Smith, Steven D. 1951- creator Castille, George J. 1950- text utu 2020 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Bailey's Dam" by Steven D. Smith and George J. Castille III is an anthropological study published in the mid-1980s that explores a significant yet often overlooked engineering feat during the American Civil War. The book focuses on the construction of Bailey's Dam, an innovative solution developed to float Union gunboats over shallow rapids on the Red River in Louisiana. This historical account blends military history and archaeology, shedding light on the ingenuity and efforts of those involved in this endeavor. The narrative follows Major General Nathaniel Banks and Rear Admiral David D. Porter as they navigate challenges in the Red River campaign. After suffering defeats, they faced a critical situation when low water levels trapped their naval support. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bailey proposed a daring plan to construct a dam to raise the water level, rallying troops and applying his practical engineering skills garnered from building dams in the Wisconsin frontier. The book details the construction process, the archaeological investigation of the dam's remains, and the subsequent escape of the gunboats, culminating in an exploration of the dam's historical impact and engineering significance. Ultimately, "Bailey's Dam" offers a fascinating glimpse into a desperate period of American history and highlights the resourcefulness of the individuals involved in this remarkable project. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2020-05-08 Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net Original publication data not identified United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Military engineering -- United States Bailey's Dam (La.) UG Original publication data not identified https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62052 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62052 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134430.0 62052