Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-11

TIE SURRENDER OF THE FOKT-FIVE
THOUSAND REBEL INFANTRY CUT AND
RUN, LEAVING EVERYTHING EEnIND
THEN IN THEIR FLIGHT.
The Cincinnati Gazette and Commercials
Cairo correspondents give the following interest
ing account Of the bombardment and capture of
Fort Henry:
On Thursday, February 9th. at II o'clock 30
minutes +. NJ. the gunboats Cincinnati, St. Louis,
Carondeet, and Essex the Tyler, ConestoYa
and Lexington bringing up the rear, advanced
boldly against the Rebel works, going TO the
right Of Painter Creek Island, immediately
above which on the east shore of the river stands
the Notifications. Keeping out of range ill at
the head of the Island, ami within mile of the
enemy, and then passing the Island In full view
OF the Rebel guns, we steadily advanced every
man being ut quarters
Every car was strained to catch the Flag Of
icer'a signal gun for the commencement Of the
action.
Our line of battle was on the left the st
Louis next, the Carondelet next, the Cincinnati
(for the time being the flag ship aud having gu
board Flag Officer Foote) and next the Essex
We advanced in lne-the Cincinnati a boats
length ahead, when, at 1870 the Cincinnati
opened the ball, aud Immediately the three ac-
compaDying bouts followed the example, and
the enemy, no ways backward, gave an admi-
rable response
The fight ragged furously for half an hour. but
we steadily advanced toward the enemy. re-
ceiVing the returning storms Of shot and shell,
when, getting within three hundred yards OF the
ensmy's works, we came to u stand and poured
into them right and left
In the meantime the Essex had been disabled
and drifted away from the scene of action,
leaving the Cincinnati, CarOndelet and 81.
Louis alone engaged.
At precisely 40 minutes past one O'Clock the
enemy struck their coors, and such cheering
and euch wild excitement us seized the throats,
arms and caps of the four or fve hundred sailors
OF the gnnboats cannot he imagined, much less
described
Aftor the surrender, which was male TO Com
modore Foote by General Tilghman, who de
Tended his fort in the most determined manner,
we found TINT the Rebel infantry encamped out.
side of the fort, numbering four or five Thousand
men, had cut and run, leaving only an artillery
company in command of that fort
The fort mounted seventeen guns mostly ~
and 3lpOnnders, uue being u magnificent lU
inch cOlnmhiad,
Our shots disnounted two guur, driving the
enemy through the embIasures. One of their
ruled 32-pounders burst during the engagement,
wouuding the gunners.
The Rebels captured claim to have had but
eleven effective guns, worked by ffiy.fonr men,
the number, ail told, Of the prisoners taken IS
They lost FIVE killed aud ten badly wounded.
The infantry left everything behind Them in
their flight and IL vast deal Of their plunier has
fallen into our hands, including a large and
valuable quantity of ordnance stores
Gen, Tllgbman appeared disheartencd lie
thinks the capture Of the fort is one Of the most
damaging blows Of the war. tia surrenleriug
to Com. Fo0le lie remarked, al am glad to sur-.
render TO 80 gallant an officer"
Commodore F0ole replied "YOm do perfect-
" right, sir, in suIrendering, but you should
have blown my boats out of wnter before would
have surrendered to you"
ln the engagement the Cincinnati was in the
lead and flying the Flag Officers pennant which
was the chief mark Fag Officer FOote aud
Captain Stemble crowded her deiiantly into the
teeth 6f the enenys guns. She got thirty-One
shots, some going completely through her.
The Essex was badly crippled when about half
through the fight, aud crOwling steadily against
the enemy, ball went into her port side.
through forward port, then through the heavy
bulkhead and going squaTey through one of her
boilers, the escaping steam scalding and killing
several of her crew
Captain Porter and his Aide, s. p Button. Jr
aud Paymaster Lewis, were standing in the di-
rect line OF the balls passage. Button being in
the centre of the group the shot struck him on
the top of the head, scattering his brains in
every direction. The escaping steam went into
the pilot house and instantly killed Ford and
Bride, the pilots. Many of the soldiers at the
rush Of the steam jumped overheard and were
drowned
The Cincinnati had only one man killed and
six wounded.
The Essex had six seamen killed, two officers
and seventeen men wounded, and five missing
There we're no casualties on tue st. Louis and