Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-05
DAMMING THE MISSISSIPPI.
Mr.. Michael gives Some Particulars
of Gen. Bailey's Work.

II notice. said Mr.. w, II, Michael to a
Star reporter. chat The Stars article re-
viewing the life of the late Gen. Nathaniel
P. Banks made the mistake of giving the
wrong name to the army officer who pro-
posed the plan for building a series of dams
across the rocks at the falls above Alex
andria. La, and thus raising the water
nigh enough to let the imprisoned gunboats
pass over. His name was Bailey, not
Daily. as your article stated. He was lieu
tenant colonel OF the fourth Wisconsin vol
unteers. and acting as chief engineer of the
nineteenth army corps. commanded by Gen.
Franklin.
This was a grand piece of engineering,
and the man who suggested it and superin-
tended the execution of it deserves to have
his name rightly printed. He was promoted
to the rank Of brigadier general and re-
ceived the thanks of Congress for this val
liable service 1t is interesting to note that
Gen. Bailey was not a regularly educated
civil engineer, but was the product of hard
knocks and practical experience on the
water courses of the northwest and pos
man. In this avocation ne had learned to
construct and use dams to overcome OBJ
stacles arising from shallow water In shall
low streams in getting out RATS of logs and
lumber. He had used this same knowledge
two years before in taking two large trans
ports, which had been concealed In Tho:np-
sons creek by the confederates, and which
fell into our hands when Fort Hudson was
taken.
When Col. Bailey proposed the rescue of
the gunboats by means of dams the profess
sional engineers said 1t was madness. and
ridiculed the idea. The water was too
swift, they argued. to admit of such an ex-
pedient. Admiral Porter. however, fell in
with the proposition at once indeed. he was
engaged in figuring out some such plan
when Col. Bailey's plan was brought to his
attention. The colonel was sanguine Of sue
cess, and the entire force of the fleet and a
large army force were placed at his dis
posal All the mills in the vicinity were
torn down for material, and three regi-
thousands OF Others engaged in bringing
brick and stone; quarries were opened and
flatboats built to float the stone down to
where Ii was wanted. Every one worked
with undated vigor although most of the
men engaged doubted the ultimate success
of the enterprise. In eight days the dams
were completed, and the water had risen
so as to let four vessels over the falls Just
as the dam collapsed The accident in
stead of disheartening only served to en-
courage and stimulate Col Bailey and the
sailors and soldiers who had worked waist
deep in water for days in building the
washed-out dam. Four vessels had been
saved. and the others must be saved In
the same manner All hands went cheer
iuiy 10 WORK again In the broiling sun. up
to their necks In water. and worked un-
ceasingly by reliefs until another dam was
built. This time, instead of one dam, a Sc
rles Of wing dams were built, leaving an
open space Of fifty feet for the vessels to
pass through. When done, the vessels
passed through without accident. except
the unshpping Of few rudders.
Col. Bailey was the hero of the day, and
was given an ovation by both army and
navy that few men during the war ie-
ceived from enthusiastic admirers. His
work saved to the country over two mil
lion dollars and deprived the enemy Of the
satisfaction Of seeing valuable fleet OF
gunboats destroyed"