The Battle With The Red River

Robert Gray

Sergeant Major
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
THE BATTLE WITH THE RED RIVER - THE MEN WHO CAPTURED THE CURRENT

CivilWar61-2a.jpg


Colonel Bailey's wonderful dam—which, according to Admiral Porter, no private company would have completed within a year. Bailey's men did it in eleven days and saved a fleet of Union vessels worth $2,000,000. Never was there an instance where such difficulties were overcome so quickly and with so little preparation. The current of the Red River, rushing by at the rate of nine miles an hour, threatened to sweep away the work of the soldiers as fast as it was performed. The work was commenced by building out from the left bank of the river with large trees cross-tied with heavy timber and filled in with brush, brick, and stone. Coal barges filled with brick and stone were sunk beyond this, while from the right bank cribs filled with stone were built out to meet the barges. In eight days Bailey's men, working like beavers under the broiling sun, up to their necks in water, had backed up the current sufficiently to release three vessels. The very next morning two of the barges were swept away. Admiral Porter, jumping on his horse, rode to the upper falls and ordered the Lexington to come down and attempt the passage of the dam. The water was rapidly falling, and as the Lexington, having squeezed through the passage of the falls, approached the opening in the dam through which a torrent was pouring, a breathless silence seized the watchers on the shore. In another instant she had plunged to safety, and a deafening cheer rose from thirty thousand throats. Porter was afraid that Colonel Bailey would he too disheartened by the accident to the dam to renew work upon it. The other three vessels were at once ordered to follow the Lexington's example, and came safely through. But Bailey was undaunted and "his noble hearted soldiers, seeing their labor swept away in a moment, cheerfully went to work to repair damages, being confident now that all the gunboats would be finally brought over." Their hopes were realized when the last vessel passed to safety on May 12, 1864.

THE PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR IN TEN VOLUMES
Frances T. Miller - Editor in Chief - The Review of Reviews Co.
1911
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What's lacking in the narrative is General Richard Taylor's cavalry, bearing down on the Union force at Alexandria.

Bailey got the job done under that kind of pressure. This is really a Great Escape, probably the best of the war.

Joseph Bailey would be formally recognized by the U.S. Congress for it.
 
Colonel Bailey's wonderful dam—which, according to Admiral Porter, no private company would have completed within a year.

Porter was an amazing supporter of Bailey--- after it worked. Beforehand, he said that 'if dam ning the river were any use, the fleet would have been away long before...' But he was quick to revise his opinion.

(The phrase "according to Admiral Porter" tends to put me on guard. Capable and intelligent he was-- but a liar and a braggart just as much.)
 
What's lacking in the narrative is General Richard Taylor's cavalry, bearing down on the Union force at Alexandria.

Bailey got the job done under that kind of pressure. This is really a Great Escape, probably the best of the war.

Joseph Bailey would be formally recognized by the U.S. Congress for it.

Gen Taylor's army had the Feds surrounded at Alexandria, but with less than 6000 mostly Texas Cavalry. For the entire time they did everything in their power to keep Banks' army of over 20,000 penned up, but in the end there was little Taylor could do. Without sufficient troops and artillery on the opposite shore to prevent Bailey building the dam, there was little hope of a different outcome. As it was, when the dam was complete and Porter's flotilla was finally over the falls, Taylor's army was little more than a speed bump in Bank's retreat.
 
Last edited:
Bailey's dam was nothing short of an engineering miracle. His expertise was also used to aide the army in their final escape over the Atchafalaya River with the pontoon bridge he built. Without Bailey, there was an excellent chance Adm Porter would have lost his gunboats and/or Banks losing most of his army.
 
Bailey's dam was nothing short of an engineering miracle. His expertise was also used to aide the army in their final escape over the Atchafalaya River with the pontoon bridge he built. Without Bailey, there was an excellent chance Adm Porter would have lost his gunboats and/or Banks losing most of his army.

Honestly and sadly, I sort of see the end of Western Civilization in this observation.

We used to be able to just address and solve problems, swiftly and effectively.

Not any more. Today, we need to convene Focus Groups and develop loving consensus, on everything.

Lord help us when the Barbarians are again upon our collective gate. Shaking my head...
 
Back
Top