Bailey, Joseph, brigadier-general, was born in Salem Oh., April 28, 1827. He was killed, near Nevada, Newton county, Mo., March 21, 1867, while, in performance of his duty as sheriff, a position to which he was elected after the war, he was attempting to take two arrested desperadoes to the county seat. Gen. Bailey entered the service of the United States as captain, July 2, 1861, was assigned with his regiment to New Orleans, and in Dec., 1862, was made acting engineer of the defenses of that city. He was later promoted to major, and was sent home on a recruiting expedition, returning to duty with his regiment in time to accompany Gen. N. P. Banks on the Red river campaign. It was on this campaign that he won fame by saving the army by means of an engineering feat. When Banks, accompanied by a fleet of twelve gun-boats and thirty transports, tried to pass Alexandria on the way back, it was found that the Red river had fallen so that it was impossible for the fleet to pass the rapids. Working against the advice of the regular engineers, Bailey constructed dams on each side of the river, so that the channel was narrowed to sixty-six feet. This caused an increase in the depth of the river and enabled the fleet to escape. In recognition of this service he was promoted to brigadier-general in 1864, and on March 13, 1865, he was given the brevet of major-general of volunteers. He resigned from the army July 7, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8