The New York herald., 1862-02-13
THE CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY.
The Official Report Of Flag
Officer FOOte.
INTERESTING DET AILS.
NAMES OF THE KILLED and WOUNDED,
&C., &C., ks

wAsHISsroS, Feb II, 1852.
ms following is official copy OF the report OF Flag
ocsr Foots to the Navy Department relative to the cap
ture Of Fort Henry
CAIRO, H., Feb. I, 1862
SR-l have the honor to report that the 9th inst
at half past twelve O'Clock p. NJ, made an attack
on Fort Henry. on the Tennessee river. with
the ironclad gunboats Cincinnati, Commander
Stembel (the flagship; the Essex, Comman
der Porter the Carondeles, Commander Walker,
and the st. Louis Lieutenant Commanding Pauldlng,
also taking with the three old gunbosts Consstoga
Lieutenant ommanding Phelps tho Tyler. Lieutenant
Commanding Gwinn and the Lexington Lieutenant Com
nanding Shirk, second division in charge OF Lieu
tenant Commanding Phelps which took position astern
and in shore Of the armed boats. doing good
execution there in the action, while the armed boats
placed in the first order Of steamng approaching
the fort in parallel line.
The fire was opened at thousand seven hundred
yards distance from the flagship, which followed by
the other gunboats and responded by the As
approached the fort slow steamng till reached with
iu six hundred yards of the rebel batteries the re both
from the gunboas and the fort increased rapdity
accuracy of range
At twenty minutes before the flag struck the Essex
unfortunately received shot in her boilers which re-
suited in the wounding and scalding of twenty off,
and mon, including Commander Porter, as will be
in the enclosed list of casualties.
The Essex then necessarily dropped of line astern
entirely disabled an1 unable to continue the hght in
which she had gallantly participated until the sad
catastrophe.
The firing continued with undated rapdity and effect
upon the three gunboas they continued still to ap-
proach the tort with their destructive fire. until the
rebel flag h,led down after worry and close
Iy contested action OF one hour and fifteen minutes.
boat containing the Adutant General and Captain Of
Engineers alongside after the flag lowered and
reported that General Lloyd Tilghman, the commander
of the fort wished TO communicate with the flag officer,
when despatched Commander Stembsl and Lieutenant
Commanding Phelps with orders hoist the American
dag where the rebel ensign had been flying, and in
form General Tilghman that would him board the
flagship. He came on board after the Union had
been substituted FOR the rebel flag the fort and pos
session takon of it, received the General and his staff
and some sixty seventy men prisoners, and
hospital ship containing sixty invads together with the
Fort and its effects, mounting twenty guns, mostly of
heavy caiibre, with barracks and tents capable of
rommodating Is 900 and sundry articles which,
turned tho fort and its effects to General Grant
commanding the army, on his arrival, in hour after
We had made the capture he will be enabled give the
government more correct statement of than l
enabled communicate from the shor. time had pos
session Of the fort.
The plan OF the attack far the army reaching the
rear Of the fort 70 make demonstration simultaneous
with the navy frustrated by the excessively muddy
roads and the high stage preventing the arrival
Of troops had taken possession
Of tho fort.
On securing the prisoners and making the necessary
preliminary arrangements despatched Lieutenant Com
mAndng Phelps with his division tho Tennessee river
had previously directed, and will be in the
enclosed order to him. to remove the rails aud far
der the bridge Of the railroad for transportation and
muncat!on between Bowling and Col mbus
sss and Afterwards TO pursu, Tie rebe NJ and SO
cure their capture il possible.
This being accomplished and the army possession Of
the fort aud my services being indispensable al Cairo
oft Fort Henry in the evening Of the day, with the
Cincinnati Essex and St LOUIS and arrived here this
morning
The armed gunboats resisted eectuay the shot Of the
enemy. when striking the casematss.
The Cincinnati the flagship, received thirty shots;
The Essex, hftsen the st. Louis, seven, and the
Carondeot six; killing and wounaipg nine in the
Cincinnati and killing in the Essex while the casual
ties in the latter from steam amounted to twenty
la number. The Carondslst and st. Louis nat with
casualties.
The steamers admirably nanued BY their com.
manders and officers, presenting only their bow guns to
the enemy avoid the exposure Of the vulnerable parts
Of their vessels.
Lieutenant Commanding Phelps, with his division, also
executed my orders very efectualy, and promptly
proceeded up The river their further after
the capture OF the fort In fact all the officers and
CALAMITY performed Their duty, and considering the lit
lie experience they have had under FIRE, far than
realized my expectations.
Fort Henry defended with the most determined
Eallantry by General Tilghman, worthy of a better
cause who from his account went into the action
with eleven guns OF heavy caibre bearing upon our
boats which he fought until seven ot the number were
dismantle or otherwise rendered useless.
have the honor to be, very rospecfuly, your obeien
servant A. II. FO0TE Flag Oficer.
Hou GIDEON wEizs, Secretary Navy, Washington
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
ON BoAED THE CISciYyATI.
USTED STATS FLAG STEAMER CINCINNATI,
Feb 8, 1862. !
SR-I have the honor 10 report tha; the casualties on
board this vessel during the bomsardnen OF Henry