When the work on the canal through the peninsula had approached its completion, and the huge iron scoop of the dredging machine had commenced demolishing the barrier which intervened between the bed of the canal and the “Father of Waters,” an unforeseen occurrence, which could not be guarded against, crushed the enterprise.
Owing to heavy rains and the rapid rise of the Mississippi above and opposite Vicksburg, the head of the canal gave way, and the water poured in at a tremendous rate. The force of the current, however, did not break the dam near the mouth of the canal, but caused a crevasse on the western side, through which the water flowed in such profusion as to inundate the lower part of the peninsula to the depth of four or five feet. When the fracture occurred a number of soldiers were on the levee, and were thrown into the torrent, but no lives were lost. All attempts to repair the mischief proved ineffectual, and the troops were removed to Milliken’s Bend, fifteen miles above.
On the 27th of February, Admiral Porter dispatched what was called a dummy Monitor, to run the Vicksburg batteries, in order to ascertain their exact location. This contrivance was an old flatboat, with flour-barrels for smoke stacks, and a couple of large hogsheads to represent Monitor turrets. It ran the fortifications in gallant style, and drew the fire of the rebel guns, without creating a suspicion of the true character of the vessel. The rebel authorities, fearful of the capture of the Indianola, then in an exposed position undergoing repairs, caused that vessel to be blown up to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Federals, and thus uselessly sacrificed the finest iron-clad they had on the western waters.
The prudent forethought of General Grant exhibited by his employing a portion of his men in cutting channels from the Mississippi to Providence lake on the west side, and to Moon lake on the east side, was now made apparent, and those works were progressing rapidly.
Lake Providence is a few miles south of the boundary line between Arkansas and Louisiana. It is situated in Carroll parish, Louisiana, about one mile west of the Mississippi river, and about seventy-five miles above Vicksburg. It is about six miles in length. Two streams flow out of the lake to the south, Moon bayou and Tensas river. The former, after running about a hundred miles, unites with the latter. The two continue south, and unite with the Washita, and are called after the junction, Black river. By cutting a channel from the Mississippi to Lake Providence, General Grant thought a communication might be had through that lake down the Tensas and Black into the Red river, and thence through the Atchafalaya, with General Banks at New Orleans. This route avoided the batteries of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. The canal to the lake was finished so as to let in water on the 16th of March. The flood was so great as to inundate a large district of country, some of which was fine land for growing cotton. Some boats passed into Lake Providence, but the uncertainty of the channel of the Tensas river, and the interest which was now excited by the Yazoo Pass expedition, together with the unimportant results to be anticipated by removing a large force to the Red river or below, caused a diversion from this route to others presenting more certain prospects of success against Vicksburg.
Eight miles below Helena, in Arkansas, and on the opposite side of the river, is a little lake, known as Moon lake. The passage from the Mississippi across the lake to the mouth of the Yazoo Pass is about eight miles; thence through the Pass proper to the Coldwater river, twelve miles. The Coldwater, a narrow stream, runs south, empties into the Tallahatchie, which continues to flow south, and unites with the Yallobusha, forming the Yazoo river, which empties into the Mississippi a few miles above Vicksburg.
Another important operation took place on the 14th of March, which had much to do with the success of General Grant’s movements. Admiral Farragut, with his fleet, attacked Port Hudson, and the flagship succeeded in running past the batteries and arriving before Warrenton, when he communicated with the fleet above. Shortly after this Admiral Porter succeeded in running some of his fleet down to the assistance of Farragut, and the united fleets began operating upon the river between Vicksburg and Port Hudson, cutting off the communications of the rebels with Louisiana, and making important military movements on the Louisiana shore.
An attempt to pass the rebel batteries at Vicksburg, was made by the Union rams Lancaster and Switzerland, on the 25th of March, without success. As soon as they came within range, the rebels opened a tremendous fire. The Lancaster was struck thirty times. Her entire bow was shot away, causing her to sink immediately. All the crew except two escaped. The Switzerland was disabled by a 64-pound ball penetrating the steam-drum. She floated down, the batteries still firing, and striking her repeatedly, until finally the Albatross ran alongside and towed her to the lower mouth of the canal.
An expedition proceeded down the Coldwater, on the 2nd of April, consisting of a portion of General Sherman’s and General McClernand’s corps, under General L. F. Ross, with eighteen transports and five small gunboats, and arrived at the mouth of the river without obstruction. They proceeded down the Tallahatchie, to its junction with the Yallobusha, which there forms the Yazoo, near which point is the village of Greenwood. On a peninsula near by, the rebels had erected a fortification. It consisted of a single line of breastworks facing westerly, composed of cotton bales and earth, and flanked on the right by a battery of three heavy guns fronting the river. Other field-pieces were in position on the works. On the right flank of the line, a defence or raft of logs had been constructed, to serve as a blockade of the river. Directly in front of the breastworks was a deep slough, extending across the peninsula, and admirably serving the purpose of a ditch. The slough was close to the base of the works at the upper end, but gradually receded from them at the lower, where it was several hundred yards distant. Beyond the slough there was an almost impenetrable canebrake, backed by an extensive forest.