The river being high the rush of water through the cut was so great that in a very short time the entire obstruction was washed away.

The bayous were soon filled and much of the country was overflowed.

This pass leaves the Mississippi River but a few miles below Helena.

On the 24th General Ross, with his brigade of about 4,500 men on transports, moved into this new water-way.
The rebels had obstructed the navigation of Yazoo Pass and the Coldwater by felling trees into them.

Much of the timber in this region being of greater specific gravity than water, and being of great size, their removal was a matter of great labor; but it was finally accomplished, and on the 11th of March Ross found himself, accompanied by two gunboats under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Watson Smith, confronting a fortification at Greenwood, where the Tallahatchie and Yallabusha unite and the Yazoo begins.