Joseph Bailey(Engineer) Hero of Red River Campaign

[5fish]

Joseph Bailey the Hero of the Red River Campaign, not for what he did in battle but for what he could engineer and build. His fame come form designing and building a Dam across the Red river and saving Admiral Porter's river flotilla during the campiagn. Below is a link to a site that explains how the Dam was built and pictures of the Dam. I think the Engineers among us will enjoy the read. It is short,,,,

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/warfare-and-logistics/logistics/baileysdam.html

http://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/archaeology/virtualbooks/BAILEYS/dam.htm

http://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/archaeology/virtualbooks/BAILEYS/baileys.htm

Did you know Joseph Bailey came to the rescue of General Banks army again at the end of the Red River Campaign by engineering a bridge out of Steamboats to cross the wide
Atchafalaya river near Simmerport. Here is another link to a site that explains his ingenious bridge with pictures. Again, the engineers among us should enjoy the short read,,,,

http://www.fortderussy.org/stmbt_bridge.html


Joseph Bailey(Engineer) more then once The Hero of the Red River Campaign!!

Note: There are lots of good photos and sketches at the links of these events...

 

[5fish]

I found his grave a he was murdered as a lawman... a Ohio boy...

Link: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5893175/joseph-bailey

Joseph Bailey
Birth 6 May 1825
Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio, USA
Death 21 Mar 1867 (aged 41)
Nevada, Vernon County, Missouri, USA
Burial
Evergreen Cemetery
Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas, USA Show Map
Plot Section 3, Lot 2
Memorial ID 5893175 · View Source

Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born in Pennsville, Ohio, he was a civil engineer at the start of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Union Army. Appointed Captain of Company D, in the 4th Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, he contributed to the Union Army's engineering activities in support of the Siege of Port Hudson. Bailey's engineering skills during the Red River Campaign considered the reason the campaign did not result in the loss of the entire 30,000-man Army of the Gulf. In June 1864, he was promoted Colonel assigned to command the Engineer Brigade in the XIX Corps and commanded the District of West Florida, until November when he was promoted Brigadier General. For the remainder of the war he was in command of the District of Baton Rouge, Port Hudson and a engineer brigade for a corps in the Military Division of West Mississippi. For his service to the Union, he was brevetted Major General of US Volunteers on March 13, 1865. After the war, he moved with his wife and children to Vernon County Missouri, where he was elected sheriff. Near Nevada, Missoui, he was shot and killed by two brothers he had arrested but failed to disarm, for stealing a hog.

 

[5fish]

Here found modern maps that show where the Steam bridge was located...
It a web site that details the history of the Ohio 16th Volunteer infantry... He has a great sketch and photo section on the Red River Campaign and other events associated with the unit...

Link to the Home page: http://www.mkwe.com/home.htm

Scroll down to the Red River Campaign it gives you a daily track of the 16th Ohio with maps...
http://www.mkwe.com/ohio/pages/wherewas-index.htm

Link to the Maps
http://www.mkwe.com/ohio/pages/wherewas18640520.htm