Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-02-13
The Burnside Fleet!

MEaITIs, Feb. Fort Hen
~ was captured by the Federals
yesterday after two hours fighting,
The Federals advanced. and de-
streyed the Tennessee river bridge,
thus cutting off communication by
this route between Columbus and
Bowling Greei.
Not many lives were lost at Fort
Henry. Our forces were driven
out principally by shells from the
gun boats, and are retreating up
Ion Fort Donelson and are pursued
by the enemy,
The Tennessee river bridge was
burnt about five or six o'clock on
yesterday evening. The bridge is
certainly destroyed.
Young McConnicc thinks all
could have rv.reated safely If Gen.
Iilshman mad not considered him.
self Eound to forbid them leaving
after the flag had been hauled
down, that being the usage of war.
Gen. Tilghman, Maj. Giller and
eighty cffcers and men, were sur
rendered with the Fort, having re-
manned in the Fort to cover the
retreat of the forces, which we
are inclined to believe was newt
able from the high water of the
Tennessee running almost into it,
and threatening hourly to inundate
| it thus makingi it a slaughter pen"
! for the shells of the enemy, whose
boats could take a pos ton to COM
pletely command it. The location
of this fort was unfortunately
made, during the period of Ken
lucky neutrality, when the Presi-
dent of the Confederate States
and the Governor of Tennessee,
felt bound to scrupulously respect
the position Of our sister State,
and before the forces of Lincoln
had begun to make camping
grounds of its soil. Under these
circumstances, it was found nee
essary by the Engineer who Local
ted it to refrain from occupying
an eminence Oh the opposite bank
OF the river. which lies in the State
Of Kentucky, and which com
mands the fort.
Col. Heimen brought over the
rest of his force III good order to
Fort Donelson, about 8, 000in aggre-
gate arriving there about l l o'clock
last night. Owing to the bad state
of the reads and the high water
Of the various water courses be-
tween the two forts, as well as the
fact they were attacked i'll the rear
by the enemy's cavalry, Col. Hell
man says it was a matter of phys
ical impcssibility to save the field
batteries. Nothing was saved but
the small arms.
Fort Henry is an elaborate
and well constructed earthwork,
and had it been in commanding
position would have excited the adj
miration of all engineers. 1t WIS
however generally regarded by mil
itary men, in consideration of its
situation, as a weak fertilization
which w;is compelled to fall when
ever it was approached in sufficient
force by land and water. II was
provided with some of the best
guns in the service both riflcd and
smooth-bore, ten 32's, one eight
inch colunbiad, and one l2S-pound-
err rifled gun. I
The enemy, after the encounter
and surrender of the fort, proceed
ed to Danville, only 20 miles above
the fort, and destroyed the mag
nifcent railroad bridge of the Menu
Dhis and Louisville railroad which
spans the Tennessee river at that ,
point. This they accomplished in
ess than four hours after the fall .
If the fort. The destruction of !
his bridge does not destroy the {
abroad communication between
he Confederate forces at Bowling {
Green and Columbus, as is sup I
,osed by some. There is still rail-
cad communication ria the Nash I
lille and Louisville, Nashville and 7
Decatur, Memphis and Charleston, t
nd Mobile and Ohio roads, IN a 3
rore circuitous route, It is true, n
nut vet sufficient for all purposes v
f transportation. o
RICHMOND, Feb. 5-Advices i
ave been received from Washing r
on to the Sd inst. A general ex-
hange of prisoners, including pri- 3
ateersman, will soon be consam- f