Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-02-14
A SPLENDID VICTORY.
CAPTURE or FORT HENRY.
From the Special Correspondent of the Chicago Tribune


Essex have just returned from the rebel Fort
Henry, on the Tennessee River. The stars
and stripes now float over that place. Yes
terday, at 1898 r. NJ, the gunboats Cincin-
natl, St Louis, Carondelet, and Essex, the
TAYLOR, Conestoga and Lexington bringing
up the rear, advanced boldly against the rcb-
eli works, going to the right Of Painter Greek
Island, issuing above which, on the east shore
of the river, stands the Notifications; and
keepiEg consequently off range till at the
head of the Island, and within mile Of the
enemy, passing the island in full view of the
rebel guns, we steadily advanced, every man
at quarters, every ear strained to catch the
flag officers signal gun for the commence
mont Of action.
Our line OF battle was on the left; the st.
Louis next: Carondclet next; the Cincinnati,
board flag officer A. Ii. Foote, was next to
the right Of the Essex. ...r .... .....r ..
Weadyanced in line, the Cincinnati boats
length in advance, when, at 1910, the Gin
cinnati opened the ball, and Immediately the
three accompanying boats followed suit "
The enemy, not backward, gave admirable
response, and the fight ragged furiously for
haitian hour. We steadily advanced, receiving
ard returning storms of shot and shell, when
getting within 800 yards of their works, we
came to stand and poured in to them right
and left. 1t was magnificent; the whistling
shot, clugs of the seip seips, and the cheering
of our men as our shots took evident effect.
In the meantime the Essex had been disa-
bed and drifted away from the scene of the
engagement, leaving the Cincinnati, Coronde-
let and st. Louis engaged
At length, at precisely lao, the enemy
struck his flag and such cheering, such wild
excitement as seized the Threats and arms and
caps of the 400 or 500 sailors Of the gunboats
Well, imagine it. .... ......r .
After the surrender, which was made to
flag officer Foote by the rebel Gen. Floyd
Tilghman, who defended his fort in most
determined manner, we found that the rebel
infantry, encamped to the number of some
4 or ) thousand outside the fertilization, had
cut and run, leaving the rebel artillery COM
pany in command of the fort to their fate.
The fort mounted II guns, mostly 80 and
81 Founders one, however, a magnificent 10
inch columbiad They claim to have had but
IL effective guns, worked by "a men, which
is the number AL told, Of our prisoners.
Our shots had dismounted 9 Of their guns,
driven the enemy from their entertainments,
and played smash with them generally.
They lost five killed and some ten badly
wounded. One of their rihed guns, a 80
FOUNDER, burst during the engagement, badly
wounding one of their gunners, but killing
none HE.a.- ...
The infantry fed from their quarters, leav-
ing bag and baggage. 4 vast deal Of plumber
has fallen into our hands, and a large and
valuable quantity of ordnance stores.
oGn. Tllghinan is disheartened, and thinks
it one of the most damaging blows of the war.
In surrcndering to our flag officer, the reb-
ell General remarked: 81 am glad to sur
render to so gallant an officer"
The flag officer Foote replied: "You do
perfectly right, Sir, in surrendering; but you
should have blown my boats ont Of water be-
fore l would have surrendered to you"
The land force under command of General
Grant did not arrive at the fort till after the
rebels had surrendered, and their army es
capped. r.- ...-.- .-....-..
Our gunboats did splendid fighting. We
can make no distinctions The Cincinnati,
however, was in the lead and flying the Flag
Officers pennant, the chief mark Flag Of
ficcr Foote and Capt. Stombel crowded her
defantly into the teeth OF the enemy's guns.
She got 81 shots, some Of them going through
and through her. She expended 10 shots.
The Essex was badly crippled. When
about half through the fight, and crowding
with a splendid herois,n steadily against the
enemy, ball went in at her port side for
ward port, through one of her boilers the
escaping steam scalding and killing several
of her crew, and badly wounding many more.
Capt. Porter, his aid S. P Britton, Jr., and
Paymaster Lewis, were standing on direct
line Of the balls passage, Britton being in the
center of the group. The shot struck poor
Britton on the top of the head, scattering his
brains and blood in every direction. The
escaping steam went into the pilot house
quickly killing the two pilots, Ford and Nc
Bride. Many of the Sailors at the rush of
steam, jumped overheard and were drowned.
At least six hundred shots were fired dur
ing the engagement. 1t was most terrific
cannonade. The guns were well served. /
saw six dead rebels Their loss could rot
be asccrtained, the dead having been taken
away. The scene inside the rebel entrench-
mcnts was terrible In three rows of their
log barracks not one escaped, shot and shell
having torn everything to splinters.
CHARACTERISTIC ORDER OF GEN. HALLEcK.
st. Louis, February 7, ls62.--The follow
ing is announced from the headquarters Of
the army, in this city:
Sort Henry is ours the flag of the I'm
sion is re-established on the soil of Tenncs
"sce 1t will never be removed .
. By command of Maj. Gen. Halleck
wv. w. Smith, Capt and Abide Camp"
FORT DoSELsoN TO BE ATTACKED.
Louisville, Feb. IA dispatch from Gen.
Haleck to Gen. Buell., this evening says
"a" We have taken Fort Henry. The enc
nv have retreated on Paris, leaving part of
his guns. Our cavalry are in pursuit. Gen.
Grant will attack Fort Doneison tomorrow.
THE REBELS ANTICIPATED DEFEAT.
correspondent of the Memphis appeal,
(3Oth ult.) speaking of the anticipated attack
on Forts Donelson and Henry, says:
Fort Donelson, with its 5000 heroes will
be held against all opposition. More solicit
tude is felt about Fort Henry. In the first
place, it is built in low place. which is east
ly commanded from a high hill on the oppo-
site soil, That hill is now in possession of
our forces, and if we lose it, Fort Henry can
not |, ng hold out though there are provisions
enough there to last our forces for months.