The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-02-15
Fort Henry.

Fort Henry, captured Thursday after
noon from the Secessionists, is situated in
Tennessc, on the bank of the Tennessee
river, a few miles south of the Kentucky
line. The Memphis, Clarksville and Louis.
vile Railroad, which connects Paris, Tenn,
withe Memphis and Ohio Railroad and at
State Line with the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad, passes below this fort only
short distance. The victory now gained
Is CHIEFLY important in a strategeticai point
OF view from the control it giues to that
portion oil the railroad lying between the
Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. Al.
ready we are advised that the bridge over
the latter stream is in possession or our
troops-a circumstance that cannot be too
highly estimated, divorcing, as it does, the
two bodies of rebel soldiers stationed at
Columbus and Bowling Green Hereto
tore 1t has been an easy matter for the
Confederate Generals to transfer at will
reinforcements from one to the other of
these points, as military exigencies might
seem to require When there appeared a
likelihood of an attack upon Bowling
Green, Columbus was readily drawn upon
to supply additional forces TO resist il and
when Columbus, in turn, was threatened.
the railroad was brought into reauisition
to transport men and arms 10 that quar-.
ter. This neighborly system has now
been broken up, and with it each separate
wing is compelled TO rely upon itself
Such has, for several weeks. been the
pressure upon the Confederate armies in
Kentucky, that they have been compelled
to weaken their centre III order to protect
the wings. This centre Is at the Tennes-
see river, almost precisely at the point
where the Union soldiers have taken their
position. From this place, where the
stars and stripes are now flying the dis
tance to Bowling Green is one hundred
and six miles. aud to Columbus one hun
d-cd and five miles. Thus the rebel line
is cut completely cut in two. and the
parts almost hopelessly i,olatcd. From
the bridge o1er the Tennessee 10 Nash
vile, by railroad 1t IS one hundred and
three miles, and to Memphis one hundred
and tiityseven.
Not only is the communication between
Bowling Green and Co!umbu, and Mem
phis cut of by the seizure Of the Memphis.
Clarksvile and Louisville railroad, lut the
Fedora! forces thereby pla,e themselves
in the rear OF both wings of the rebel
army in kentucky, with the line of retreat
entirely open, and the best facilities pro-
vided for falling back upon Paiucah ia
the event of being surprised by superior
force. Luckily this chance is very remote
The rebels at Bowling Green would be the
only ones TO create pp.chcrs.on in this
particular, and they are 50 situa ci that
any movement whatever will prove di.a
trous The Union army on Green river Is
all within forty miles Of To Ing q cen.
and may be only waitiug fr the c.p,uie
% Fort Henry to advance upon it. there
may be some determined RESISTANCE. on
the pant of the secessioni,tS, 10 prevent
the great gain 20 our Generals. which must
accompany their defeat or retreat from
this envied POSITION; but eventually, vii
lingly or unwii ingly, they must fall back.
If they geto Nashville, (seventy two miles)
the next strategic point, Gen. Buell. will
push forward to Clarksvi.le, commanding
the Cumberland river, and within forty
miles of the Unionists at Tennessee river.
Ii the 60 TO flarksvi.ir, Nashville, in the
rear of that point, VIII be taken. and with
it, a very important stretch of country
spreading IA all directions.
But it takes times to work out all these
military projects. 1t is sufficient i5r the
present that the war Is taking tangible
shape, and the rebellion being gradually
but inevitably crushed out with the adj
vance Of the Union armies