On the 2d of February this dam, or levee, was cut.  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.  The bends of the rivers are such at this point as to almost form an island, scarcely above water at that stage of the river.  This island was fortified and manned.  It was named Fort Pemberton after the commander at Vicksburg.  No land approach was accessible.  The troops, therefore, could render no assistance towards an assault further than to establish a battery on a little piece of ground which was discovered above water.  The gunboats, however, attacked on the 11th and again on the 13th of March.  Both efforts were failures and were not renewed.  One gunboat was disabled and we lost six men killed and twenty-five wounded.  The loss of the enemy was less.

Fort Pemberton was so little above the water that it was thought that a rise of two feet would drive the enemy out.  In hope of enlisting the elements on our side, which had been so much against us up to this time, a second cut was made in the Mississippi levee, this time directly opposite Helena, or six miles above the former cut.  It did not accomplish the desired result, and Ross, with his fleet, started back.  On the 22d he met Quinby with a brigade at Yazoo Pass.  Quinby was the senior of Ross, and assumed command.  He was not satisfied with returning to his former position without seeing for himself whether anything could be accomplished.  Accordingly Fort Pemberton was revisited by our troops; but an inspection was sufficient this time without an attack.  Quinby, with his command, returned with but little delay.  In the meantime I was much exercised for the safety of Ross, not knowing that Quinby had been able to join him.  Reinforcements were of no use in a country covered with water, as they would have to remain on board of their transports.  Relief had to come from another quarter.  So I determined to get into the Yazoo below Fort Pemberton.