Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-02-21
THE CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY,
Additional Particulars.

The bOmbardment of Fort Henry affords
many important facts in regard to iron-clad
war vessels. The four gunboats which went
boldly up to the fort and drove out its
defenders, were partially iron cased. Three
of them were built purpOselY for the war !;
but the Essex, which suffered so severely,
is said 10 haYe been a steamboat, altered,
but from her construction not having her
boilers and machinery 80 well protected as
the others.
The sides Of all the boats but the Essex
were covered in their most vulnerable parts
and around their boilers and engines with
p inch iron plates, arranged at a suitable
angle for causing the proJectiles to glance
from them. The shot which disabled the
Essex passed through a small unprotected
portion OF her bow, and BY one account is
said 70 have been a l28 pound ball, and by
another only "a pound shot.
The three uncased boats were not brought
into close action, but threw shells at a long
range, and were placed IN the rear of the
iron cased bOlts.
This contest proves the superiority of
iron-cased vessels, and it is stated that even
the los pound balls of the fort failed to
make any impression upon the iron plates.
LULb IAtuAl was " IL
tillerists. Capt. Miller, the commander of
the company. is SAID to be one of the best
artillerymen in the West. The gunboats,
with one exception, were hit many times,
but all were, at the close of the contest, In
good fighting condition, except the Essex.
The bombardment is represented. by all
who witnessed 1t, as most terrific. One Of
the officers who was in the fort remarked
!, L. ..fto q 4. 81 ,C
shell and shot, but his Imagination had but
slightly pictured the terror OF such a scene.
the effects Of which are still be seen all over
the fort, in the plOSing away of complete
roads through the earthwork and sand bags,
dismounting one or two Of the guns and
cripplilg several others in the setting FIRE
to several of their cabins prepared for winter
quarters, and otherwise disabling the fort.
some OF the balls cut of large trees at the
distance OF thrse-quart-rs Of a mile in the
woods.
Notwithstanding the large force Of intsn-
try outside the lort, there were not artillery
men enough m it TO work all the guns, and
only twelve OF the nineteen guns mounted
were workei This was about the same
number Of guns which the boats were able
to b.Ing to bear.
Twe.ve men were killed in the fort by
shells from the feet, and several wounded.
The only rihed gun the rebels had. burst,
killing one or two. Another cannon receive
ed Union ball exactly in its mouth, where
the missile remained So firmly wedSed as to
render the piece usele-s. The shot and shell
of the fleet had been thrown With remarks-
ble precision, tearing down cabins, and rem
dering the working of the guns impossible.
The rebel Captain Taylor said one she'll bad
killed UT wounded all the men working one
of his guns.
The secession troops, 5000 IN number, en-
csmped outside the fort, and within circle
of earthworks, fed in perfect panic after
the first few shots. They lett weapons, tents
clothing, &c.
Gen. Tilghmau was inside the fortidcs-
| tiOns at the time, witnessing the firing, and
says he did not know his force intended
| going until they were gone. They fed in
confusion despite the remOnstranc9s Of their
| officers.
Immense quantities Of ammunition and
stores have fallen into Gen Grants hands.
The torpedoes placed in the channel to
obstruct the boats, were picked up without
difficulty, and nearly all of them found 60
I oodhSd tudt tHcJ NOulu uOt cAfAO
The armament of Fort Henry consisted Of
two l2Spounders, one s0pounder, two riaed
IL FOUNDERS, ten 32 Founders, one 24pOund-
/ er, and several howitzers. Several field
pieces were taken from the camp outside the
| fort. One account states that the so pound
er in the fort was disabled by shell and
not a round shot. the shell bursting in or on
| it so as to render 1t useless.
Had it not been for the casually in the
Essex, little or no lOss would have been sus-
tanned by the boats. This success mus
stimulate Congress and the Navy Depart
ment in the construction Of iron cased yes
sells No others are safe to be trusted agains
shore batteries and forts.
Had the land forces not been delayed b.
the muddy roads and high water in tn
creeks, most Of the rebel army IN CAM
would have been taken prisoners.
Il was the three uncased vessels whiCl
went up the river to Florence. Alabama. -
They found no batteries 70 impede their PRO
gress.