Grants Canal

[Kathy the history sleuth]

In search of a way to bypass Vicksburg Grant attempted to dig a canal across the Desoto Peninsula in the summer of 1862. Under brutal conditions and with loss of life the effort failed. There is a small roadside park near Vicksburg to commemorate it.

 

[Pollaco]

Grant "took over" but did not start the canal. I think the canal was actually started by men of Gen. Thomas Williams brigade.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Grant "took over" but did not start the canal. I think the canal was actually started by men of Gen. Thomas Williams brigade.

You are correct. Here is the information from the Vicksburg NPS site. I see it called Williams canal on one of the plaques.

Grant's Canal - Vicksburg National Military Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Grant's Canal

www.nps.gov

 

[52ndFandS]

That anything is there is testimony to engineering being the main focus at West Point.

 

[bayouace]

The Mississippi River does what it wants, when it wants, and the Corps of Engineers is just a mosquito on the elephant's butt.

 

[52ndFandS]

The Mississippi River does what it wants, when it wants, and the Corps of Engineers is just a mosquito on the elephant's butt.

Agreed.

 

[redbob]

While the concept definitely had merit and potential, the results were rather underwhelming. What remains today leaves you wondering about what they were thinking.

 

[R. Porter]

While the failed canal across Farrar's Island at Dutch Gap to avoid Battery Dantzler on the Howlett Line is the main channel of the James River today.

 

[52ndFandS]

While the concept definitely had merit and potential, the results were rather underwhelming. What remains today leaves you wondering about what they were thinking.

The story of a bear getting on deck of one of the boats is almost worthy of the whole thing being done.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

While the concept definitely had merit and potential, the results were rather underwhelming. What remains today leaves you wondering about what they were thinking.

Yes and the monuments to the terrible suffering there certainly made me wonder if it was worth it and if the idea would have even been tried today.

 

[Pollaco]

I am kind of puzzled why the canal did not work. Engineers were on hand plus a paddlewheel riverboat was backed up to the ditch.Did the River drop suddenly?