Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-14
the CApTURE or rom HENRy

mr. thff thE VI fOKJ HENR J.
The Gaz,re's and Commercials Cairo cor
respondents give the following accounts Of
tho bombardment and the capture Of Fort
Henry;
" Yesterday at 1890 p. NJ, the gunboats
Cincinnati, 81 Louis, Cdpopdalt and Esser,
with the Tgi,r, Conestega and Lexington bring
ing up the rear, advanced boldly against the
rebel works, going to the right of Panther
Creek Island, where, on the cast shore Of the
river, stands the Notifications, and keeping
out Of range until at the head of the island,
and within a mile Of the enemy, passing the
island in full view Of the rebels. We advanced
every man at quarters every ear strained TO
catch the flag officer signal gun for the com
moncemcnt Of the action. Our line Of bat
tie was on the left, the S. Louis next, Ca
Rondald next, Cincinnati next for the time
being having on board flag officer Foute. and
next the Esssr. We advanced in line, the
Cincinnati about boats length ahead, when,
at about l.30 the Cincinnati opened the ball
and Immediately the three other boats fol-
lowed SUIT. The enemy was not backward
and gave admirable response, and the fight
ragged furiously for half an hour
We steadily advanced, receiving and re-
turning the storms of shot and shell. when.
ANtbt"k NitNlu oVu ldINN OF lue enemy
works, we came to stand and poured into
him, right and left In the mean time the
Esser had been crippled, and drihod away
from the scene %! action, leaving the Cincin-
matt, CdHopdaid and S. Louis alone engaged.
At precisely 40 minutes past ! the enemy
struck his colors, and such cheering. such
wild excitement az seized the throats, arms
and caps of the 400 or 500 sailors Of the gum
hn hot 4
After the surrender, which was made to
Flag Officer Foote by Gen. Tilghman, who
defended his Fort in a most determined man
ner, we found that the rebel infantry, oncamp-
ed outside the fort, numbering 4 900 or 600,
had cut and run. leaving the rebel artillery
company in command ofthc Fort The Fort
mounted II guns, most Of them 80 and 81
Founders, and one being magnificent colnm-
bad. Our shots dismounted two Of their
guns, driving the enemy into the embrasures.
One Of their rihed 32-pounders burst during
the engagement, wounding one of their gum
ners The rebels claimed to have but ! cl-
fectye guns, worked by SO men, the number,
all told, Of our prisoners. They lost 5 killed
and 10 badly wounded. The infantry left
everything in their flight. a vast deal Of
plumber has fallen into our hands, including
large and valuable quantity of ordnance
stores. Gen Iilghman Is disheartoned. He
thinks it one of the most damaging blows of
the war Suuendering to Flag Officer Fuote,
he remarked am glad 90 surrender to so
gallant an officer. Officer Foote replied
Hou do perfectly right sir, ia suIrcnderng
but you should have blown my boats out Of the
water before would have surrendered 10 you.
In the engagement the Cincinnati was in
the lead and living the fac officers norman,
and the ,hicr mark of the enem,'a fire. Fla,
Officer Footc and Capt Suombull crowded
her dedanily into the teeth of the encmy's
guns. She got 81 shots, some OF them going
completely through her. The Essen was bad
ly crippled when about half way through the
fight, and crowded steadily against the enc
my. a ball went into her side forward part,
through her heavy bulkhead and squarey
through her boilers. the escaping steam scald-
ing and killing several Of her crew Capt
Porter his aid j. p. Britton, Jr. and pay
master Lewis were standing in direct line
of the balls passing, Mr. Britton being in the
center of the group. a shot struck Mr.. Brit
ton on the top of the head scattering his
brains in every direction. The escaping steam
went into the pilot house, instantly killing
Ford and Bride the pilots. Many of the SOL
ders, at the rush Of steam, Jumped overheard
and were drowned. The Cincinnati had one
killed and six wounded The Ess,r mas six
seamen and two officers killed, 7 men woun-
ded and missing. There were no casual
ties on the ST. Lous or Cauoadrlet, though
the shot and she'll fell upon them like rain.
The st. Louis was commanded by Leonard
Paulding, who stood upon the gunboat and
wrought the guns to the last. Not man
fInched, and with cheer upon cheer sent the
shot and she'll among the enemy
Special dispatches to the GuseHe and Com
nerciai. dated Fort Henry the 8th. give the
following intelligence Directly after the
capture of Fort Henry the gunboats Leri.q-
tom. T1Ior and Conesiega started no the river
with instructions to proceed as far as they
saw ft Yesterday the Carondeiet. in charge
Of Coils. Webster, Ridgins. and Mcpherson,
Of Gen. Grants staff. made reconnois-
sance as far as the bridge Of the Clarksville
aud Memphis railroad at Dmvine They
found that quarters had beer built at
the bridge and occupied by some troops,
where was found large quantity of army
supplies, commissary stores, wagons. &c.-
The inhabitants were deserving their houses
for miles around and aecinp i'm every direc.