Indiana State sentinel., 1862-02-10
Grlr9rapbit 9lrUs.
of the Fort Henry Figh

CINCINNATI, Feb. THE GGzetts and Com
rHeTciaLs Cairo correspondents give the follow
ing account of the bombardment and capture of
Fort Henry:
Yesterday at 1890 p NJ, the gunboats Gin
cinnati, St. Louis Carondelet and Essex, the
Tyler, COnestoga and Lexington bringing up the
rear, advanced boldly against the rebel works,
going to the right of Painter Greek Island i'm
mediately above which. on the east shore of the
river, stands the Qualifications, and keeping out
of range till at the head of the island and within
one mile of the enemy, passing the island in full
view of the rebe guns, we steadily advanced,
every man at quarters, every ear strained to
catch the flag officers signal gun for commence
ment OF action.
Our line of battle was as follows:
On the left was the st. Louis, next the Caron-
delet, next the Cincinnati, she being for the time
the flag ship, having on board flag officer A. II.
FoOte, and next the Essex
We advanced in line. the Cincinnati being a
boats length ahead when at 1890 the Cncin
matt opened the ball and Immediately three ac-
companyng boats followed suit
The enemy, not backward, gave admirable re-
sponse, and the fight ragged furiously for half an
hour.
We steadily advanced, receiving and returning
storms of shot and shell, when getting within one
hundred yards of the enemy's works. we came to
In the meantime the Essex had been disabled,
and drifted away from the scene of action, leav-
ing the Cincinnati, CarOndelet and St. Louis
alone engaged.
At precisely forty minutes past one. the enemy
struck his colOrs, and such cheering, such wild
excitement as seized the throats. arms and caps
of the 400 or 500 sailors of the gunboats be
imagined.
After the surrender, which was made to flag
officer Foote by Gen Lloyd Tilghman. who de
Tended his fort in a most determined manner, we
found the rebel infantry encamped outside the
fort, numbering four or FIVE thousand, had cut
and run, leaving the rebel artillery company in
command of the fort. to their fate.
The fort mounted seventeen guns mostly 80
and "a Founders, one being a magnificent tell
inch columbiad
Our shots dismounted two of their guns, dri-
wing the enemy from the embrasures
One. their rihed 80 FOUNDER, burst during the
engagement, woundng one of their gunners.
The rebels claim to have had but seven effect
i've guns, worked by fifty four men, the number
all told of our prisoners.
The rebels lost five killed and ten badly
wounded.
The rebel infantry left everything in their
fight.
A large amount of plumber has fallen into our
hands. including large and valuable quantity of
ordnance stores
General Tilghman is disheartened, and thinks
it one of the most damaging blows of the war.
In surrendering to flag officer Foote the rebel
General remarked:
ii am glad to surrender to so gallant an Off
cer."
Flag officer Foote replied:
"You did perfectly right sir, in surrendering;
but you should have blown my boats out of the
water before would have surrendered to YOU -
81 81 IL
lead, and flying flag officers pennant was the
chief mark. Flag officer Foote and Captain
Stimbel crowded her de6antly into the teeth OF
the enemys guns. She got thirtyone shots,
some of them going completely through her.
The Essex was badly crippled when about half
through the fight. and crowding steadily against
the enemy a ball went into her port side through
the heavy bulkhead and squarely through one of
her boilers, while the escaping steam scalded and
killed several of her crew.
Captain Porter, his aid S. P Britton and Pay
master Lewis were standing in direct line of the
passing balls when shot struck Britton on the
the top of his head scattering his brains in every
direction.
The escaping steam went into the pilot house
instantly, killing Ford and Mcbride, pilots. Many
of the sailors at the rush of steam jumped over
board and were drowned.
The Cincinnati had one killed and six wound
e6. The Essex had six seamen killed, two
officers and seventeen men wounded and FIVE
missing
There were no casualties on board the ST.
Louis or Carondolet though shot AID shell fell
upon them like rain.
The st. Louis commanded by Captain
Leonard Pauding, who stood upon the gun deck
and fought the guns to the last
Not man finched and with cheer upon cheer
sent shot and shell among the enemy.