Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-10
The Capture of Fort Henry.

The telegraph reports the surrender of Fort
Henry, on the Tennessee river, after short en-
gagement with the gunboats and before the land
force had arrived at the scene OF action 1t is
also stated that our forces had advanced fifteen
miles beyond Fort Henry and had taken posses
sion of the Memphis and Ohio Railroad bridge
This is an important victory, if we have force
enough to take advantage of it, In this event it
will be attended with the most important and de-
cisiye results. The ST. Louis Republican thus
detailed the importance of General GRANTS expe-
dition few days ago:
If the communication between Bowling Green
and Columbus can be cut off, the Union forces
will have It in their power to achieve such vic
tory will make the Confederates tremble from
Nashville to Pensacola.
The rebel armies in Southern Kentucky repre-
sent two wingf-COlumbus at the west and Bow
ling Green at the east-with totally inadequate
center. Here is line running nearly $50 miles
which would require 200, 900 troops to cover,
whilst the COnfederates do not muster the half
of that number, if so many. The center is held
by brigade at HOpkinsville, and by Fort Henry
on the Tennessee, and Fort DonesOn twelve
miles distant) on the Cumberland. Those points
occupied by the Federal forces, and position
taken near the State line, say Hadensville and
the wings of the rebel army would be completely
isolated while both would be threatened in the
rear and supplies for both measurably cut off
To such result the finger Of events now points,
We interpret the movements going on at Cairo
Paducah and Smithland to mean an important
expedition up the Cumberland and Tennessee
rivers. If successful, Gen. Buell. will have a
comparatively easy task in dislndging the Con-
federates from Bowling Green, for with Clsrks
vile so seriously menaced, and railroad cOnnec-
tons thereby broken. they must fall back or
fight under almost overwhelming disadvantages.
Nashville, too, is a location the rebels can not
afford to lose without desperate struggle.
Up To about the 18th of January it Vas gar
Tisoned by some two thousand secession troops,
but after General Smiths column had moved
from Paducah il reinforced by two thousand
more from Camp BeauFegard. and this force may
have been somewhat increased since Fort Henry
is situated in the bend of the Tennessee river
five or six miles below the Kentucky line IL
was built in August, was intended, in conjunc-
ton with Fort Donelson for the defense OF the
Cumberland and Tennessee valleys, but not
occupied more than nOminally until Columbus
was seized BY General Polk in September Ii
lies quite low, being overlooked on the west by
bluffs, which, We believe, have been mounted
with cannon. The armament of the fort. accord
ing 70 the best information, consists of sixteen
six, twelve and thirty two pouIders but the fort
being designed TO repel attack from the river,
is not calculated 20 resist land forces approaching
in the rear. General Smith might easily have
taken il, but was not prepared to hold il with the
forces he had after General Grant had returned
from his feint upon Columbus We shall not be
surprised TO hear of General Tilghman, who com
mands at Fort Henry. evacuating the place upon
the second approach of our troops.