The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-02-15

ment in our last that the Expedition which
had gone during the week from Cairo and
Paducah up the Tennessee river, had
achieved a glorious victory in the capture
of Fort Henry, on that river, a little beyond
the Kentucky line, in Tennessee.
The expedition was got ready at Cairo
and Paducah with SO much secrecy, that
even after it had started very few knew its
destination. Of its component parts, we
gave some account in our last. Itreached
the vicinity of Fort Henry, the men were
disembarked, and everything got in readi-
ness TO make the attack on the Fort on
Thursday, at IL o'clock The plan of at
tack was as follows:
Gen. Smiths command, who had been
landed on the west side of the river, took
I'D their line of march at ten clock, their
duty being that of attacking some batteries
and force reported stationed opposite
Fort Henry. At the same time General
McClernand's Division moved up the east
side of the river on which the rebel fo:tifi-
cation was situated, it being intended they
should attack the enemy when driven
from his entrenchments BY the fleet. At
half past twelve, all the gunboats steamed
up the west channel, along Panther island
and at l o'clock, having reached its Lead,
drew tho whole fire Of the rebel batteries.
The gunboats were seven in number
the Cincinnati, as flag ship, the Essex,
CorondOlet, and the St Louis, all iron clad,
in the lead and the three old gun boats,
Conestoga, Tyler, and Lexington, astern
and in shore Of the armed boats The fire
was opened at 100 yards distance, the
boats approaching the fort under slow
steam and firing until within 600 yards
The fire on both sides was characterized
by rapidity and accuracy of aim In an
hour the Essex was struck by ball enter
ing one of her forward port holes ana
striking her boilers, which exploded, scald
ing a number of her crew and entirely
disabling her, SO that she foated to the
rear The other boats continued to adj
just one hour and twenty minutes from the
time the action commenced, and when
within 800 yards of the Fort, the rebel flag
was hauled down and white flag run up.
Shortly afterwards Gen. Tilghman, who
commanded the rebels, came on board the
flag ship and surrendered himself the Fort
and all his men to Commodore Foote; and
thus the Fort was captured. The number
of men in the Fort when taken was not
over 20, among whom were the Command
ing General, a major, captain, two lieuten-
ants, surgeon, and sixty odd privates, com
prising q Memphis artillery company
The loss of tho enemy in the Fort was
killed and 10 wounded The loss on our
side was II killed and about 40 wounded
two-thirds occasioned by the explosion of
the Essex, by which 6 men were scalded to
death and &c injured by the hot steam,
among whom is Capt. Porter, of the Essex
In the Fort were found 90 guns, l. of
which were mounted Six of these guns
were dsmounted or rendered useless
early in the action, so that the defence
was really conducted by but ii guns.
Vast quantities of ammunition, provisions,
camp equipage, &c, were also found in
the fort. valued in all at $250,000
OF the gunboats, the Cincinnati received
81 shots, the Essex Is, the st. Louis 81,
and the Carondolet 10. The Essex is not
seriously injured beyond her boilers, the
Cincinnati suffered but trifling damage,
and theothers none at all
Outside the fort proper, behind stout
entertainments on both sides of the river,
were posted from five to 5000 rebels. to
assist in its defence. These seem to have
taken to their heels on the first FIRE, so that
the land force sent to take care of them
got up too late to have scrimmage. Gen.
Grant is blamed in some quarters for not
completely surrounding them before max.
ing the attack, but this is proved to have
been impracticable. He had no idea,
however, they would take fright so soon.
forces had arrived at the fort, and took
possession of the comfortable winter
quarters which had been prepared by the
secessionists.
The same evening the three old gun
boats that had not participated in the
action, were sent up the river to Danville
to disable, (but not Destroy the railroad
bridge by which communication is opened
between Bowling Green and Columbus,
which was accomplished by removing the
trestle work across the bottom This
accomplished, the boats pushed on up the
river, until they reached Florence, in
Alabama, some 236 miles, and returned
only on Monday evening. They brought
back most interesting account of their
explorations We give telegraph synop
sis
The boats were received with the widest
Joy by the people along the river. Old
men cried like children at the sight of the
Stars aud Stripes, and invited our officers
and men to their houses, and told them
all they had was at their disposal. Large
numbers enlisted under the flag, and the
| TYLER brought down $50 TO fill up the gun
! boat crews Our officers were assured il
they would wait few days, whole regi
ments could he raised, and if the Govern
ment would give them arms to defend
themselves, they could bring Tennessee
back to the Union in few months -
/ They said when the secession ordinance
was passed, armed men stood at the polls
! and every thing went as certain politicians
. said.
At Savannah, Clifton, Eastport and Flor
ence, the officers and men of our boats
went ashore without arms, and mingled
/ freely with the people.
The Union men along the river comprise
i,i, NJ no N