I had a great quantity of fir timber in the shape of beams and rafters
for building purposes. I therefore instructed Mr. Higginbotham to
prepare two rows of piles which were to be driven across the river. This
able engineer set to work with his usual energy, assisted by Lieutenant
J. A. Baker and the Englishmen, together with all the mechanics that had
been brought from Cairo.
The piles were driven with some difficulty, and diagonal struts were
fastened from the top of the front row to the base of the rear.
Horizontal beams then secured the entire line of skeleton bridge.
For two days 1,500 men were employed in making fascines of long, thick
reeds tied in large bundles, in the centre of which was concealed a mass
of about fifty pounds of stiff clap. These bundles were firmly lashed
with twisted rushes. I had 500 corn sacks filled with sand and clay,
these were to form the foundation of the dam, and to prevent the water
from burrowing beneath.
Every company of troops had to prepare a certain number of fascines,
which were piled on the side of the river, which had now exposed solid
banks overgrown with the high reedy grass.
