Anthropological study (Louisiana Archaeological Survey and Antiquities Commission) no. 8

Bailey's Dam

Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, Union commander of the Red River military expedition, found himself in a particularly tight situation in April of 1864. He had been defeated at the Battle of Mansfield while attempting to capture Shreveport, Louisiana, and now he was retreating down the Red River, harassed by Confederate troops at every turn. Throughout the campaign, the rivers low water level had been a constant problem to his naval support of gunboats under the command of Rear Admiral David D. Porter. Now, Banks and Porter discovered that the river was so low that the gunboats were trapped above the rapids at Alexandria. To save the flotilla, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bailey suggested that the river could be dammed to raise the water level and float the gunboats over the shallow rapids. Despite the doubts and jeers of many, Banks authorized Bailey to begin construction. Through the next two weeks, troops struggled to build the dam which eventually made it possible for the fleet to escape. In 1976 the archaeological remains of Baileys Dam were placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and through 1986, they could be seen at times of low water. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is constructing a modern lock and dam downstream of this historic site, and the Red River will permanently cover Baileys Dam. Recognizing the historical and archaeological importance of the dam, the Corps sponsored archaeological excavations there in 1984. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 62052
Author: Castille, George J.
Release Date: May 8, 2020
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Contributor (Author): Smith, Steven D., 1951-