The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-18
Commodore Foote.

| SoAAiAoISiC IuOtC.
Now that t!is brave and active hero who has
achieved Tor himself such fame by his exploits
with iron-clad gunboats up the Tennessee river
and who displayed such indomitahc courage in
the attack upon Fort Donelson, has started on
the expedition down the Mississippi, and already
captured the first rebel stronghold, at Island
No. 10, it is only fair that hc should have the
praise that belongs to him, whether it be for
| lighting, or planning the expeditions, which
have gained such victories Tor the Union. The
New York World, a paper that is so warmly
IN Gen. McClelan's interest that it cannot be
suspected of giving any credit that belongs to
the Commander-in-Chiet, to any subordinate,
thus writes of Commodore Foote:
Senator Grimes, of the Naval Committee, in
his speech On the vote Of thanks to Commodore
toote, declared that so far as he could learn,
g the project OF turning the cnemy's flank by
penetrating the Tennessee and Cum berand
IS rivers, originated with Commodore Foote p"
70 show this, he preyentei ,he following dis
patch from the Commodore TO General HalIeck,
dated Cairo, January IS:
" General Grant and myself arc Of opinion
that Fort Henry and the Tennessee river can be
carried with four iron clad eunboat5 and troops,
and oe permanently occupied. Have We your
authority to move Tor that purpose when ready?"
Five days afterwards he was on his way and
so sure was he OF the victory, that he gave in
structlnns IN advance what was to be done after
it, with the same forecast that distinguished
General Scott in Mexico, of which we have seen
too little in this war thus far. This was his
special order TWO days before the battle:
Lieutenant Commanding Phelps will, as
soon as the fort shall haze surrendered, and upon
signal from flag ship, proceed with the Cones
toga, Taylor and Lexington up the river to where
the railroad bridge crosses, and. If the army
Shall not already have got possession, he will
destroy SO much OF the track as will entirely
prevent its use by the rebels. lie Will then pro
coed as far up the river as the stage of water
will admit, and capture the enemy's gunboats
and other vessels which might prove available to
tho enemy
The fruits Of that prompt, brilliant dash to
Florence trebled the value OF the victory.
1t ~ not 700 much to say that our splendid
western successes are due to Commodore Foote
more than to any other man Without him
and his Hotlla, We should, in ali probability,
be yet pouring out our blood like water IN Yaln
efforts to break through the enemys front line
of delesses. AT least, we may set it down as
certain that Columbus, the Sebastopol of The
continent, with all its river COMMUNICATIONS
open, would never have been given up without
u most desr crate struggle. Commodore Fooe
is the ri4,iS arm of our military power in the
West. and the people all the more GLADLY rec
ogniae it, because OF his greal-souled mcdesty,
and his freedom from professional jealousy, and
all political ambitloa. lie has but one thought,
one anlmating purposc-the rushing o! this
ab:orred rebellion in the quickest and most Ell
fectual manner possible. lie will be again
heard from presently.
Commodore Footo is now on his way to New
Orleans. lie has made his first report by she'll
ing out 20, 900 rebels from Island No 10. How
fast he will progress is only IL matter Of specu-
lation. Ono thing, howevc', is certain No
rebels that he defeats will have time to fall back
and fsrtly second position, before he moves
upon it. The land forces must be lively in their
movements or they will not be in at the death.