The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-02-12

bel; the ST. Louis, Lieatesans Conmanding
Paulding: the Canessoga, Liestenant Comman-
ding Phelps; the Tyler, Lieusenant Command
ing Shock. after a severe and rapid IRE OF an
hour and quarter, have captured Fort Henry,
ard taken General Llcyd Tilghman and HE sssff,
and 90 men a. prisoners. The surrender TO the
gun boats vas unconditional, a. We kept al open
fire upon the enemy until their flag was struck.
In half an hour after the SURRENDER handed
the fort and prisoners over TO General Grant,
commanding the army. on his arrival at the fort
in force.
The Essex had shot in her boiler after fight
ing most effectualy for two thirds of the action,
and was obliged to drop down the river. hear
that several of her men were scalied to death,
including the pilots. She, with other gun
boa, officers and men, fought With the greatest-
est gallaniry. The Cincinnati received 81 shots,
and had one mar killed and eight wounded, two
seriously The fort, with 20 guns and II NOR.
tsrs, was defended by Gen Tilghman with the
most determined gallantry. l will write as soon
as possible. have sent Lieutenant Command
iag Phelps and gun boats up after the rebel
gun boat.
! (Signed) A. II. FOOTE, Flag Officer.
| Cincinnati, Feb. :.
| The Gazette and Copmerciars Cairo cores
ponden,s give the following account of the bonn
bsrdment and capture Of Fort Henry: Yesterday
at 1913 P. NJ. lhe gan boats Cincinnati, ST
Louis, Carondoet, aud Essex, the Tyler, Canes
toga, and Lexington bringing up the rear
advanced boldly against the rebel works. Going
TO the right of Painter Creek Island, immediate
ly above which, on the east shore of the river,
stands Notifications, and keeping out Of range
till az the head Of the leland and within a mile
OF the enemy, passing the Island in full view of
the rebel guns, We steadily advanced, every man
at quarters, and every ear strained to catch the
| flag officers signal for the commencement Of the
action. Our line Of battle was, on the left the
St. Louis, next the Csrondolet, next the Cincin.
matt, for the time beingshe flag ship. having on
board Hsg officer A. ii. Foote, and mex; the
Essex. We advanced in line, the Cincinnati
boats length ahead, when at LIS =. NJ, the Gin
cinnsti opened the ball, and the three accompa
nying boats Immediately followed suit. The
enemy was not backward and gave an admirable
response, and the fight ragged furiously for half
an hour, while steadily advanced, receiving
and returning storms Of shot and shell, when
getting within 500 yards of the enemy's works,
We came TO a stand and poured into them right
and left. In the meantime the Essex had been
disabled and driited away from the sccne Of ac-
ton, leaving the Cincinnati, Carondoet and St.
Louis alone engaged. At precisely 40 minutes
past the enemy struck his colors, and such
cheering, such wild excitement as seized the
threats, arms and caps of 400 or 500 sailors of
the gun boats can be imagined After the sur
render, which was made to dag officer Foote by
Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, who defended his fort in
the most determined manner, We found that the
rebel infantry. encamped outside the iprt. mum
berug 4 900 or 5000 had cut and run. leaving
the rebel artillery company in command of the
fort to their fate
The for, mounted seventeen guns mostly 81
and "a pounde,s, one being magnificent 10
inch columbiad. Our shots dismounted two Of
their guns. driving the enemy from the embra
sures. One of their riAed 80 poundera burst
during the engagement, wounding one Of their
gunners. -f
| The rebels claim to have but eleven effective
guns worked, by fifty four men, the number. all
told, of our prisoners. They lost FIVE killed and
ten badly wounded The infantry left every
| thing in their flight. vast deal of plumber has
| fallen into our hands, including large and val
| liable quantity of ordnance stores. Gen. Tilg.
| man is disheartened and thinks il one Of the
| most damaging blows OF the war;
In surrenderiDg to flag officer Foote the rebel
General remarked: II am glad to surrender to
so gallant an officer" Flag officer Foote replied
You do perfectly right, sir, in surrenderiDg,
but you should have blown my boats out of the
water before | would have surrendered to You
| La the engagement the Cincinnati was in the
the chief mark. Flag officer Foote aud Capt
Stembel crowded her de6antly into the teeth of
the cnemy's guns. She got thirty-one shots,
some Of them going completely through her
The E.sex, badly crippled when about halt
through the fight. crowded steadily against the
s"S".S Jun "S"s "tV Hci poft eiuc ahu
ward port through heavy bukhead and
squarely through one OF her boilers, the escaping
steam scalding and killing several Of her crew
Capt. Porter. his aid S. Ii. Brtton and paymas.
ter Lewis we're standing in direct line Of balls
passing, Britton being in the centre Of the group
shot struck Linn on the top of his head, scatter
ing his brains in every direction. The escaping
steam went into the pilot hon.e instantly killing
Ford and Mcbride, pilots. Many Of the sailors
| at the rush of the steam, jumped overheard. and
were drowned. The Cincinnati had one killed
and six wounded The Essex had elk seaman
killed, two officers and seventeen men wounded
and five missing. No casualties on the St. Louis or
Carondolct though sho, and shell fell upon them
ike rain The st. Louis was commanded by Capt.
Leonard Paulding who stood upon the gun deck
and fought the gans to the last. Not Q man
fnched and with cheer upon cneer sent the shot
and shell among the enemy.
Paducah, ky., Feb. q.
General Smith on the West, and Gen. Grant
on the East side OF the river are pursuing the
retreating rebels.
1t is reported. and credited by some of our
officers, that the rebel troops at Fort Henri we're
not true to the rebel cause, and that they took
advantage Of the opportunity offered By attack,
i. u