New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-21
Fort Henrys Capture Thrilled the North

silently over IFS swollen tide. TIE gun
crews stood a. their posts. those IN the
Csrondelet being captsined by old men-of-
wars men. who were good shots About
noon the ernbsnkments of the fort doomed
" ahead on the hight hand side Of the
river and the Confederate flag was seen
floating over its crest
Flag Officer Foote'S flagship the Cincin-
natl. fired shot as 2 signal % begin shoot
ing. II proved 20 be rignal % Fort Henry
as well, for the whole front blazed with
the fame ot its heavy guns. With wild
whis,ling screams the shells tore through
the air toward the gunboats. For nearly
two hours the artillery duel RACED. the
firing Of the Confederate guns being ~
first more precise than that Of the Federal
pieces doubtless owing q previous shooting
over the range Their snot tore up the iron
plating on some OF the vessels a If II had
been tin roofing one ny one. however. the
guns OF the fort were put out Of commits
sion. and al 90 O'Clock only four out of
the eleven were in working condition.
The chief disaster % the Union forces oc-
CURED on the Essex. After about an hours
hard fighting. the captain went below and
conpiimented MS men for their good work
He asked them II they did not want 20 stop
for rest and give three cheers By way II
letting of steam. Three shouts went ~
with night good will. when the Joy was
changed 70 shriekng ~ pain by = sho,
Vhich pierced 4 casemate Just below
portfolio on the port side and passed
through the middle boiler. killing one man
and a shower Of boiling water shot out and
drove such 81 the men as were able 70 move
out ~ the portfolios into he river. With her
commander injured. Z number II her crew
dead o. writing in agony and her en-
elnes disabled. the Essex slowly drifted
back down the river out Of range
AS soon az the interior u ire csserate
was sufficiently clear % steam 70 permit,
II was explored In order 10 learn the ex-
tent Of the loss and 20 help the injured.
The two pilots In the pilot house were
found 70 Re dead One Of them was stand
Ing erect. his left hand on a spoke n the
wheel. while his right was upon the bell
cord A seaman. who was kneenng be
fore a shoibox taking out shot. was found
IN that pose dead When Captain Porter.
the commander IL the Essex. who had been
injured. was told that the feet had been
victorious. he raised himself on his elbow
and called for three cheers. giving two
himself. and falling bsck On his mattress
exhausted while trying 70 give 4 third
A badly scalded seaman named Jasper =
Breas. hearing the news. jumped 70 his
feet crying out. Surrender, must zee
that With my own eyes before ! die" He
climbed up tyO short flights Of steps 10
the spar deck. shouted. Glory 70 COD"
and sank exhausted on the deck he died
that night
General Tlghman. the commander OF the
fort. lowered his flag onlS after All his biz
guns had been silenceh and II became eyi-
dent that there wss nothing ~ be gained
by further resistance. He came out in
small boat and surrendered 20 Flag Oficer
FOote. the Union roops owing 10 the bad
roads ana the distance they were obliged
10 march. not having come up yet.
n vas only after the surrender that The
gallaniry 81 the defence was discovered.
II appeared then that the night had been
conducted By fewer than sixty men. For
nearly two hours they had restrained the
Union forces while the garrison ~ nesrly
four thousand men was marched On toward
Fort Donelson. The night before General
Tilghman had called his Leading officers to
seiher and decided that. In view ~ the
fact that the Union forces probably num-
bsred twenty-five thousand men and tina,
his own troops were largely raw recruits