The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-01-31

wffhdrawtng the mass across country
toward Fort Donelson.
Captain Jesse Taylor commanded the
Vert Henry gunnera. who belonged to
che Tennessee volunteer militia. He
assignpf one gun apiece to each Of the
eeveO Federal warshlps which were In
Sine, covered by an island one mile be-
aOw the fort. At II: 35 a. m. the ships
steamed out into the channel. the four
GrOnciads leading and the Carondelet
and ST. Louis lnteri0cked for want OF
eea room. Not shot was fred by ell
ther side until the lroncIads were with
10 fair range of the fort. the flag. the
earthworks and quarters and the gun
ners at their guns. Then the flagship
Cincinnati cred the signal shot. and 1t
was instantly answered by every one
or Tnylor's guns. The commander OF
the CarontIplet said that the fort was
one sheet of flame. and Captain Taylor
0escril,ed tue firing of the ironclads as
having been las pretty and as stimuli
taneous broadside rs ever flashed
from the decks Of frigate."
The gunboat fire was steady and
rapid for over an hour. From the
Cecks the naval officers could see the
carthen walls of the fort plowed up
and the debris showered over the Con
federate guns One OF Captain Tay-
0rs guns. rified piece, burst and dis
abied many Of the men. His column,
bad was spiked by it's own printing
wire getting fast. and two 80 pound
ers were struck and shattered at
tAe same moment. In short time
kbcre were only four pieces In action,
ave having been put out of service and
sixteen men disabled beside them.
Meanwhile the ironclad Essex had
dropped out Of the fight. disabled by a
rerlarl1abie shot which pierced the
cnsemate just above the portfolio on
Che port side, passed through the mid
die boiler and cast up shower OF
scaIding water and steam. BY this
ah0t forty-eight soldiers and sailors
were killed or wounded. many OF them
being scaided to death. Before the ac-
eldent the Essex had fred seventy
sh0ts. The flagship Cincinnati was
siddied with the holes of thirty-two
shots, which pierced her upper. works
One shot ripped up her side timbers
Gnd showered the decks with splinters.
Two Of her guns were disabled. The
ct. Louis was hit seven times and the
Carondeiet In about thirty places by
heavy shot and she'll. The Carondelet
Ared I07 shells and had no battle cas-
uaities. Eight missiles struck within
two feet OF the bow ports in range
With the boilers, but were stopped by
hafrlcades built to protect the boiler
COON. TN ell the ironclads the plating
was broken and splintered by the ac-
curate Confederate fire,
General TNghnan hauled down the
dag OF Fort Henry at 80 p. M. when
but two OF his guns were left In &C.
don. He had lost killed, IL wound
ed and 8 missing. Accompanied by bis
6tnff. he went on board the Cincinnati
and surrendered the garrison OF seven
iy-elght souls to Flag Officer Foote.
General Grant reached the fort at 8
o'clock and relieved the navy OF com
enanu.
Grants troops had been prevented
from attacking on the land side by the
difficulties OF the march, which was
through dense forest flooded by q re-
cent heavy rain. The Federal cavalry
attempted to head of the main body of
COnfederates on their retreat toward
DuueIson. but only succeeded In pick
ing up a few belated stragglers and
two cannon.
At Fort Henry Grant FIRST appeared
an the role Of captor and host to prison
ers OF war. Captain Taylor. writing for
The Century War Series. describes
The. bearing OF the general at the time.
Taylor was threatened by Federal Of
deer with punishment for having de-
stroyed the records Of the fort before
Che surrender whereupon Grant inter
rupted the coiioquy by saying. II would
be very much surprised and mortified
ff one Of my officers should allow In
formation which he could destroy to
fall into the hands OF the enemy
Fort Henry fell on the 9th OF Febru-
AIRY. and Grant Immediately informed
his chiefs that he would take Fort Dom
eison on the 9Th. On the 7th, with
part Of regiment Of cavalry, he rode
to within mile OF the outer line OF
Confederate works. He explained this
temerity to his stair by saying that he
Ind known General Pillow, the Con
federate then In charge of the Donelson
defenses, In Mexico and believed that
q was safe to ride up within gunshot
Of any intrenchments he was given to
hold There was no opposition on the
part OF the enemy to the reconnaissance,
and the party learned the topography
Of the country around the fort.
But the onward march to Donelson
from Fort Henry was delayed week
by the continued rains which made the
roads between the Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers impossible for artil-
tery and wagons. 1t was also part of
the plan to have the navy cooperate,
and this necessitated voyage back to
Paducah. then up the Ohio to the Cum
beriand aud again up that stream to
DoneIson. Before leaving the Tennes-
sec. however. the navy proceeded up
chat river from Fort Henry and de-
stroyed the bridge of the Memphis and
Ohio railway. The first vessels of the
deet reached point on the Cumber-
land few miles below Fort Donelson
On the loth Of February. the day that
Grant arrived and placed his army In
position. almost completely investing