Washington telegraph., 1862-02-12
FoRrs HENRY AND DoSELsoN.-Il

our readers will take common school
Atlas, they will observe; tfAt the Tennes-
see and Cumberland rivers, flowing north
ward into the Ohio, run almost parallel.
just at the Tennessee line, or very little
south OF it, on the Tennessee river, is
situated Fort Henry. 1t is very near,
and few miles below, on the river, the
crossing of the Railroad from Memphis to
Bowling Green, which has heretofore
been the medium of transportation be-
tween our armies at Columbus and Bow
ling Green. 1t is the bridge at this
crossing that has been destroyed by the
enemy.
Fort Henry itself, is very unimportant
place as basis of military operations. 1t
was hastily thrown up, and never intend
ed to resist the attacks of regular army.
1t was poorly garrisoued for that purpose
The only object in its construction was,
to defend against raids of gunboats, which
might come up for the purpose of destroy
ing the bridge, for which it was amply
sufficient. 1t was never calculated that a
vast army would be employed in its cap>
,ure, and of course it had no means of
resisting such disproportioLate force.
Near Fort Henry, just across on the
Cumberland river, near Dover, is situated
Fort Donelson. This is a very new Fort.
Last October, when We were in Tennessee,
there was not a fortifcation on the Cum
berlaud river, between Smithland and
Nashville, that would have stood against a
respecta bic force, armed with rocks. The
| extensive ironsworks on the Cumberland
river were then exposed to the raids Of
the enemy whenever the water might
| allow them to ascend r'he Hillman iron
works in Kentucky. little below, had
been invaded already, and much damage
| done. An order came out about that
time frcm Gen'l Johnston, to erect works
| for the defence of the Cumberland. After
much mismanagement, Fort Donelson was
finally constructed on the Cumberland,
near the Kentucky line. 1t is short
distance below the extensive iron works
If Woods, Yeatman & Co., the most i'm
portant one in America 1t, o, was only
calculated to repel the raids of gunboets
aud protect the iron interests, without
apprehensions of an attack by an invading
army. 1t is not constructed for that pur-
pose.
Fort Henry having been surrendered
Gas was inevi,able,) our forces there re-
tired across to Fort Evnelson, where they
were at last accounts. Whether they can
make stand or not at that point, is still
uncertain. If not, the extent of the further
damage will not exceed the destruction Of
the buildings and machinery of the Cum
berland Iron Works, which will be bad
enough, and almost irremediable to the
public, to say nothing of the terrible loss
to the enterprising proprietors.
That the present expedition can not
materially alter the status of parties in the
war, is apparent TO any one who will reflect
upon the nature of the country Neither
place is fitted for base of operations in
the way of further advances towards
Nashville. The approach by the Cunbcr
land is impracticable to large army, and
an overland march through a broken aud
barren country almost impossible n sh
vile will never fall from this quarter. The
probability is that the enemy may attemrr
the capture of Fort Donelson, aud the
destruction of the iron works. That will
perhaps be the extent of their eff,rts in
this direction, and they will then most
probably retire, if successful. Ifthey fail
they are lost. They are far below Colum.
bus and Bowling Green, and their only
chance is to retire back to Paducah, be-
fore they may be Intercepted. They will
then have done all the harm they can, and
We hope will be thwarted even in what
we have considered possible.
The capture of Fort Henry, and the de-
struction of our bridge, is nevertheless
important. Let US avenge it.