Part 2

In the midst of this furious activity, Bailey was constantly on hand directing the construction. On site, the soldiers toiled through the day and night; the slightest disobedience was harshly corrected. Two officers were even arrested for allowing a barge, which was to be part of the dam, to sink in the wrong place. Meanwhile, on shore, the dam and Bailey were the main source of amusement. To most of the navy, half the army, and much of the townspeople, the dam was a great joke. Word of Bailey’s dam quickly spread to the rebels, who would taunt their enemy with “How’s your big dam progressing?” (Moore 1868:12). But Bailey ignored the wisecracks and concentrated on his plan.

ENGINEERING AND ARCHAEOLOGY

During the Civil War, the rapids at Alexandria were composed of rocky outcroppings of sandstone and siltstone forming shoals along a mile stretch of the Red River, even at times of high water. At low water, the upper and lower ends of the rapids were exposed. Long before the war, the rapids had been a problem to river traffic. When the water was low, goods being transported by steamboat up and down the river had to be unloaded, carried past the rapids by wagon, and reloaded on different boats.

Numerous ideas had been proposed to improve the river passage; even the famous Henry Miller Shreve proposed a solution, but no action was taken. By 1864 the only navigational aid at the rapids was a small channel cut out of the rocky river bottom. While this was an improvement, the water was still too low to navigate the rapids during the campaign.

It is a strange twist of history, but we can say that today we know more about some details of Bailey’s dam construction than did the soldiers who built it. Those men were laboring day and night to build the dam as quickly as possible. In the confusion and fury of activity, there was little time for anyone but Bailey to fully comprehend the plan. Today, historians have studied the many reports and eyewitness accounts of the dam construction to piece together what happened. In addition, careful archaeological excavation of the actual dam remains provided undeniable evidence of the techniques used. In 1984 a combined historical and archaeological study was undertaken by a historian from the Corps of Engineers and archaeologists from Coastal Environments, Inc. The results of their studies provide a detailed view of the activities at Bailey’s Dam and testify to the magnitude of Bailey’s engineering feat.

Historical documents indicate that Bailey first built his dam just above the lower, downstream rapids. There, the river was around 758 feet wide, and a 10-mile-per-hour current rushed over the shoals. By constructing the dam at that particular location, he hoped the water would rise enough behind the dam to allow the gunboats to float over the upper rapids. Then, with the built-up water pressure, the dam could be broken through at the proper time and the gunboats could rush over the lower rapids, carried by the force of the released water.

Following Bailey’s practical nature, the dam was built with any locally available material readily at hand. To do so, he used different methods of construction for each riverbank. On the west (Alexandria) bank, he built the dam of large wooden boxes called cribs. Bailey constructed a number of cribs which were placed side by side from the bank out into the river.

Archaeologists investigated these structures during a low water period by carefully digging two small excavation units around partially exposed crib remains. These units were 4 feet wide and 8 feet long. As the archaeologists removed the surrounding mud and dirt and exposed the cribs, they painstakingly recorded the position of each timber and beam. Afterward they studied their photographs and notes, comparing their findings with the historical records.

Historical accounts indicate that lumber from Alexandria mills, homes, and barns was quickly stripped for use in building the cribs. Bricks, stone, and even machinery were used to fill and anchor the cribs. Additionally, historical illustrations show that iron bars were placed vertically in the four corners of each crib, to provide a supporting framework.

The evidence from modern archaeological excavations generally supports the historical accounts with some interesting variations. Both lines of evidence testify to the ingenuity of Lieutenant Colonel Bailey. The excavations revealed that the crib framework was constructed of hand hewn 4-by-10-inch timbers, which is strong evidence that the lumber was from nearby buildings. The ends of these timbers were notched so that they fit tightly together at the corners of the cribs. The corners were supported by smaller vertical wood posts. However, in the cribs excavated by the archaeologists, there was no evidence of the iron support bars. Furthermore, there was no evidence of machinery parts in the cribs. Instead, they found that the cribs were filled mostly with sand and mud and only capped with a layer of loose brick and stone. A metal fragment of a large sugar kettle was also found among this brick and stone. A sugar kettle was just the kind of loose but heavy object that could be quickly transported to the cribs for anchoring material.

On the east (Pineville) bank, there were no town buildings to strip for lumber but there was, quite conveniently, a forest. With abundant trees available, Bailey constructed a “self-loading” tree dam. According to historical diagrams, trees were stacked lengthwise with the flow of the stream. The upstream treetops were anchored to the river bottom with stones. The downstream trunks were raised higher than the upstream tops by alternating layers of other logs running perpendicular to, or across, the stream. This technique presented a dam face of logs angled upward with the stream flow. As the river was held back by the log face, the water pressure actually made the dam stronger or “self-loading.”

The archaeological investigation of the tree dam was completed in a manner similar to the excavations at the crib structures. But here a trench excavation unit was dug. This trench was 22 feet long and 5 feet wide, and it was positioned parallel to the flow of the river. During these investigations, the river began to rise, and when the excavation unit was finally abandoned, the archaeologists were working about 2 feet below the water level. The field crew was successful in reaching that depth only with the aid of a water pump. Archaeologists had hoped to excavate a slice of the dam completely down to its base, but attempts to excavate deeper were halted when the pump could not keep out the incoming water.

The tree dam excavations revealed that both pine and hardwood logs were used and that the tree bark was left intact. The tree limbs had been cut off, but by observing the knots on the tree trunks, archaeologists were able to note the direction in which the trees were positioned. They found that many of the trees were positioned with their tops downstream, exactly opposite of that shown in historical illustrations. Also, all of the upstream ends of the trees had been trimmed of their branches, and their tips had been pointed with an axe. Spaces between the logs were filled with sand and mud, and the entire structure was covered with brick and stone. Interestingly, the archaeologists also found a hewn, octagonal, wood column among the logs. The upstream end of the column had been rough cut, seemingly to fit into that particular spot in the tree dam. The column was most likely a mast from a riverboat.

Together, the crib and tree dam sections did not cross the entire 758-foot riverbed. A 150-foot gap existed between the two dams. To close this gap, four coal barges were used. While the remains of these barges were not found in the archaeological excavations, historical photographs provide a fairly detailed picture of their appearance. These 24-by-170-foot barges were sunk in the gap, lying lengthwise with the current, and more stones, brick, and iron rails were used to anchor them. Braces and ropes, anchored to the riverbanks, were also needed to secure the barges against the rising water pressure.

Bailey directed that the second barge from the Alexandria side be only partially filled with anchoring materials. This was the barge that he hoped either to ram or blast out of the way, creating a flood that the gunboats would ride like kayaks. As it turned out, Bailey’s idea worked, but not exactly as he would have liked.

THE DAM WORKS

To the amazement of practically everybody except Bailey, the dam complex was working. By May 6, the water held by the dam had risen 4 feet. By May 8, the water level was up 5 feet 4 inches. Three of the lighter vessels even crossed the upper rapids and now waited behind the dam for the heavier gunboats. As the soldiers worked to finish the dam, the water continued to build until the pressure against the dam became tremendous. General Banks feared the pressure would soon burst the dam, and the next day, at around 5:30 in the morning, one officer “heard a great crashing in the direction of the dam. Jumping out of the blankets and slipping on my coat, cap, and boots, I ran down to the bank. The water was rushing through at a great rate” (Tyson May 9, 1864).

Two of the barges used in the dam had broken loose, and the water was gushing through. Porter, seeing the crisis, quickly ordered the gunboat _Lexington_ to run the gap:

The Lexington succeeded in getting over the falls and then steered directly for the opening in the dam, through which the water was dashing so furiously that it seemed as if certain destruction would be her fate. Ten thousand spectators breathlessly awaited the result. She entered the gap with a full head of steam; passed down the roaring, rushing torrent; made several spasmodic rolls; hung for a moment, with a harsh, grating sound, on the rocks below; was then swept into deep water, and rounded to by the bank of the river. Such a cheer arose from that vast multitude of sailors and soldiers, when the noble vessel was seen in safety below the falls, as we had never heard before, and certainly have not heard since (Moore 1868:12).

The _Lexington_’s run was followed by the three gunboats waiting behind the dam. Had the rest of the fleet been prepared, all of the boats might have escaped at that time. However, the navy’s lack of confidence in the dam had given way to apathy, and as the released water rushed through the break, valuable time was wasted as the fleet gathered steam to attempt the run. Eventually, the water behind the dam fell and six gunboats still remained trapped.

But the _Lexington_’s adventure had proven that the dam could work, and troops confidently went back to work. Bailey worried that the dam would break again and decided to leave the 70-foot gap in the dam as it was. But this time he added smaller, lighter dams near the upper rapids. Like the dam sections at the lower rapids, both crib and tree dam methods were employed. These dams helped channel the water while reducing the pressure on the main dam. Thus, instead of relying on one dam to hold back the water until another run could be made, a series of dams were built to create a deep channel of water along the whole course of the shoals in that part of the Red River.

Unfortunately, during Coastal Environments’s archaeological excavations, this dam complex at the upper rapids was believed to be destroyed by modern development. Later, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted an underwater survey, locating what clearly appear to be parts of these upper works. If so, these submerged dam sections are preserved so that perhaps someday archaeologists may have an opportunity to investigate more of Bailey’s engineering feat.

While the army labored to build the upper dam, the navy, more confident of rescue, worked to lighten the loads on the trapped gunboats. From May 10 through 12, the remaining gunboats above the rapids struggled through the upper shoals to the pool behind the main dam. Yet another dam had to be built to refloat a gunboat that got stuck during this passage. Then on the twelfth of May, the _Mound City_, the largest gunboat of the fleet, ran for the gap in the main dam. The previous scene was repeated, with thousands lining the banks to watch the excitement. Marching bands played the “Star Spangled Banner” and the “Battle Cry for Freedom.” Like the _Lexington_ before it, as the _Mound City_ hit the gap, it ground against the rocky river bottom, and then shot through. The next day all of the trapped vessels lay safely below the rapids.

THE CAMPAIGN ENDS

While Federal troops labored to build the dam, Taylor’s Confederate army was not idle. Some rebels continued to harass the outposts around Alexandria, while others destroyed bridges and blocked roads in an attempt to entrap the Union forces. Federal boats already below the rapids were constantly ambushed along the lower Red River as they attempted to supply the army. In fact, the Confederate soldiers were able to cut off all navigation on the river for a while, isolating the Yankees.

On May 13, with all the gunboats now safely below the rapids, Union forces moved out of Alexandria. The Union soldiers left with mixed feelings. They had been beaten in battle, harassed, and almost completely destroyed. They were exhausted. Still, they had accomplished a magnificent feat in building the dam and rescuing the fleet, and some had even made friends among the townsfolk.

But for the local population this was a critical time. Rumors spread that the town would be torched when the army left. Banks ordered a detail of 500 men to be left behind to protect the town from arson. But fires quickly broke out as soon as the main army was out of town. It is unclear who started the fires, as some accounts describe soldiers looting and setting fires, while other accounts note that army guards shot looters. Probably, both Union troops and local looters were involved. One detachment, the 92nd Colored Infantry who also helped build the dams, was known to have fought a fire for many hours, until the building was doomed and the troops were forced to continue their retreat. One Yankee soldier described the scene:

Cows ran bellowing through the streets. Chickens flew out from yards and fell in the streets with their feathers scorching them.... Crowds of people, men, women, children and soldiers, were running with all they could carry, when the heat would become unbearable and dropping all, they would flee for their lives, leaving everything but their bodies to burn. Over the levee the sights and sounds were harrowing. Thousands of people, mostly women, children and old men, were wringing their hands as they stood by the little piles of what was left of all their worldly possessions (Van Alstyne 1910:320-321).

As the expedition retreated south down the Red River, Confederate cavalry did what it could to badger the Union forces at every opportunity. However, no matter how courageously the men fought, the rebel army was too small to seriously oppose the retreat of the entire expedition. At Mansura, Louisiana, Taylor attempted to stand against the Federals, but after a four-hour artillery duel, he had to withdraw.

Though the campaign seemed about at an end, Banks found that he had to call on the services of Lieutenant Colonel Bailey once more. At the Atchafalaya River, Bailey directed the construction of a bridge which he promptly fashioned out of transport vessels. Around 24 transports were placed across the river and held together with large timbers. Then, long planks were laid across the prows of the transports to form a temporary bridge. Banks’s army was able to cross the river quickly and safely and continue the retreat south to Baton Rouge. By that time, every soldier knew and appreciated the frontier engineer from Wisconsin.

EPILOGUE

Measured against the backdrop of the entire Civil War, the results of the Red River Campaign cannot be considered critical to either side. Overall, the end of the war simply had been delayed. Some of the Federal troops on the expedition were from Sherman’s army and could have been of great help to him. Furthermore, an attack against Mobile, Alabama, which General Grant wanted, was postponed for 10 months by the Red River escapade.

The campaign had also cost the Union army 5,200 men and 21 artillery pieces. The navy lost some 320 men, two pump boats, one ironclad, two tinclads, and four transports. Yet Banks still had his army relatively intact, and just as importantly, the fleet was saved, thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bailey.

On the other hand, the campaign was of tremendous significance to Louisiana. The invasion brought the war home to thousands of Red River settlers, destroying their property, economy, and lives. Beyond civilian casualties, 4,000 Confederate troops were lost. On the positive side, victory at Mansfield and the failure of the Union expedition must have helped to strengthen Southern resolve.

For Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bailey, the campaign brought fame. Porter praised Bailey in newspapers and wrote letters of thanks and approval. Congress gave Bailey a gold medal, Porter personally gave him a gold inlaid sword, and other naval officers gave him a silver punch bowl.

Eventually, Bailey’s distinguished military career earned him a promotion to brigadier general. But after the war, the hero of the Red River campaign met a tragic end. On March 21, 1867, Sheriff Joseph Bailey, of Vernon County, Missouri, was murdered by two prisoners he was taking to jail. Today, Joseph Bailey is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, at Fort Scott, Kansas.

Historian Michael Robinson best summed up the significance of Bailey’s Dam when he wrote:

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Bailey’s Dam was the toil expended by the Union soldiers.... Through the hot days and chilly nights they labored diligently despite harassment from the enemy; the depression and fatigue of a long, failed campaign.... In many respects, their efforts offer some basis for Porter’s claim that Bailey’s Dam was “without doubt the greatest engineering feat ever performed” (Robinson 1985:66-67).

Today, “the dam still remains intact as we left it, and bids fair, if undisturbed, to stand a hundred years—an imperishable monument of American energy, ingenuity, and skill” (Moore 1868:13-14).

REFERENCES CITED

Beecher, Harris H.

1866 _Record of the 114th Regiment N.Y.S.V._ J. F. Hubbard, Jr., Norwich, New York.

Hoffman, Wickham

1877 _Camp court and siege._ Harper & Brothers, New York.

Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War

n.d. Red River expedition. _The report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War_ (Vol. 11). 38th U.S. Congress, 2nd Session.

Jones, James P. and Edward F. Keuchel (editors)

1975 _Civil War Marine: a diary of the Red River expedition, 1864._ History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

Kelley, David B. and George J. Castille

1985 Archaeological investigation and preparation of historic American engineering record documentation for lower Bailey’s Dam (16RA90), Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, Purchase Order No. DACW38-84-P-3510, Coastal Environments, Inc., Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Moore, Frank (editor)

1868 Document No. 2: the Red River Dam. _The rebellion record: a diary of American events_ (Vol. 11). D. Van Nostrand, New York.

Pellet, Elias P.

1866 _History of the 114th Regiment, New York State Volunteers._ Telegraph and Chronicle Power Press Print, Norwich, New York.

Porter, David D.

1914 Letters to Hon. Gideon Welles. In _Official records of the Union and Confederate navies in the War of the Rebellion_ (Series I, Vol. 26). Washington, D.C.

Robinson, Michael C.

1985 Gunboats, low water, and Yankee ingenuity: a history of Bailey’s Dam. Report prepared for the Lower Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Taylor, Richard

1879 _Destruction and reconstruction._ D. Appleton, New York.

Tyson, Robert A.

1864 Diary. Department of Archives and Manuscripts, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

U.S. War Department

1891-1895 _Atlas to accompany the official records of the Union and Confederate armies._ Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

Van Alstyne, Lawrence

1910 _Diary of an enlisted man._ Tuttle, Morehouse, & Taylor, New Haven, Connecticut.

Anthropological Study Series

No. 1 On the Tunica Trail by Jeffrey P. Brain

No. 2 The Caddo Indians of Louisiana by Clarence H. Webb & Hiram F. Gregory

No. 3 The Role of Salt in Eastern North American Prehistory by Ian Brown

No. 4 El Nuevo Constante by Charles E. Pearson, et al.

No. 5 Preserving Louisiana’s Legacy by Nancy W. Hawkins

No. 6 Louisiana Prehistory by Robert W. Neuman & Nancy W. Hawkins

No. 7 Poverty Point by Jon L. Gibson

No. 8 Bailey’s Dam by Steven D. Smith & George J. Castille III

These publications can be obtained by writing:

Division of Archaeology P.O. Box 44247 Baton Rouge, LA 70804

Transcriber’s Notes

—Silently corrected a few typos.

—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is a government public document, and can be freely copied and distributed.

—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.