Nebraska advertiser., 1862-02-20
STEAMER, WHIrE CLoUD,


Having remained at Cairo but a coup
lie of hours, and not having beheld the
I~oU-cation of the city, / am unable to
give any description, but / will proceed to
a narration of events, striking or not as
the case may be. If not striking now,
they may be IN a day or two; as present
indications foreshadow that the coming
hours will bring something to pass, which
may gladden. or chill the hearts of all the
loyal Nebraskians at home, who may
have husbands, brothers and sons in the
Regiment.
The white Cloud Landed at Paducah
on Tuesday morning, Feb. l1th. At
Cape Girardeau we were hailed by a
cannon shot across our bows. At Caro-
the same, and the same here. So 1t is
not safe for an unloyal boat with an IN
loyal crew TO glide along the rivers in
this small corner Of animated nature.
After waiting here a quarter of an
hour yesterday morning, our boat stem
ed up the Tennessee river, we reached
Fort Henry about sunset. The fort has
a far different appearance from what the
writer had conjectured. He expected to
find a veritable fort whose walls were
battered with shot and shell but no bull
ding was to be seen. Nothing but earth
works enclosing a large space on the
right bank of the river, and numerous
small houses built Of logs, arranged in
camp order, met the view. No pleasant
village, or nicely arranged city demol-
ished by the missiles OF destruction hurl-
ed from the lannon's mouth, was there.
Nothing to show that refined society had
made it a chosen spot to charm the trav-
eler's gaze as he glided down the Ten
nessee.
At a late hour Lieutenant Donovan,
of Company "K," and your correspon-
dent ~sauntered out to take a moonlight
view of the fort and its surroundings
The earthwOrks are good and substan-
tial in the opinion Of one who may not
be competent to Judge. Wicker work of
small hickory formed the inner wall, and
against this was filled up earth to the
width of four or FIVE feet, and again, on
top of that, were arranged in the man.
ner Of layers of stone, bags of sand in
Vulnerable. With the force the rebels
had, the fort could have been held a.
gainst thirty thousand infantry; and with
the canno they had, they should have
done more destructive execution upon our
gun boats than they did. The guns are
of the largest size, several 15S Founders
One fine rifed piece that commanded
the river for four or FIVE miles down and
up, is bursted and rendered useless L
was shown a large piece lying near, and
was told hat two men were found be-
meath it dead. The rebels certainly must
have considered that valuable,'point judg-
ing from the prdidgious amount of work
they did in the vicinity. A soldier, who
has been there some time, told me that
their earthen meastwork extended fif-
teen miles around!
We left Fort Henry about 10 or IL
o'clock last night and come back to Pa
ducah, accompanied by five other boats
laden with troops, all under command of
Col. Thayer, and are to proceed up the
Cumberland river, and effect a landing
near Fort Donelbn, which we are to at
tack and capture. / nearly forgot to state
that the Curtis Horse or Nebraska Cav
airy is now ht Fort Henry, and
they expect 10 be in the battle at Fort
Donelson With Isl tomorrow. Thirty
thousand were 70 start arcross this NOR
ming from Fort Henry, and l think there
are ten or twelve thousand here ready to
go up. The guHboats are here and are
going with US. The Nebraska boys may
see some fun tomorrow, and some may
see their last.
It is now about three o'clock, and we
are to start soon. l do not know that |
can get this mailed Until after the battle.
If l should escape being sent travelling
to another region, l will send you asgoOd
an account Of the battle as 1 can, but if
should fall, perhaps some friend viii be
kind enough to mail you this.
~. 49,