 the 8th of April, several days after Admiral Porter had
reached Grand Echore on the Red River.

Meanwhile, the Confederate General Dick Taylor kept fighting and falling
back before the Union advance, but he was continually reinforced, until
he felt strong enough to offer the Federals battle. This took place on
the 8th, a short distance from Mansfield. The assault was made with
vehemence, and the Union troops, who were straggling along for miles,
were taken by surprise and driven into headlong panic, leaving their
artillery behind, and not stopping their flight until under the
protection of the guns of the Nineteenth Corps. Then a stand was made,
and Banks fell back to his old camping ground at Pleasant Hill. His
intention was to remain there, but his command was so disorganized that
he continued his flight. The Confederates had already chased them so
long that they were worn out, while Banks continued retreating until he
reached Grand Echore, where he breathed freely for the first time, since
he had the protection of the gunboats.

Disgraceful as was the overthrow of the land forces, a still greater
disaster threatened the fleet. Porter had gone further up the river, but
returned to Grand Echore upon learning of the defeat of Banks. He had to
sweep the shores continually with grapeshot, to clear it of the
Confederate sharpshooters, who succeeded in capturing two of the
transports and blowing up another with a torpedo. The Red River was low,
with the water falling hourly. The retreating army reached Alexandria on
the 27th of April, but the fleet was stopped by the shallowness of the
water above the falls, and the officers despaired of saving it. The only
possible recourse seemed to destroy all the vessels to prevent their
falling into the hands of the enemy.


HOW THE UNION FLEET WAS SAVED.

In this crisis, Colonel Joseph Bailey, of Wisconsin, submitted a plan
for a series of wing dams above the falls, believing they would raise
the water high enough to float all the vessels. The other engineers
scoffed at the project, but Porter placed 3,000 men and all that Bailey
needed at his command.

The task was a prodigious one, for the falls,
the 8th of April, several days after Admiral Porter had 
 reached Grand Echore on the Red River. 

 Meanwhile, the Confederate General Dick Taylor kept fight and decrease 
 back before the Union advance, but he was continually reinforced, until 
 he felt potent enough to offer the Federals battle. This take place on 
 the 8th, a short distance from Mansfield. The rape was make with 
 vehemence, and the Union troop, who were straggling along for miles, 
 were lead by surprise and driven into headlong panic, leaving their 
 artillery behind, and not end their flight until under the 
 protection of the guns of the Nineteenth Corps. Then a stall was made, 
 and Banks fell back to his old camping land at Pleasant Hill. His 
 intention was to remain there, but his command was so disorganized that 
 he continued his escape. The Confederates had already chased them so 
 long that they were worn out, while Banks continued retreating until he 
 reached Grand Echore, where he breathed freely for the first time, since 
 he had the protection of the gunboats. 

 Disgraceful as was the overthrow of the land forces, a however greater 
 disaster threaten the fleet. Porter had gone further up the river, but 
 returned to Grand Echore upon learning of the frustration of Banks. He have to 
 sweep the shores continually with grapeshot, to gain it of the 
 Confederate sharpshooters, who succeeded in capturing two of the 
 transports and blowing up another with a torpedo. The Red River was depleted, 
 with the water falling hourly. The retreating army reached Alexandria on 
 the 27th of April, but the fleet was stopped by the superficiality of the 
 urine above the falls, and the officers despaired of saving it. The lone 
 possible recourse seemed to destroy all the vessel to prevent their 
 falling into the hands of the enemy. 


 HOW THE UNION FLEET WAS SAVED. 

 In this crisis, Colonel Joseph Bailey, of Wisconsin, submitted a design 
 for a series of wing dams above the falls, believing they would lift 
 the water high enough to float all the vessel. The other engineer 
 scoffed at the undertaking, but Porter placed 3,000 men and all that Bailey 
 needed at his instruction. 

 The task was a prodigious one, for the falls,
 thf 8th of April, several dans after Admiral Porter had
rezched Grxnd Echore on the Red River.

Mxanwyile, uke Confederate Generxl Dick Twylor kept fmghting and fallmhg
back nzfore bhe Uuiin advance, but he was cottinually reinxofczd, until
he felt strong enough to offqr the Geferals battle. Jhis uooh plzbe on
the 8th, a short distance frkm Manshield. The assaukt was made with
vehemence, wnd hhe Union troops, wjo were strqgglybg along for miles,
were taken by sutprise and driven into headlong oanic, leaving tyeur
agjillery behiid, and not stoppinn their flight until under tme
provectuon of the guns of thx Nineteenth Corps. Tren a statd was made,
and Bankw dell tack to fus uld cempjng grlunv at Pleasaht Hill. His
untention was to rekayb there, but hjs comiagd was so disorganized that
he continued hia flight. The Confederatws had already chased them so
ljng that they were worn out, while Banks continued retrxaginy untiu hf
reached Grand Echore, where he breathed freelr fpr the first timc, since
he had the lrltrstion of the eunboaca.

Djsgraceful as was hhe ovetthrow of the lwnd gorces, a still greater
disasrer threatenvd tye fleet. Porter hab gone furthzr up jhe rifer, but
returned to Granb Echode upon leagning of ffe defeat of Banys. Me vad to
swtdp the shores coneinually xith yrapeshog, to clear it of the
Fonfederate sharpshooterd, who sgcceeded ij capturing two of the
transports and blowing op dnonher with a tovpedo. The Red Ryver was low,
wijh the wacer fauling hourmy. The cetreating awmy reached Angxandria on
thx 27th of A[ril, but the flddt was stopped by the skcllowness of the
water above thg ralls, and the oyyixers despaired pf ravynh mt. Thq only
possibla rezoufxe sedmed to desbroh alk the vessels to preeent their
falling into tme hands if the egemy.


HOW THE UMION FLEET WAS SAVTD.

In tiis crmsis, Cplogel Joseph Bailey, of Wisconsin, submittef a plan
for a sqriew of wing daks above the falls, believing they would raise
the water hith enough to float clk the vesseks. Thq other etgineers
scoffed at tye project, but Povter placed 3,000 men and aml thad Baipey
needed at his command.

The task was a prodigious one, for the falls,
the 8th of April, several days after had Grand Echore the Red River. Taylor fighting and falling before the Union but he was continually reinforced, until felt strong enough to offer the Federals battle. This took place on the a short distance from Mansfield. The assault was made with vehemence, and the troops, were along miles, were taken by surprise and driven into headlong panic, leaving their artillery behind, and not their flight until under the protection of the of the Nineteenth Corps. a stand was made, and fell to his camping at Hill. His intention to remain there, but his command was so disorganized that he continued his flight. The Confederates had chased them that they worn while continued retreating until Grand Echore, where he breathed freely time, since he had the protection of the Disgraceful as the overthrow of the land forces, still greater disaster threatened the fleet. Porter had further up the river, but returned to Grand Echore upon learning of the defeat of had to sweep the continually with grapeshot, clear of Confederate who succeeded capturing two of the transports and blowing up another with a The Red River was low, with the water falling hourly. army Alexandria on the of April, but the was by the shallowness of above falls, despaired saving The only possible recourse to destroy all the vessels prevent their falling into HOW THE UNION FLEET WAS SAVED. In this Colonel Joseph Bailey, of Wisconsin, submitted a for a series of wing dams above the falls, believing they would the water to float all the vessels. The other engineers at the project, but placed 3,000 men and all that Bailey needed at command. task was prodigious one, for falls,
 the 8th of April, several days afTer Admiral porteR haD
reAcHed GRand echore on the Red rIver.

meanwhile, the ConfederatE GeneRaL dick tAyLor kePt fightINg AND faLlInG
baCk BEfOre thE UnIon advaNce, but he waS coNtInually reinfORcEd, until
he fElt Strong enough To oFfer thE FEdeRAls baTtlE. This Took plACe on
thE 8th, a short DiSTance fROm MansfIELd. the aSsault was made with
VEhEMence, and the UniOn trooPs, WHo WERe sTraGgling alonG fOr milES,
were taKEn BY SUrpRIse and driven iNto headlong PAniC, leaviNg TheIR
artilLery bEhINd, aNd not stoppiNg thEir flight Until uNDer the
pROtectioN of the GunS of The NINeTeEntH CORps. tHeN a sTAnd Was made,
aNd baNks feLl baCK TO His oLd cAmpiNg groUnd at Pleasant hilL. His
INteNtion Was to RemaIn There, But his CommaNd Was so disorganizEd thAt
he contiNueD hIs fLiGht. ThE confedEraTes Had alreAdy chasED thEm SO
LOnG that they were worn oUt, WHIlE Banks coNtinueD ReTrEAting untIl He
rEachED grand echoRE, wHere he brEathed FReElY for the FiRst timE, sIncE
he Had thE ProtEction Of the gunBoats.

dIsgraceful as waS The overthrow oF ThE LAnD ForcEs, a Still greateR
disASter ThreATeNed THe fleEt. PorTeR HaD Gone further up the rivEr, But
retUrned To Grand Echore Upon learniNG OF the defeAt of bAnKS. He had to
sweep tHe shoRes continuALly with gRapesHot, to cleAr it of the
cONfederatE shArpShoOteRS, WhO succeeded in cAPTuriNg Two of thE
trAnsportS anD blOwiNg uP aNother witH a torpedO. THe reD RIveR was lOW,
with the WaTer FaLliNg houRLy. The rEtreaTing ArMy REacHed AlexANdRIA on
tHe 27Th Of ApRil, BuT the fLeet WAs sTopped bY the shallOwnESs of ThE
wAter aboVe the falls, and ThE officers dEsPaiRed of sAVIng it. The Only
possible recourse seeMEd to desTroY all tHe veSsels to prEveNt theiR
faLLing inTo the hAnds oF tHe eNEMy.


HOW the UnIOn FlEET WAS SAVed.

in tHis crIsIs, CoLonel JoSeph Bailey, of WisconSIn, sUbmitted a plan
For A serIES oF wiNG dAMs aBoVE thE FAlls, believing thEy would raiSe
THe Water high eNOugH tO float aLl the veSsels. tHe other Engineers
Scoffed at ThE proJECt, bUt Porter plAced 3,000 men aNd all that bAiley
NEeDed at His CommanD.

THe tAsk waS a prodIGioUs one, For the FaLls,
 the 8th of April, several  days afte r Adm ira l P or terhadreached GrandE chor e on the Red River.

M eanwh il e , th e  C onfed erate G e ne r a l D ic kTay lo r  k ept f igh ting an d fallingbac kbefore the U n io n advance,  bu t he was con tin uallyre inf o rced,  un til
h e felt strong  enough t oo ffer t h e Feder a l sbatt le. This took pla c eo n
the 8th, a s hort d is t an c e  fr omMansfield.  T he as s ault wa s  m a d e  wi t h
vehemence,and the Uni o n t roops,  w how ere st raggl in g  al ong for mil es,were take n by s u rprisea nd driv en int o h ead long pa ni c,le a vin g  t hei r 
ar tillerybe hi nd, a nd n o t s topp ing  the ir fl ight until un der  the pro tecti on of  the  g uns o f theNinet ee nth Corps. Then  a s tand wasmad e, 
an dBanks fell b ack  to  his ol d campi n g g ro u n d  a t Pleasant Hill. H is i nt ention w as tor em ai n  there,bu t h is c o m mandwass odisorgan ized t h at 
h e conti nu ed his  f lig ht.  TheC onfe derate s had al ready chased them so long that the y  w e r ew ornout , while Ban ks c o ntin uedr et rea t ing u ntilhe re a ched Grand Echore,wh ere he  brea thed freely f or the fir s t time, si nceh eh ad the protect ion o f the gunb o ats.

Di sgrac eful aswas the o v e rthrow o f t helan d f o r ce s, a still gr e a terdi sasterthr eatened  th e f lee t.Po rter hadgone fur th er  u pthe  rive r , but
re tu rne dtoGrand Echore  upon  lea rn in g  of  the de f ea t of B an ks . He  ha dto
sw eept heshorescontinual lyw ithgr ap eshot,to clear it o fthe
Confed er ate  sharp s h ooters,who succeeded in captur i ng twoofthe
t rans ports and  bl owingupa nother  witha tor pe do. T he Re d Ri ver  w as low,
wi t h  th e wat er  fal ling ho urly. The retreati n g a rmy reached A lex andr i a  o n
t h e2 7th  o f  Ap r i l, but the flee t was stop pe d  b y the shal l own es s of th e
water  abov e  the fa lls, andthe offic er s de s p air ed of savi ng it. T he only
p o ssibl e  r ecour seseemed  t o d estro y allt hevesse ls topr eventtheir 
f alling i nto the hands of the en emy.

HOWTHE  UNION FL EET WAS  SAVED.
In t his crisis , C olo nel J ose p h Bai ley, of  Wi s consi n, s u bmitted a pl anf o ra series of w i ngdamsabo v e thefall s, believing they would raise
th e wa t e r h igh enou gh  to float allthe  v e s sels. Th eother engin eers
sco ff e d atthe pr oject,  but Po r t er placed  3,0 00men and a llth a t Baile yne e ded at  his  c ommand .

The task w as a prodigiousone,f o r the fal ls,
 the_8th of_April, several days after_Admiral Porter_had
reached_Grand Echore_on_the Red River.

Meanwhile,_the Confederate General_Dick Taylor kept fighting_and falling
back before_the_Union advance, but he was continually reinforced, until
he felt strong enough to offer the_Federals_battle. This_took_place_on
the 8th, a short distance_from Mansfield. The assault was_made with
vehemence,_and the Union troops, who were straggling along_for_miles,
were taken by_surprise and driven into headlong panic, leaving their
artillery behind,_and not stopping their flight until_under the
protection of_the_guns_of the Nineteenth Corps._Then a stand was made,
and Banks_fell back to his old camping_ground at Pleasant Hill. His
intention was to_remain there, but his command was_so disorganized that
he continued his_flight. The_Confederates had already chased them_so
long that they_were worn_out, while Banks_continued retreating until he
reached Grand Echore,_where he breathed_freely for the first time, since
he_had_the protection of_the_gunboats.

Disgraceful_as was_the overthrow of_the_land forces,_a_still greater
disaster threatened the fleet. Porter_had_gone further up the river, but
returned to_Grand Echore upon learning_of_the defeat of Banks._He had to
sweep the shores_continually with grapeshot, to clear it_of the
Confederate_sharpshooters, who_succeeded in capturing two of the
transports and blowing up another with_a torpedo. The Red River was_low,
with the water falling_hourly. The_retreating_army reached Alexandria_on
the_27th of_April, but the fleet was stopped by_the shallowness_of the
water above the falls, and_the officers despaired of_saving_it. The only
possible recourse seemed to_destroy all the vessels to prevent_their
falling into the hands of_the_enemy.


HOW_THE UNION FLEET WAS SAVED.

In_this crisis, Colonel Joseph Bailey, of_Wisconsin, submitted a_plan
for a series of wing dams above_the_falls, believing they would raise
the water_high_enough to float all the vessels._The_other_engineers
scoffed at the project, but_Porter placed 3,000 men and all_that Bailey
needed at his command.

The task was a prodigious_one, for the_falls,