The New York herald., 1862-02-13
MORE DETAILS OF THE ENGAGEMENT.


L. S. GRANT, Brigadier General Commanding,
MORE DETAILS OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
Correspondence Of the st Louis Democrat
CAIRO, Feb I, 1862.
Three OF the gunboats the Cincinnati the Essex and
the ST. Louis having returned from the capture Of Fort
Henry, and having obtained all the particulars from Off
GERS and men hasten to write you the details which
was unable to transmit by telegraph
HOW rEE ATTACK WAS CONDUCTED.
The attack was begun yesterday noon. the first gun
Only four OF the gunDoats were cngaged-the Cincinnati
(the flag ship) the Essex, the Carondelst and st
Louis-these moving towards the fort abreast-the
Conestogs, Tyler and Lexington remaining behind, bnt
within easy hail. The order of the approach was the
Essex the right next her the CINCINNATI and then
the Louis and the Carondeet the lett This dispo
sion OF the boats commen9s itself once as an aimra
ble stroke OF Commodore Foote'S undoubted naval genius
The object was to bring to bear the best Of the es
and the time to prevent the exposure Of the broad
side OF OF the boats the enemys guns Had there
been such exposure it TO imagine the destruction
and probable failure which would have for the
boats extremely vulnerable in their after parts
This order Of approach having been assumed At tha be-
ginning preserved Throughout tho engagement the
fire opening at the distance OF about mile aud
tnung with terrible eoct until the surrender when the
feet not more than Ave six hundred yards from
the fort.
Commodore Foote il seems pursued the same tactics
that rendered him famous in his attack upon the China
forts few years since the English firing al long dis
tauce, and suffering severely, while he imme-
dscy under the guns of the Chnamen and poured such
hot and effective Are into their wooden walls that they
and completely disabled an,s beaten.
General rlghman, tho rebel commander OF Fort Henry.
upon his capture promptly testified 70 the spennia
when he discovered the purpose Of the Commodore his
chief object to disable the flagship aud, by get
ting the Flag Officer ont OF the way, 10 dsc0ncer tho
other boats aud epahe him TO pursue his firing with
better effect. Ths accounts for the hearty
ncr IN which his compliments wero paid to tho
Cincinnati, shs having received thirty one shots
or aber fifty, OF which the whole reot bear the
marks The Commodore compmen,ed General Iilghman
~ he Fnrfa .h,
assuring him that he would have pursued the purpose
his attack to the landing of ns boat al the very
bank under the fort and that the Cincinnati had the
agh continued, should have kent head until she
sunk Another gyOn by the rebo Genera, for ths
concentration of Ere upon tho flag ship the that
she seemed 90 have got better range than any Of tho
other boats and as her Are just before the srrendsr
terrific. The Cincinnati bears many
scars Several shots have loft their ks her iron
plated sides, showing 10 oach cas-" shallow ana rakng
dent one of her largest guns struck .he right
side Of its rsuzze tho shot cinpng piece Of tho
metal large IA a mans two hands, and actually split
ting the muzy'e eighteen inches down from the mouth
THIS will disable the gun entirely. Another gum
thirty two poun ndcr be.ieve-,esrs deap don.
It's side about eighteen inches from the mouth. Just
behind the forward por. gun and where the sides Of
the boat arc not covered WITH ron, several shots
have gone entirely through :he bulwarks. ono
of these completely dscapitaLed one OF tho gunners
Another passed through the bu,warks, scattering ths
spinters right ANA left ylancos aiorg tho tmbsrs
the machinery aud passing into the whcs,. bu' not
doing much damage. The most terrible etact Of the
ep.my's fire unop u, Cincinnati "a seen On her upper
works the deck seeming have been swept with the
destructive missiles. the smoke stacks percAd
raj places and the small boats ridied aud almost de-
stroyed. One large shot struck the plated p;o;
house leaving ugly marx, but doing damage. The
concusson vintut and j. described ny the pilots
surprising the Commodore and them islo very decdsd
gruut. But killed fright The ,inciu
natl. few wers wounded with sp;n,s-s, whose
/ have sent you. Captain Pratt was BABY hurt by a
bail striking his leg The describe the crash
OF the balls through the timber, tho vessel
rible sound OF them hnc"d say their ofcars
but the party manning The gun a. which one u their
bpr knftca A at
tered and fell bark for moment bat Immediately raj.
led and stood their ground. Tho Cincinnati into
part with The args rebel as flying uu.er the stars a'l
stripes her sl beng greeted with m1uy cheers
and congra .a:ions among the persons on the Cairo
eves.
The Fssex VII ch has Away. seemed an unrortinat,
boat Notwithstanding the rrs taken with her and the
admirable naval and Ggh'ng qaaitcs Of her commander
Captain " y. Porter aud hs u'aily ee", was very M
l-cky this engagement For half hour she bore 1r
part the contest most stlanty. her magnificent
mept p9ying with fe trfui Ccgt The fort when she
received most fearful shot Immediately over the f.
ward port gun Capiaa ortCr at the moment pcrg-
ne out az the porthoe watching the cIc, r firing
and Young named pr'ttIB rf Iir Britain uf
New York city. staining by his side hs hand thn
Captain sh dider Theba divided his head complete
Is carry ing away its crown aud scattering his brains
upon the person Of payaster who was standing ~ his
side This terrible messenger 0f dssh few aiong the
shtp through the bGlkheids which To protect 0
machinery n the boat aud crashed into tn middle Dol
| cr Immediately with rushing sound, The scading
steam tiled every part of the vessel. The two
piots both well known IN Il. Ionis, who were
1s il seemed IN Their duties th,. they
| "a uayl,ctsd 20 ciree tina tr,p dnnr ,hiri,
l,a,s from below To their house cnvsppeI bg the
blister OK vapor and almost Immediately scalded 10 death
They made desperate strugge 20 got ogt OF Tho plot
| house running their through the lookout holes
whch not largo enough TO pass their bodcs aud
v,niy striving get their leads through for fresh air
The thrs who had stood so ea!anty 70 their guns
appalled, ~ this new and tsTrbie cnemy ami many VI
them were brow Themselves out VI the porthos,
into the river Captain Porter Wa bal scaded the
tsce aud hands. a. this writing however his al,
| zait n be : a.
iastnr Tho Essex disabled aud began 20 fall back
ybich Commodore Foots 0bscr ing was for tho muiaen
perIexed lie Thought first OF falling bark with hor
by fastening her 20 bring her again nt1 line but th'
second thought dccdsd him 20 iet her and pressing
rnors eagerly forward with the Cincinnati, urged by
thc pan necessity Of close and desperate lighting bore
DOWN upon the fort with iarcer front than hurnl
messengers of death ana destruction - rapidly upon
enemy, that al resistance vas useless anu they wsr
[ 3impaed N rapitilats.
The St LOUIS aud Carondelet did splendid work. bu
lid not seon to receive 40 much attention from th
eaerny. 1hoy marked 10 several places, but did no
ntna man
Commolors Footo inrorms ns that but eleven Of tn
gups Of the four boats ssd aud tho rebel officer
represent that, out 0f the guns with which tn
fort was armed hui eleven brought TO bcas upo
the soatsso thai no advantage can 10 camod by che
side The guns OF the fort oil OF heavy cabre tn
largest being l25 puundlr beautifully finished piecc
from the 1rodegar Works at Richmond they had on
rhed csnnon. thftytwO p1uuicr, which burst 1urin
the engagement aud became useless Their guns wer
skuly handled, and all officers give them tn
cretl VI IN 20 gallant aod determined d- Of toi
fort.
The rebels report but 1--WE killed ond eight or t.,
vortdcd. Tne number Of prisoners stated to b.
nrty four Gen Tghmau aud staT will probably os ,eo
10 this place 20 day or tomorrow
when the Gag q the fort lowered t was not quit
taken out Of sight the boats, and mmodore Foote
not know Dut SOM ck was about to be played upO
him so he remained quiet for a few mnutc waitin
furtn a. de-nonst STATIONS soon small white yav pu
oit from the fort, containing Two officers, on AT
proauhug the Cincinnati was hailed by Master iloel. m
oalcers said they waited conference with the Fla
O1icor which vas at once granted them. One oc Ou
| afsf fheup
bei Of the Cncsnai and Captain Phelps, OF the COnes
"a VIII ch boat had come up 10 the scsne % actiD
catering The fort they Immediately reared tho America
faz aud brought od the rebel nag. General Tigh ma
and etar hsn came On boa d the Cincinnati and asked