From:  Scientific America

          Volume 12, Issue 23

          June 3, 1865

DUTCH GAP CANAL NAVAGATIBLE - The Dutch Gap Canal, it seems, has not been altogether a failure, for the Richmond Whig says that General Mulford arrived there from Fortress Monroe, having passed through Butler's Dutch Gap Canal on the steamer Clyde.  This is the first steamer that has passed through.

From:  Harper's New Monthly Magazine

           Volume 30, Issue 178

           March 1865

On New Year's Day the bulkhead of the Dutch Gap Canal was removed by explosion.  The result was hardly satisfactory, as a good portion of the earth returned to the crater formed by the explosion.  Six tons of powder were used.  This was to have been the final step in a bold scheme for cutting off seven miles of the James River by a canal two hundred yards in length across Dutch Gap -- the narrow neck of the peninsula known as Farrar's Island.  The work, which was originally General Butler's suggestion, was surveyed August 7, and was under the superintendence of General B.C. Ludlow, assisted by Major Peter S. Michie, chief of engineers on Butler's staff.

From:  The Century

          Volume 36, Issue 2

           June 1888

One day, in the last year of the war, General Butler rode out with his staff to see how the work was progressing in the digging of his famous Dutch Gap Canal, that was to cut off a bend in the James River.  He stopped at a point which soon became a conspicuous target for the enemy's batteries.  After a while a staff officer, who had won a famous reputation by his repeated acts of personal courage, saw the uselessness of the exposure of so many valuable officers, and proposed to the general to move to another position.  The general turned upon him sharply and said, "Any officer of the staff who's afraid can go back to camp."  The officer at once turned his horse about, touched his hat, and with a quizzical look at his commanding officer said, "God morning, General, I'm afraid," and rode off to a position where he could be of just as much service and not be a party to an exhibition of recklessness.  Such an act before his courage had been tested would have cost him his commission.  Now he could afford to exercise the wisdom of a veteran, and no one dared question his motives.

Letter from Brigadier-General Ludlow, U.S. Army, to Commander Nichols, U.S. Navy, agreeing to postpone the opening of the canal at Dutch Gap, James River.

DUTCH GAP, [VA.], November 17, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 15th instant, and would state that the canal has now reached that point of completion when but little work is needed to finish it; that the mine is prepared to blow out the bulkhead at its northern terminus, and all that is necessary to do is to charge it with powder.  Preparing the mine for explosion is but a couple of days' work, and the firing it should not be delayed, for fear that the powder be deteriorated by the dampness of the earth.

In your communication you request time to communicate with the admiral in reference to the danger from the rebel ironclads descending the river via the canal, and the necessity of strengthening the fleet now in these water, in order to meet such contingency.  Unwilling to endanger the safety of the army and the shipping in the James River below this point, and thoroughly appreciating the facility with which the rebel fleet might pass through the canal, I will not open the channel entirely until I receive further communication from yourself.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B.C. LUDLOW,

Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding Post.

Captain ED. T. NICHOLS,

Commanding Fifth Division, North Atlantic Squadron.