New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-08
TT uOvEs AT LAST!

tutlOnal functions as COmmanueI-ln'IBici vi
the Army and Navy. The country was thrilled
yesterday not only by the announcement OF
most important triumph in Northwestern
Tennessee, but by the indications of new
vitality and more active spirit along the
whole eSSfmous line of operations. A few
more events such as the capture OF Fort
Henry. and the war Will be substantially at an
end.
Fort Henry is situated on the eastern bank
of the Tennessee River, almost on tho State
line of Kentucky and Tennessee 1t commands
The river for two miles. 1t is mounted with
II guns, mostly 81 and A-pounders; one is
splendid IO-inch columbiad. A glance at the
excellent maps we publish this morning will
show the Importance of the position. Some
DAYS ago q feet of gun.boats went from
Paducah, ard after accommodating with care,
on Thursday placed themselves in position, to
the number of seven, for an attack upon the
Z
fort Iu the mean time, large body of Union
troops under Gen. NcClernand, was taken to
point out of range from the fort, aud there
landed, the object being to make an at
tack in the ehemy's rear. Thus mat
tiers stood on Thursday morning. Then
Flag Officer Foote, with the Cincinnati,
st. Louis, Carondelet, and Essex, supported IN
reserve BY three other boats, advanced steadily
upon the fort The movement was magulii-
Gently executed-the attacking feet, with quiet,
unHinchipg spirit, sailing directly into the very
line of the hostile gu1s, every man al his post,
all eager for the signal gun which would set
them free TO act At 10. the first shot was
fred by the Cincinnati; then the battle went
On in earnest. TIE gunboats steamed 10 the
closest quarters, and poured in their ,hOt with
a yigor of service and an unerring aim, winch
must have thoroughly bewildered the bonn
barded rebels. The latter returned the fire OF
our guns with determination, and the fight
ragged hotly till lao, at which time Gen.
Tlghmau Internationally surrendered. MEM
while, u force of infantry behind the fort
| in number about 5000, aed with swift
ness peculiar to the rebels when they have not
every advantage on their side, and were heard
of no more. The Union land force. winch had
made circut 10 order to attack the fort in TIE
rear, did not reach lite destination TIL two hours
, after the surrender. So it will be seen tina,
this was purely naval victory. The enemy
Lost. IA it is stated by one authority, five
killed and ten badly wounded. Our loss was
az follows: On the Cincinnati, killed aud Il
,dly wounded; on the Essex, . 'eamen ard
officers were killed, II men were wounded,
and 3 were missing. The chief portion of this
loss was by reason of o distressing casualty,
Whereby sho. penetrated the boiler OF one Of
the gunboats, causing a number to be badly
scalded. Among these was Captain Porter,
late Of the Powbatan. Of prisoners, we took
a General, a Colonel, two Captains, and not
far from sixty private'. Quite accurate details
cannot be expected yet.
In addition to the capture Of the Fort, our
troops have taken another most important ,tep
+ IN SEEING the Memphis and Ohio Railroad.
This connects Memphis with Bowling Green
by q direct line and the latter place ID thus
cut off from immediate communication with its
most important support. Another road, by a
toned by way of Nashville; but this is Of
little use, and, moreover, simple movement
up the Tennessee River from Fort Henry will
serve to cut of that road Also Thus the rebel
forces at Bow ling Green, numbering, it is
thought, 10000, are driven to the wall.
They must fight or fee. Looking AZ
the map OF kentucky and Tennessee,
il will be seen that Paducah and Smith
land are at the heads of the Tennessee
and Cumberland Rivers. An expedition
setting out from the former place naturally
strikes Fort Henry as this did, it may then con-
tpue till it cuts of the railroad, as it has
done, and aiterward may pass on to the next
road before alluded to. An expedition moving
from Smlthland up the Cumberland, will naturally