The New York herald., 1862-02-12

msats sd int the deep forests on either side OF 'hs
river the clear notes OF the bugs, the roll OF drums
and the national airs OF full bands reaching the ear IRON
ell sides But a. Il BY preconcsrsd arrangemens. when
ell hands beat to quarters, shers came snenee nser
rupted only BY aborious puns Of tho steamers On
moved the feet: not q word was spoken. The silence
was suesssliye almost oppressive; but II was Of
abort duration In a short time the head Of Pan
thor Island was reached by the nrst four boats
and the rebel foftihcatons, with rebellion in bril-
uant solors Gcsting them in full view. TIA
boats moved line Of battle and at thirty six minutes
past twelve the flagship opsasd hre throwing eight
inch shell the Caronass another and the St. Louis and
Essex he instant hurting eighty pound ride shells
straight fortdcstions AZ the sound Of guns
reached the troops shore they burst the widest
cheers and ia voluntarily broke into double quick This
rebel batteries replied with all the guns they could bring
bear. The battle fairly opened The rebels
used eleven guns, including q rined twenty
four. and . monster throwing one hundred
and twenty eight pound shot The gunooats using only
the bow guns, had in the action the same number Of
eighth Dahgrsns and six ana inch rifles Inc
action Was commenced A. range OF one and hall miles,
using hlteSn second fuses. The cannonade was nov a.
most incessar the gurs both sdes bong remarkably
well served Our guaboats kept steadily on thar course
firing az CAST ~ the pisces could DO charged wsheut
checking their speed an instant they contnued with
their bows straight for the fort every movement IN
dicating fixed. interchangeable ds.ermla nation M 20 raa
boatsConestoga Lexington and ne neaa
Of the sland they opened with their heavess guns,
aftor commsncsd forty twopound shot
the Essex just above the port hsr port bow
head completely oG-passirg through tho bulwark and
in OF the huss OF tho starboard boiler. The
boa. was instantly nied with steam The pilot.-Aarsh
were scadsd so that they died instantly Ford was
found with one hand the wheel and ths other on the
Twenty six OF the officers and men were killsd and
wounded but by shot. The Essex being completely
disabled dropped the strssm, and towed by
tug t. Gam asleck At this time the rebels, en-
couraged by the disabling OF hs Essex redoao!ed their
re raining storm OF shot ana shell upon the remaining
three boats Our boats still kept TO within three
hundred yards OF the fort esasng their are UNTIL
forty six minutes after O'Clock tho 6lh day
OF February 1862, tho rebel flag cams down BY tie
run. white flag shown and Fort Henry ours.
The CINCINNATI by thirty shots, Essex four,
St Louis Our oss will nos exceed fifteen, among
which the following
5. B. Britton, OF the Essex, killed.
P. Caradisr, of the Cincinnati killed.
Marsh Ford, Of the Essex, scAlded TO death
James Mcbride, OF the Esscx, scadcd TO death.
Eleven privatss, OF the Essex, scalded to death.
The action lasted jus, one hour and twelve minutes
During that time the Cincinnati red from four guns
hundred and twelve Shots using her port ride few
times the St. Louis hundred aud six shots from her
three bow guns two risd and smooth; the Essex
nfy-dve, The number Of shots fred by the others
have yet obtained. rebel officer Of artillery in
formed mo that they nred fully three hundred times
from their batteries. Our snicsrs deem his estimate
correct
the nag came down on0 St. LOUIS 0oardorB 9prenG
into thsir boats and slmost instantly shore.
An onncer inquired for the flag officer Of tho
dset The gig OF the flagship came up and
conveyed Brgadisr General Tilghman 20 the dock
OF tho Cincinnati. Being introduced to the old
hero, ho remarked that he was "gra.ined to surren
der, surrender he must to 50 brave ocsr Flag
Odhcsr Foots" Flag Oa1csr Foo,e replied You do
right in surrendering, sir should not have done il II
bs unconditional; accept other" SUCH is the
history Of this most brilliant naval victory The old dag
has been planted the walls OF rebel FORT in Western
Teunessse by the gallant blue jaeksts. Ocsrs and men
them tho OF tho Union Too much Of the credit
OF this victory cannot be awarded TO Flag Ocsr Fsots
who has isbored incessanty In tho preparation Of his
nset, and finally, when the time for action came. lott
sick bed and with his life in his hands struck this blow
for the old tag.
Tho prison srs taken thu fort ars-Brsadisr General
Lloyd tghman, OF Kentucky graduate Of West Point;
MAJOR " L. Mccommice OF Tennessee Assistant AdjuAnt
General; Captain H. L. Jones, OF kentucky, Brigsder
uartsrester Captain J. H. Hayden OF Tennessee Chief
OF Enginsss; Captain John Mclaughlin, Of Tennessee,
Quartsrmaster Captain Jesse Taylor Of Tennessee,
manding garrison Captain G. r. O. JONES' Of Tennsssss
Lieutenant W. 0rmsby Wstts Lisutsnant Frederick J.
Wsllen and sixty privstes.
The guns taken the l29 FOUNDER tbs
Nuxxs OF which eight Inch she drsd by one Of
tho guntosts one Apounder rifle which exploded; two
FOUNDER do. two II Founders do With thrss 5ponnd
srs smooth and Ave 6po1ndcrs, riaed found outside
tn, n.renchmsnts. Also Arg, quantity OF muskets
primo oaliy flint locks Harra-s F--ry, 8; a large
quantity OF ainmuatou, all snsir camp equi-
page blankets and all ths clothing which they
had on their backs
Tho following infantry, ia addition to the artillery
known 10 have been there in the morntng:-rsnh Ton
pesses Fourth Mississippi, Forty eighth Tennessee,
Fifty -arS. Tennessee Fifteenth Arkansas, one hundred
Alabama troops and I've hundred Tennessee cavalry.
They dsd early in the battle Our land forces did not par
ticipats 10 the action.