Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-08
ARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE
FIGHT.

CINCINNATI, Feb. THE Gazette's com.
mercial Cairo correspondence gives the follow.
ing account of the bombardment and capture
of fort Henry
Yesterday, at y 80 p. NJ, the gunboats Gin
cinuati st. Louis, Corondolet, and Essex, the
TylOr, Connestega, and Lexington, bringing
up the rear, advanced boldly against the rebel
works, going to the right OF Painter Creek
Island Immediately above where, on the east
shore of the river, stand the Notifications, and
keeping out of range till at the head of the isl
and, aud within a mi,e of the enemy. Passing
the island in full view OF the rebel guns, we
steadily advanced, every man at quarters, and
every ear strained to catch the flag officers
signal gan tor the commencement OF the action.
Our line of battle was on the left, the ST.;
Louis next, the Carondet next the Cincinnati
for the time being the flag ship, having on
board flag officer Foote, and the next the Es-
sex. We advanced in line the Cincinnati
about length ahead, when at II 80 the Gin
cinRat opened the ball, and Immediately the
three accompanying boats followed suit The
enemy was not backward, and gave an admir-
able response, and the fight ragged furionsly for
half an hour. We steadily advanced, receiving
and returning the storms of shot and shell,
when, getting within three hundred yards of
the enemy's works, we came to a stand, and
poured into him right and left In the mean
time the Esse1 had been disabled and driited
away rom the scene of action, leaving the
Cincinnati, Carondolet and St. Louis alone ell.
gagged
Al precisely forty minutes past one the enc
my struck his Coiors, and such cheering, such
wild excitement as seized the throat, arms
and caps of the four or five hundred sailors of
the gunboats can be imagined. After the sur
render, which was made to tiag-ofIicer Foote
by General Lloyd Tilghman, who defended
his fort in 4 most determined manner, we
found that the rebel infantry e6camped out
side the fort, numbering Jour or five thousand,
had cut and run, leaving the rebel artillery
company in charge of the fort.
The fort mounted seventeen guns, most of
them 81 and 81 Founders, one being a magui
ficen l0.uch columbad Our shots disnount.
ed two Of their guns, driving the enemy into
the embraSures. One OF their rihed 81 pound
ers burst during the engagement, wOunding
one of their gunneTs. The rebels claimed to
have but eleven effective guns, worked by
fifty four men which is the number all told of
our prisoners. They lost five killed, and ten
badly wounded. Tie infantry left everything
in their flight. A vast deal OF plumber has
fallen into our hands, including a large and
valuable quantity of ordnance stores.
Gen. 1ilghman is disheartened. lie thinks
~ oilc vi Tue uiOSt ulOWS OF tue war.
In surrendering to flag officer Foote, the rebel
general REMARKED II am glad to surrender
to SO gallant an officer )" and flag officer Foote
replied, -" You do perfectly right, sir, in sur.
rendering, but you should have blown NV
boats out Of the water before | would have
surrendered to you"
In the engagement the Cincinnati was in
the lead, and, flying the flag officers pennant,
was the chief mark. Flag officer Eoote and
Captain Steinbell crowded her defiantly into
the teeth If the enemy's guns. She got thirty
one shots, some of them going completely
through her Tae Essex was badly crippled
when about half through the fight, but crowd
ed steadily against the enemy. A bali went
into her side, forward Of Il port, through her
heavy buIkhead aud squarely through one of
her boilers. The escaping steam scalded and
killed several of the crew. Capt Porter, his
aid, S, /. BriuOn, Jr., and paymasler Lewis
were standing ia direct line Of the balls
passing, air. Britton being in the center Of the
group \ shut struck Mr.. Brittou on the top
OF lns head, scattering his brains in every
direction The escaping steam went into the
pilOt.house, instantly killing Messrs. Ford aud
Bride, pilots. Many Of the soldiers, at the
rush OF The steam, Jumped overheard, and
were drowned.
The Cincinnati had one killed and six
wounded. The Essex had six seaman aud
two officers killed, seventeen men wounded
and five missing There were no casualties
on the ST Louis or Carondolet, though the shot
ana shell fell upon them like rain. The ST.
Louls was commanded by Leonard Padding,
VINO stood upon the gunboat aud worked tile
guns to the last. Not a man fiinched, and
with cheer upon cheer they sent The shot and
shell among the enemy
PURSUING THE KEnEIs.
PADuCAu, KY, Feb 7-Csn S,,;,I, o,, ,t..