The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-10-17
ALEXANDRIA. La. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER H. 1883.

1000
four years. The dam stretched out
from both banks until the rapidity Of
the current and depth of water would
permil Of no more work. Barges filled
with stone were then sunk to narrow
the passage still more, and in eight
hours the rapids had almost disappear
ed in the back water. Had Porter
been ready to go over at this time
nothing would have been easier, but
he was engaged in sending his heavy
guns ashore, 1t was seen that the
dressure on the dam was becoming so
great that it must give way, and the
three or four nearest boats were put
through the channel at moments no.
tice and without much peril. The last
boat came down as part Of the dam
near the centre was forced out by the
pressure of the water. In twenty min
utes six feet of back water on the ra-
pids' had disappeared, and the army
realized that it must renew its labors.
The work of chopping, digging, carry
ing and lifting was the easiest part of
the work. Nearly a thousand men,
all of them stripped Of coats and vests,
were obliged to work in water from
two to four feet deep, and scores of
them with ropes around their waists to
prevent the current from tumblinr
them down stream. Scarcely one had
escaped chills and fever and rheuma-
tlsm, and of those on shore every back
ached and every hand showed blisters.
And yet within an hour after the break
in the dam the army was at work
again. There was no longer any doubt
that the fleet could be saved. Colo
mel Bailey saw that he must leave a
wider opening in the centre, and while
doing this he must lose foot or two
OF back water. AS an offset to this
loss he prepared wing-dams above the
main structure, thus narrowing the
channel and increasing its depth. The
army was at work little over three
days and nights at the second dam,
and the depth Of water on the falls
was almost as great as before. The
lighter draft boats had litter trouble in
running the rapids and dashing through
the chute, but the heavier ones were
saved only with the greatest difficulty.
Then guns were dismounted and haul
ed around the rapids, all the ammuni-
ton removed, and not pound of dead
weight was left aboard to add to their
peril. In the case of the Mound City,
Carondelet and others of that class.
drag and guy ropes were attached, and
a thousand men took hold and hauled
and braced and pulled them through
natrow channels and over shoal spots.
The dam was begun on the LIST of May
and by the 18th the entire fleet was
safely over. When the Confederates
discovered Porter's fleet in the tran
they felt certain that he must leave it
there. The Spring rise had passed,
the river was constantly falling, and
they confidently counted on the des-
truction Of the feet. Porter would of
course destroy each and every vessel,
but their destruction would be yicto-
ry to boast of. No man outside of
Colonel Bailey, Federal or Confeder-
ate, had thought of the dam, and the
wonder is that with Porter and Banks
each on his dignity, and Grant hurry
ing both up, the Colonel got ahead of
red tape and laid the first stick of tim
Der. Porter left behind him ten or
eleven guns, several anchors, lot of
iron plating, chains, gun carriages,
etc., which he had not the time to haul
around the rapids. Everything was
broken up and rendered useless as far
as possible.
History has dignified the expedition
by trying to show that it was the in
.ention to capture Shreveport and from
hat point menace Texas. Halleck
planned the whole thing out of his own
lead, or if he had assistance it was
rom Government spectators and cot
on stealers. The Red River, any
where above Alexandria, was a trap
or a fleet. The country, could not
upport an army Of occupation, and
ines of communication could not be
,ept open. Grant, who had mean
While been appointed communicating
hief, showed his disgust by ordering i
he abandonment of the expedition.-i
'anks fought two hard battles, in one j
+ which he was badly defeated,
larched hundreds Of miles, lost a sixth {
his a1my, and let go of all lie had t
aimed. Porter lost several vessels {