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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Dutch Gap Canal. (search)
Dutch Gap Canal. There is a sharp bend in the James River between the Appomattox and Richmond, where the stream, after flowing several miles, approaches itself within 500 yards. To flank Confederate works and to shorten the passage of the river 6 or 7 miles, General Butler set a large force of colored troops at work, in the summer of 1864, in cutting a canal for the passage of vessels across this peninsula. This canal was completed, with the exception of blowing out the bulkhead, at the close of December, 1864. It was 500 yards in length, 60 feet in width at top, and 65 below the surface of the bluff. It was excavated 15 feet below high-water mark. On New Year's Day, 1865, a mine of 12,000 lbs. of gunpowder was exploded under the bulkhead, and the water rushed through, but not in sufficient depth for practical purposes, for the mass of the bulkhead (left to keep out the water) fell back into the opening after the explosion. The canal was then swept by Confederate cannon, an
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Petersburg. (search)
abandon their project. Besides, Grant held Lee so firmly that he had no free choice in the matter. It was near the close of March, 1865, before Grant was ready for a general movement against Lee. Early in December Warren had seized the Weldon road farther south than had yet been done. He destroyed it (Dec. 7) all the way to the Meherin River, meeting with little opposition. A few weeks later there was some sharp skirmishing between Confederate gunboats and National batteries near Dutch Gap Canal. A little later a movement was made on the extreme left of the Nationals to seize the Southside Railway and to develop the strength of Lee's right. The entire army in front of Petersburg received marching orders, and, on Feb. 6, the flanking movement began. After a sharp fight near Hatcher's Run, the Nationals permanently extended their left to that stream. Grant now determined to cut off all communication with Richmond north of that city. The opportunity offered towards the middle