New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-02-11
The Capture of Fort Henry.


The Memphis Appeal of Sunday has the follow.
ing: s,-.--a,-- s-.-r~ .--.~z .-
From Mr.. F. NJ. Trammell, of Col. Gees 18th
arkansas regiment. who escaped from Fort
Henry on the Confederate dispatch steamer Dun
bar, we have the following statement:
The Dunbar was pursued to the railroad bridge
over the Tennessee river, when the draw y was
turned, and thus delayed the progress Of the Fed,
eral gnnboats. Seven shots were fred at the Dun
bar, which were accurately aimed and fell near
her, but tailed to strike her. Shereached Florence,
Alabama, at II o'clock Friday night, leaving the
other Confederate steamers behind. From this
point Mr.. Trammell Immediately took the railroad
train and came down to Memphis, arriving last
night about o'clock. He says that in the fight
one of The Federal gunboats was sunk and another
disabled. He himself saw one 60 under. The
fort was not surrounded by water in the rear, SO
as to impede retreat though the retreating forces
three thousand strong, who retired to Fort Donel-
son, lost everything but their arms including
tents, equipage, etc. =
Our forces ceased firing fifteen or twenty min
utes before the enemy did. and are reported to
have then raised the white flag. -"z's
When the dunbar was five miles above Danville,
about O'Clock z. M., a brilliant light was seen,
which was supposed to be the railroad bridge,
though it is possible it may have been occasoned
by the coniagraton Of the ferry boat used at that
point. ,r-' 5s
From the same paper we copy the following edi.
torial article:
IL VIII Hot w Loi uS " listen 10 Tue COuQSelS Oh
that lnJudicious class among us who always seek
to avoid danger by denying its existence. The
safer plan is to boldly confront and vigorously
combat it. We should, therefore, look upon the
recent capture of Fort Henry in its proper light,
and be free to confront it-what in reality it is
all important success to the enemy's arms. It has
accomplished two signal results First, the cutting
OF OF direct communication between Columbus and
Bowling Green, and secondly, the establishment of
basis Of operations, from which flank movement
may be made upon either Beauregard or Johnston,
or forward movement up the Tennessee.
The next step Of the enemy, which we should an
movement will probably be projected by both land
and water. Grants flota, which sailed from
Cairo last week, has no doubt gone up the Cum
berland river with this very object in view.
Smiths command, now at Fort Henry, may, under
favorable circumstances, possibly cooperate with
him. so Tar at least as to cut off the retreat of the
garrison, in case Of captuation. The armament
OF Fort Donelson is much better than that Of Fort
Henry, the guns being of heavier calibre and
longer range. and hence we are not without hope
that Grants fiotilla will be discounted.
But how if Fort Doneson shall fall ?--for such a
contingency is not exceedingly improbable, as the
affairs at Hatteras, Port Royal and Fort Henry too
plainly show. The superior munitions of naval war
fare used by the enemy may force Gen. Pillows
command to retire from that point, and we had as
well prepare now for that event, for the wise man
toreseeth the danger and turneth aside" In such
an event the enemy, having strongly posted himself
at these captured forts, would doubtless move the
whole of his available force say some fifty thousand
| men, up the Cumberland river towards Carksville
or Nashville. The object of this move would be to
| outfank Gen. Johnston, while Buell. made an at
tack, or at least fent in front from the river. w
| The Importance of Bowling Green as the head
quarters of the army of the Southwest, can not
well be overrated nor have the enemy lost sight Of
the advantage that must accrue to him should that
| position be carried. There is located the central
| column of Johnston's army, the two wings being
| at Columbus and Gansboro, under Beauregard and
Crittenden respectively. Should it fall, Nashville
goes with it, and an nroad is at once opened iol
the invasion of the Mississippi Valley. The great
battle of the war is evidently to be fought at Bow
ling Green, and its vicinity prove the field of ter
rible and bloody conflict, that may be Waterloo
to one or the other of the belligerents engaged in
| this struggle. The two events of the last three
weeks the defeat of Zollicofer and the fall of Fort
Henry, have had the effect we surmised, and drfed
the war from the Potomac to Kentucky. McClel
| Ian timidly holds his army OF one hundred and
| twenty five thousand men within cannon sound OF
Manassas, and fears to advance lest he may repeat
the experiment of Mcdowell on the fatal 2lst o.
July last. Wool, likewise, does not move forward
! from the Peninsula, still preserving healthy re-
membrance of Butler and Big Bethel.
The object of the enemy is to avoid the strong
places SO strengthened by the aids of science and
artillery, and to strike us in our weak point. Hence
the transfer of active hostites from the Potomac
to Kentucky, where now an army of a hundred
and thirty thousand men are pressing heavily upon
our lines. We may soon expect, if the necessities
of Buell. demand it, to see more troops moving
from within the vicinity of Washington and Bati
more to Louisville and Cairo, with the object o.
following up the late successes achieved at Fishing
Creek and Fort Henry. EXulting in victory ant
| Intoxicated with success, the enemy will come
upon us in vigorous advance, all along our north
erl frontier. He must be met and conquered
though all the property and half the lives in the
Confederacy are sacrificed in its accomplishment
The people of this vast and wealthy valley are be
ginning to understand the issue before them, ant
are determined to meet the crisis Us becomes men
1t remains only for our military authorities to be
more vigilant and energetic, and the Government
| at Richmond more observant of facts now tran
spring, of which the press have warned it fol
months. A move has been made in the right direc
act of administrative justice to the West which this
journal called for just after the battle of Belmont
| and which we trust is not performed too late K
effect fruitful results. II troops can be spared
Gen. Sidney Johnston from Virgnia-the SAM
that have been sent there by the West for the pro
| lection OF Richmond aao,c is the time they ar
| needed. 4.....,,.-- 40 H.
We have confidence that our recent disaster
will prove beneficial in many respects, by bringip
good out of evil. The effect is already being see
by Us in manifold developments, which will 500
be palpable to every observing mind. The hou
| OF tral ls now upon US, but the morning Of ou
future will break brightly. ..E
4Hs ---s< -
| Some OF the Louisiana newspapers are abuslE
| the Governor of that. State most numerically TO
his veto Of the Cotton Loan bill. When they stud
the currency of our country practically, durin
the years to come we believe they will thank hir
for doing 80. -- s. #-=z