Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-02-21

SIX hundred yards of the rebel batteries, the
| Gre, both from the gunbosts and fort, inereas-
ed 10 rapdity and accuracy of range. AT
twenty minutes before the rebel flag was struck,
the Essex unfortunately received q shot in her
boilers, which resulted in voundiug, BY scald-
ing, twenty nine officers aud men, includ
lng Commodore Porter, as will be seen In tue
incIosed list of casnaIties. The Essex then
necessarily dropped out of line astern, entire
/ ly disabled aud unable TO continue the fght
ia which she had 50 gallaDtly participated un-
til the sad catastrophe. The firing continued
with unabated lapidity and effect upon the
three ganboata, as they continued still 10 sp-
prosch the fort with their destructive ERE, no
al the rebel flag was hauled daHn, after a
very severe and closely contested action of
one boar aud fifteen minutes.
A boat containing the Adjutant Gen. and
Captain Of Engineers calRe alongside arter tbe
flag was lowered, and reported that Gen. Lloyd
lnghman, the commander Of the fort, wished
to communicate with the flag officer, when
despatched Commander Stembel and Lieut.
Commanding Phelps, with orders TO hoist the
American flag where the Secession ensign had
been flying, aud TO inform Gen. .TIlghmau that
| would see him on board the flag ship. He
came on board soon alter the Uuion had been
substituted for the rebel flag, by Commander
Stembel on the fort, and possession taken.
received the General, his staff, and sixty or
seventy men prisoners. and hospital ship
containing sixty invalids, together with the
fort aud It's effects, mounting twenty guns.
mostly of heavy caiibre, with barracks aud
tents capable of accommodating fifteen thou
sand men, and sundry articles, of which, as
turned the fort aud lie effects over TO General
Grant, commanding the army, on bis arrival
10 an hour sIter We bad made the capture, he
will be ensbled TO give the Government more
correct statement than l ann able to commuuiA
cate from the short time | bad possession of
the fort. The plan OF the attack, SO far as
ths army reaching the rear OF tbe fort TO
make demonstration simultaneously with the
navy, was prevented By the excessively muddy
roads and high stage Of water retardng the
arrival Of our troops until some time after
bad taken possession of the fort.
% securing the prisoners, and mixing ne
cessary preliminary arrangements, despatch.
ed Lieutenant commanding Phelps, with bis
division, up tue Tennessee river, as | had pres
vlously directed, aud, as will be seen In inclos-
ed order TO him, to remove the rails, aud so
reudcr the bridge incapable OF railroad trans
poriation aud communication between Bowling
Green aud Columbus, and afterwards to pur-
sue the rebel gunboats aai secure tLeiT capture
il possible This bsiog accomplished, and the
army in possession of the fort, aud my servi-
fes being Indispensable at Cairo, left Fort
lienry in the evening OF the snme day, with
the Cincinnati aud st. LolaS, arrived here this
morning.
The armed guuboats registered eHectuslly
the shot of the enemy, when striking the case
ment.
The Cincinnati, flag ship, received thirty-
one shots; tho Esser, fifteen; the ST. LOUIS,
seven; snd the C0rcadetst, six--Rilline one
and wounding nine 10 the Cincannafa, and kills
ling one in the ESser, while the casualties in
the latter from steam amounted to twentya
eight in number. The CGrondeiet, and st
Louis, met With no casualties. The steamers
were admirably handled by their commanders
and officers, presenting only their bow guns TO
the enemy, to avoid exposure of the vulnerable
parts of their vessels.
Lieut.. Comman ding Phelps, with his diyis-
ion, also executed my orders very effectually,
and promptly proceeded up the river in their
further execution after the capture Of the fort.
La fact, all the officers and men gallantly per-
formed their duty, aud, considering the little
experience they have had under fire, far more
than realized my expectations.
Fort Henry was defended with the most de-
termined gallantry by Gen. Tilghman, Wor-
thy of = better cauee, who, from his own ac-
count, went into the sction With eleven guns
OF heavy caibre, bearing npon our boats, which
be fought until sevea OF the number we're DIS
mounted or otherwise rendered useless.
Very respectfully, your ob'dt servant,
A. ii. FcoTE, Flag Officer,
Commanding q. 8. Naval Forces,
Western Department.
To Major Gen. II. w. HAILEoK,