plating on our
sides were taken off, and on the 18th the
Caroudllt started over the shoals and got
4 1 Z
The Mound tjtg started over, and of course
she got aground. The soldiers started two
wing dams, one from each side of the river,
to throw the body of water into the channel.
| never saw soldiers work with such viii.
Ii was amusing to with what alacrity
they would lay hold Of a line when brought
to the shore. Sometimes as many as two
thousand were on one line, and l often saw
Il inch hawser broke in twain by sheer
strength. Happily, on the 18th, We got over
and into the basin Of back-water caused by
the dam below, and the Caro1tdetet soon fol-
lowed. The other boats continued tighten
ing, and as the wing dams were now of great
service the rest got over the same night
But now our trouble was only half over. We
had yet before Us the final leap 80 safety or
destruction. Tie main dam was stretched
across the river from the north side, only j
shoit portion Of 1t projecting from the oppo-
site side, leaving a space Of about sixty feet
through which the water was rushing with
lightning rapidity, and in a short distance
descending some ten feet %ith a surface as
smooth as glass, then breaking into huge
rollers which tumbed abou5 with a deafening
noise. Truly it was a wild looking place to
run a large gunboat into. The Leriugtojt
For: Hiad1nd5l, NeoSbo and Usage went over
also the Admirars tug Dahli0. But they
were lighter draft vessels and the breach at
that time was wider and the current less
swift although a man was washed overheard
from the NcoSto and drowned. One man was
also lost from the tug 1t was with many
misgivinEs that surY eyed the prospect
A. the Mound City was the first to get over
the shoals above and being the heaviest vessel
IN the houllo, she had the honor of leading
of the race and at about six F. NJ we cast
of eur lines and prepared to take the shoot
Port holes were closed up, matches battoned
down, trunks and articles of wardrobe were
brought deck from the rooms below, and
everything put in as safe condi ION as
possible. The old boat seemed 10th TO en-
counter the ordeal and refused to turn
her bow TO it for some time. At last she
pointed directly for it some three hundred
yards above. | think every heart beat a
trIhe quicker as she approached the fearful
leap
The scene was Of much too thrilling inter
est for me truly 10 describe Every noise
fders OF Capt Lnagthorn, given in a firm,
Instinct tone to the Pilots at the wheel
Thousands of our anxious soldiers were on
either bank TO witness a success or a catas-
trophy. Brass bands had marched up on
both sides and were playing one the ''Star
Spangled Banner" the other the Battle cry
OF Freedom" Your correspondent was never
in such painful suspense as during the few
seconds before taking this tremendous slide
lie tried TO execute a few steps of a norm
pipe, but the effort proved miserable fail
ure In less time than il takes you to read
this, cur bow struck the head of the vortex
and a cheer rose from every throat of our
men, which was vOciferously responded to bv
tile men on shore, but was instantly hushed
With the velocity of a locomotive we took
the fearful plunge. The steamer struck
tile breakers and threw the water quite over
her. But see! She strikes! She groans -
tier bow rises high out of the water. then
SINKS again, while her motion is checked and
her tImoers crack with an ominoCs sound 10
a sailor. FOR an instant she is uotioniess
and the water rolled furiouslv over her stern
and every one felt that wood and iron u,o,,I5
IN q x-.av,-