The National tribune., 1898-12-29

have mentioned how Haines's Bluff,
with it's heavy batteries, which stored
he ascent Of the laZoo, was the obstacle
.shich prevented him fro nl RI aching the
.iieh lands from the north. The i'll sue
cess Of Sherman's ATTEMPT at Chicl asaw
Bayou showed hin? the improl al iiity Of
breaking through the lire OF bluffs any
where between Haines's Bluff and Vicks-
burg by assaulting them over the net
work OF swamps that covered their entire
'front.' and he could rot turn them, te-
cause the guns at Hainess Bluff would
act permit him to go up the Yazoo beyond
ITEM.
On the west side of the Mississippi,
south OF the Arkansas line, is che Of the
little lakes formed by the river shifting
its course in prehistoric ages. This is
called Lake Providence. 1t discharges its
waters into two bayous that eventually
unite and form the Tensas River, which
in turn flows into the Wachita River, that
in its turn runs into the Red River.
BY cutting canal mile long the water
OF the Mississippi could be turned into
the lake, and by cleaning cut the chan
neIS Of the connecting sire ans a Tass age
could be secured which would allow gun
boats and transports To run through To- the
Red River, leaving Nicksburg SO miles to
the east.
This was done, and few Eoats were
passed into the lake but went no farther
for a new scheme had suggested itself.
Two hundred and fifty miles above
Vicksburg, and a mile from the east bank
of the Mississippi, is another lake, called
Moon Lake. 1t feeds the Coldwater River,
which runs into the Tailahatchie that
afterwards uniteS with the Iallabusha To
form the Yazoo. They are all narrow
| streams, but very deep at ordinary stages
! of the weather, being sort Of natural
canals meandering in an dimless fashion
| through the swampy lands OF that allu-
vial country.
| 1t occurred to someone about Head
quarters that # access he gained to
4, the headwaters OF til ! not only
could severe dana to the
enemy by the capt .drge number
| Of steamboats, that .aKen refuge there
| the destruction Of a number Of gunboats
| being built, and the seizure Of the crops OF
that fertile region, but by descending the
river Haines's Bluff could be taken in the
rear.
1t was decided 10 attempt this. On
Feb. the levee opposite Neon Lake was
blown up and the Mississippi then at
f! food level, tore through the opening until
| il had enlarged il To the width Of two miles
ing torrent. For two days the current was
so powerful that the beats did not dare TO
! trust themselves 10 IL.
Then a feet OF two large ironcIads. one
! ram. six light gunbOats and 20 transports.
entered through the breach and allowed
| headstrong flow, only using their wheels
! 80 hold themselves back and give direc-
ton. They passed through Moon Lake
without difficulty, but as they entered
the pass by which they would reach the
| Coldwater River, they were brought to an
abrupt halt. The rebels had bI0ckaded
! the way by telling across the bayou
some OF the immense cottonwoods, cy-
presses and sycamores that lined its
| banks.
Then followed days OF disheartening
/ toll. For two weeks the Union soldiers
worked In the falling rain and the cold
water OF the food, cutting away the pros
trate trunks, or pulling them away by
| great cables attached to the gunboats
AS none Of the green wood, except the
cottonwood, would float, the labor of get
ting il cut Of the channel was enormous.
All this time the rebels were only lit tie
| way ahead cutting down more trees
| Ii was p weary days Before the
I expedition reached the TallaIatchie only
Is miles from where il left the Mississippi
The Ialiahatchie was too wide To be OBJ
structed by telling trees, but the tortuous
channel compel He'd the boats 10 move very
slowly. On the 3sth day after leaving the
Mississippi they were ending the 25th
mile of their painful voyage, and approach
ing the junction OF the Yallubusha with
the head Of the Yazoo
Just as they were congratulating them
selves that they were at last where they
could begin their long-contemplated work
on the enemy's resources. they were
startled by the angry growl OF a large gun
IN the swamp ahead Of. them. The ball
sped harmlessly over the leading boat
but when she drew near tn recnTnoiter
she found that the days they had been
held back ian the swamps had been i'm
proved by the rebels in constructing a