The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-02-14
Of the Battle at Fort Henry.

iOWiuS hTe tuc 'uh particulars VI tnc
bombardment and capture Of Fort
Henry:
Yesterday, at 1890 p. m. the gun.
boats, Cincinnati, Csrondelet and
Essex, the Tylor, Concstoga and
Lexington, bringing up the rear, ad
vanced bold y against the rebels
works, going to the right Of Painter
Creek Island, Immediately above
which, on the East shore Of the river.
stands the fortitication; and keeping
out Of range ill at the head OF the
island, and within O mile OF the en-.
cmy. Passing the island in full view
OF the rehel guns, We steadily sd'
vsnccd-every man at quarters. and
very oar strained to catch the flig,
officers signal gun for commence
ment of action.
Our line of battle was ON the left,
the st. Louis. next Carondelet, noxr
Cincinnati, which, for the time be.
ing, was the flag ship, having on
board flag officer A. II. Foote; and
next the Essex. We advanced 10
line, the Cincinnati boat's length
ahead; when, at 1890 the Cincin.
natl opened tho ball. and Immediate
ly three accompanying boats follow
ed suit. The enemy, not back Sard
gave an admirable response. and the
fight ragged turiously f,r half An hour.
We steadily advanced. receiving aud
returning stormc ot shot AMI shell:
when, getting WITHIN 300 yards "i
the enemy's works. We came to
stand and poured into them riyh,
and left.
In the meantime, the Essex being
disabled, driited away from the scene
of act on, leaving the Cincinn ,ti.
Carondelet and ST. Louis alone en-
gagged.
At precisely forty minutes past one
the enemy struck his colors, and
such cheering, and .uch wild excite
ment as seized The thrnats, srms aud
caps OF the 400 or 500 Sailors OF the
gunhuats can only be imegined, ~
ter the surrender, which Was made
10 fig officer Foote by Gen, Lloyd
Tilghman, who defended his tort IN
a most determined manner.
We tound that the rebel infantry
encamped outside OF the fort, uum.
bering 1000 or 5 900, had cut and
run, leaving the rebel artil cry com.
pany in command OF the fort to their
fate. The fort mounted seventeen
guns, mostly 80 and "a p"unders-
one being magnificent ten inch Co
lumbiad. Our shots disiDounted two
OF their guns, driving the enemy from
the embrasures. One OF their rif1.d
thirty'two-pounders burst during the
engagement, wouuding one Of their
gunners.
The rebels claim TO have had bu,
eleven effective guns, worked by
tifty-iour men, the number ell told o.
our prisoners. They lost five killed
and ten badly wounded.
Tie infantry lett everything in
their flight. A vast deal ofplunder
J has fallen into our hands, including
a large and valuable quantity OF ord
nance stores.
Gen. Tilshmdn is disheartened
and thinks it one Of the most dam
aging blows Of the war.
In eurrendering to officer Foote
the rebel General remarkcl-' | All
:, glad to surrender to 30 gallant ~
!, officer.
Flag Officer Fnote replied--"io' o'
do right in surrenderinY; but yol
: should have blown my boats ont Il
!, the water before | would have snr
! renlered to you"
> In the engagement the Cincinnati
: was in the lead, flying the flag. =
y Her pennant was the Chief mark -
'. Flag Officer Foote aud Capt. Si-n
y bel crowded her defantly IN The tee,
:, o! the encmy's guns. She sos the, e
by over thirty-une shors, some L
: them going completely through her
II The Essex WAS badly cripple
= when about hall through the tish'
" aud while crowiing steadily again.
=. the enemy, II ball went into her POI
I, side, forward port. through a heav
. . bulkhead, aud squarely thr 'nlh on
< Of her boilers, tho escaping stesI
. scaIdiug aud killing several ot h,
y y crew.
:. Capt. Porter, his Aids. S, p. Bi
70 ton, and Paylnsster Lewis. wer
"a standing in direct line ot the bal
,r passing Mr.. Britton being in II
. centre Of the group. A shot siruc
!. Mr.. Britton on the top OF his hes'
t scattering his brains in every direc
. ion.
n. The escaping steam went into Il
"A pilot house, instantly killing Messr
"a Ford and Mcbride, pilots, and mar
Of the sailors jumped overboarl al
were drowned.
IS. The Cincinnati had me killed a,
"A. six wounded. The Essex had 8
is seamen killed, two officers. and sc
~ enteen men wounded, and f We mis-
be ing. There were no casualties
a. board the st. Louis or Carondele
though shot and shell fell upon the
en- like rain.
a. The st. Louis was commanded |
Capt. Leonard Paulding, who sto'
n. upon the gundeck and tou.ht Il
:. vnns IN the last. Not a man fliuc