The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-03-27

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sfi iEs :sT lin I'll .sussi fl,laesgasp 4
hre grctais hibsslqa vi ,scd as;b~
tof Commerce, Missouri !, but 1t the, first m.
timation that the gunbeats were coming
they ASd ~th'wtas -beosy ahsy ocSSld ~
their bands, on, pi!laged ,impatially from
friends and foes. on the Missouri shore. The
Fboon Of security to the people II the norrth:
western States is ! debt due, ia % small
degree, to these wooden gunbpats, for hoy how.
lever numerous and bi,s brayi,cs our z armies, riia i,
would have been impossible Witt them alone
to have guarded All points On our artiyer line
Thus, our people were not only protected
from danger Of Invasion, but they were ep. eepp
tabled 70 give an their time and energies Il
preparation for those offensive movements
which have reclaimed. 80 much important
territory from the domination 81 the enemy
On the 2sd Of. September, Conm.nde.
Rodgers Was detached from service in the
West, and Capt. A. n. Foote was ordered Ia
take command IS iiag officer. Since thai
time the following boats, with iron.clad bows
have been built or prepared TOR service, and
aided to the fiotill. under his command:
St. Lepis, thirtecn guns, Lieut.. P.ulding
Oarcndelet. thirteen guns, Commander Walk
Pittshurg, thirteen guns, Lieut.. Thompson
Louisville, thirteen guns, Commander Dove;
cincinnati, thirteen guns, Commander Stem.
bel /; Essex. Eve guns, Commander Porter ;
Mound City, thirteen guns.
The first engagement Of the guhboats with
the enemy took place on the 9th Of Septen.
Der. At Lucas Bend, u the Mississippi river
4 short distance above, and in full view 3,
the rebel stronghold Al Columbus. In that
engagement, the Lexington, Comnarsn1andes.
Stembel, and the Cohestoga, Lieut.. Phelps,
silsnced two shore batteries, dispersed
large body ofrebei Cavalry, and 50 disabled
the rebel bunboat Yankee that she has no,
been heard Of Since : 'sl '''a "aisi ~
On the 29th Of October, the Conestoga,
Lieut. Phelps. proceeded. with three compa-
nies Of Illinois volunteers. sixty-two miles
mp the Tennessee river to Eddyville, KY,
where they jointly attacked and ::routed :
rebel encampment, bringing sway their
horses, arms, camp .equipags. and Negro
slaves.
There could hardly have been an occasion
where the presence of an efficient naval
support was more necessary than at the bat.
tie ,of Belmont, fought on the, 7th. day, oi
fNnyember last and there, has been no con-
flict during the wal. where this support, when
finally called into requisit:ons was more Of
fectively and opportnnely rendered. Nothing
but the well directed fire Of grape and canis.
ter from the guns of the Taylor and Lexing-
ton saved our land forces from being utterly
cut to pieces while retiring on board thoir
transports. Every effort of the enemy to
bring his artillery to bear on our columns
was defeated by the storm Of iron that as.
sailed him from the boats. His pieces were
dismounted and his horses and men swep,
down as fast as they were placed in posi-.
tion.
A great deal has been said about the ori.
gin Of the proposition to take possession o1
the Tennessee river. The ere II OF origina.
Iiting the idea ofa military campaign in tha,
direction has been, claimed, first by one, and
then BY another military .comm.nder.
desire that impartial justice should be done
to every man /; and acting upon the intention
to do justice, | must be permitted to say,
that 50 far As ] can learn, the project ol
turning the enemy's TANKS BY penetrating
the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, origi-
mated with Commodore Foote. The srsa,
rise, Of water ia those rivers was provident;al
and with the quick eye Of military genius b.
saw ct once the advantage that II might &C.
euro u our arms, Accordingly he sent Il
Gen. Hallsck, at St Louis. the following
dispatch: -. ~ '
gn CAIRo, January q, 1862.
General Grant and myself are of opinior
that Fort Henry and she Tennessee river car
bc carried with four iron-clad gunboats and
troops, and be permanently occupied. Hav,
we your authority 70 move fo, that .parposs
when ready I sss = Al y, F0OTE,
Tothis despatch no reply was vouchsafed
but an srderwu subsequently, sent 10 Gen
Grant - proceed sp the, Teaasssse rivs,
with &roeps under convey etths armed, 90
tills, and attack Fort Henry, directing Gen
gupt TO SHOW "a Commodore EeoEe his : n
dsfs to this effect. Cpmmodores Footea wal
at once ready for the expsdisioa, and advisel
ths Department. b that easct, IN the fslls~
ing dispatch: - gi siia4taq III Is ssa il Sci
UsurD STAfEs GuNsoAr CoNlsroaA.. q
.dss sai fAPADrcAa, Febraasy's, 1eo9.f
SrR:- have the honor to inform 70,
that Ilsit Cairo Yesterday with this vessel
having ordered ths arncred gunboAts Esssx
Csrondolst, Ciucin1ati and 81. Louis, !,
prsceds ne 70 PsducSG. spd arrived hst''
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