Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-03-13
RECOLLtCTIONs OF A PRIVATE.
Nineteen Days Steamboat
ing Through the Woods
of the State of
Mississippi.
The Yazoo Pass Expedition and
Grants Second Failure to Reach
the Rear of vicksburg,

tilb near OF SiCkSDuFU,
1.-THE accompanying sketch is the third of q
promised series we have undertaken to publish
coincident with oral historical instruction
given in the city schools by resident ex-soldiers
of the war of the rebellion. The superinten-
dent of the city schools has adopted this
method of conveying to his pupils information
connected with the war history of the Uuited
States. and our series of articles, prepared by
an ex-soldier, is Designed a part of such ia
structien. .-EUs.
Third Paper.
After the failure of the winters cam
paign of 1862 through central Missis-
sippi, General Grant gave himself no
rest, but, leaving the larger portion of
his army in camp at and near Memphis,
hurried IN person, by steamer, down the
Mississippi river to Miiliken's Bend.
Louisiana, which was occupied by the
advance troops of his expedition against
Vicksburg, with their outposts extend
ing down the river to Young's point,
within sight OF Vicksburg, on the
heights on the Mississippi side of the
father of waters.
From its river side Vlcksburg was
lmpregnable. 1t was built upon high
and almost perpendicular bluffs, with
the Mississippi river rolling its mighty
volume along the base of its frowning
elevations. It's hill tops were crowned
with massive and heavily armed fortih.
cations and its approaches aud slopes
were bristlIng with wars death dealing
appliances. AS Vicksburg could not be
taken by front attack, Grants general
plan was to place his army in Its real
(on the land side), where foothold
could be maintained and the stronghold
reduced, either by assault or the slower
process of seige. How to gain position
IN the rear of Vicksburg was the prob
lem yet unsolved. The Yazoo river anG
its tributaries, running for long dis
tance parallel with the Mississippi, and
smpuying into tbs latter few miles
above Vicksburg, formed natural
barrier, and the heights which hankeG
Yazoo of which Haine's bluff was {
prominent point. were strongly fortified
and constituted continuation of til.
line of defenses aboat Vicksburg.
To reach the rear of the city by {
flank movement from above involved
either the reduction of the Yazoo defensel
and success where Sherman had failed
in December, or long circuitous north
ward transfer of the army. The winter
and the early spring were consumed il
various experimental movements to &C.
complish this object. Ono of these
movements is the subject of my sketch
Though it resulted in failure, 1t was full
of novel interest, exciting diversions and
amphibious experiences. 1t was desig.
mated in the chronicles OF the time o.
the Yazoo Pass expedition.
The beginning Of this movement wal
far up the Mississippi river above oul
objective point. About mile bacl
from that river, in the state OF Missis
sippi, nearly opposite the city Of Helena
Arkansas, is small body of wster
called Moon lake. This lake and
the intervening country was protected
against overflow from the highwater o.
the Mississippi by o strong arti6cia
leyee. which held the food tide of th,
swollen stream high above the level o
M oon lake and it's surrounding plsnta
tions. Eastward from Moon lake abou
fifteen miles the Coldwater river
flowing soathward into the Tallahatchie
the latter finally forming a junction be
low with the Yallabuska river and th'
two creating the Yszoo river, which
empties into the Mississippi just abov
Yicksburg. The plan was to cut th,
levee of the Mississippi river at poin
opposite Moon lake and let the waite
therefrom into the lake through ion
disused lagoon bed. The overflow fror
the lake, it was demonstrated, woul
food the country all the way to th
Coldwater river, and by the artifcia
route thus created we we're to procee
in steamboats, TO the Coldwater, thenc
down that stream to the Tallahatchi,
down the Tallahatchie to th
Yazoo and down the Yazoo to
point where we could disembark upo
it's east bank and reacn the REF
Of Vickabura by vigorous owe
land movement from the neiehbol
hood of Haine's bluff, the most impo
tant confederate defense on the lowe
Yazoo river. The distance we were I
travel by water was about three hu
dred miles, and the distance VIC actuall
made on the steamboat was five hundr,
m,ies--frona the Mississippi to the Yaz'
river and return. In accordance vii
these plans, the levee was cut opposi
Moon lake early in February 1868. Th
pent up waters OF the mighty Mississip
rashed through the opening and sh'
down the decligity to Moon lake wit
out any. urging. Overlooking the banl
. OF the lake, the country for scores