A front attack was therefore impossible, and was never contemplated; certainly not by me.

The problem then became, how to secure a landing on high ground east of the Mississippi without an apparent retreat.

Then commenced a series of experiments to consume time, and to divert the attention of the enemy, of my troops and of the public generally.

I, myself, never felt great confidence that any of the experiments resorted to would prove successful.

Nevertheless I was always prepared to take advantage of them in case they did.
In 1862 General Thomas Williams had come up from New Orleans and cut a ditch ten or twelve feet wide and about as deep, straight across from Young's Point to the river below.