The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-08-08
Cairo. In this, his first battle: Grants
loss was 4S5 Folks, 641.

With the Mississippi blocked by bat
teries on its banks, the Cumberland
and the Tennessee, two tributaries OF
the Ohio, offered palpable advantages
for the advance of Union gun-boats
into Southern territory, and Herewith
the turning of the strong Confederate
positions of Columbus, on the one
hand, and Bowling Green on the
other. To check such an advance the
Confederates erected two earth works
Fort Henry, on the east bank of the
Tennessee, just at the Kentucky line,
and Fort Donelson, twelve miles nearly
due east, on the west bank Of the Cum
berland. On the I'd of February, hav-
ing received authority for the purpose,
after repeated solicitations from Hal
leck, who long before had seen the
value of the attempt, but had taken no
practical steps to make it, Grant started
up the Tennessee to attack Fort Henry,
with 1900 men on transports, con-
voyed by Foote and seven gun-boats.
Tilghman, who commanded the fort,
hastily withdrew his main force for re-
treat to Donelson, and defended his
works with single company of artil-
lerists. On the 9th of February, while
Grant pushed his troops into positions
near the fort, the fleet opened upon it,
and after sharp conflict of two hours,
Foote received the surrender of Fort
Henry, with its seventeen guns, its
stores, and about 100 men.
This victory, coming early in the
war, was received with great enthusi-
asm, but Grant, without pausing, al
though authorized and even urged by
Halleck to remain on the defensive at
Fort Henry, so as to resist attempts to
retake it, pushed his available troops
across to Fort Donelson as fast as the
miry roads would permit. When he
arrived there his body of 5000 men
was actually smaller, according to some
careful statistics, than the army inside
defending the works, and these works,
too, were very strong, in commanding
positions and mounting twenty-one
heavy guns besides many feld-pieces.
However, re-enforcements, ascending
the Cumberland on transports, soon
doubled Grants strength. After two
days of skirmishing, the garrison in the
fort, fearing that it would be gradually
hemmed in, made desperate effort to
open a way of escape by the Wynn's
Ferry road. The struggle was nearly
successful, but lull occurred in the
Confederate attack at the moment
when its purpose seemed achieved.
Grant, at this juncture returning from
a consultation with Foote on his flag.
ship, and learning what had occurred,
instantly OWNED the enemy's purpose,
and believing the situation to be one in
which, as he expressed it, "whoever
attacks again first will whip" directed
General G. F. Smith to assault. That
splendid soldier, who with his sixty
years had all the fire of youth, magni-
ficently carried out his instructions,
and the Confederates were driven back
into their trenches. Lloyd and Pillow,
with considerable number of their
troops, stole away the same night in
the darkness, and then Buckner, on
whom the command lad devolved, the
next day, the 10th, asked a cessation
of hostilities so as to agree on terms Of
capitulation. "No TERMS" answered
Grant, in words which became memo
rable, Except an unconditional and
immediate surrender, can be accepted.
propose to move Immediately upon
your works." There was no way Of
evading the result, and the fort was
surrendered, with garrison, guns, and
stores. The Union loss was little
over $500; the Confederate, as nearly
as can be ascertained, from 1900 to
$4,000, and all but 1900 or 1000 were
prisoners. This was the greatest vic
tory which had yet crowned the Union
arms, and Grant received the we'll
earned reward of a commission a:
Major General of Volunteers.
The fall of Donelson forced the
abandonment by the Confederates O
Bowling Green and Columbus. The
advantage of continuing the advance
up the Tennessee was OBVIOUS, and al
expedition for this purpose was in
trusted to c. F. Smith by Halleck
who, with absurd punctiliousness, founc
fault with Grants alleged lack of at
tention to official correspondence, anc
with having visited Nashville. Expla
nations were made, and to Grant wa
restored the command OF the eXpedi
tionary forces, which Smith had PLACED
meanwhile at Pittsburgh Landing, or
the left bank of the Tennessee. The
purpose of this gathering was to adj
vance against Corinth, about twenty
miles distant, in northeastern Missis-
sippi. This point derived strategic i'm
portance from being the junction of the
Memphis & Charleston and the Mobile
& Ohio railroads, land upon it,therefore,
had been concentrated Confederate
army of 10000 men, from Bowling
Green, Columbus, Pensacola and other
points. commanded by A. S. Johnston
with such subordinates as Beauregard,
Bragg, Polk, and Hardee. Halleck
proposed to push forward Buell's army
$1,000 strong, from Nashville, for the