New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-21
of Fort Henv Five Decades Ago. Introduced One S. Grant
In This the Third of The Tbunes Series Dealing with the
Chief Incidents of the Civil War, the Attack of Eadss
Curious River Ironclads the Fort Is Narrated

taking possession OF Paducah. at the
mouth OF the Tennessee River. and Smith
land at the mouth Of the Cumberland The
rival forces took their stand on Ken
lucky soil. the Confederates. under Buck
ner. advancing to Bowling Green and Brig
adler General Zollicoffer. With another
force. taking position northwest OF tho
Cumberland Gap, the gateway into Eastern
Tennessee, whose possession Lincoln had
strongly limited That the Union forces
should gain. General Buell. was In COM
mand OF the Union troops in front Of Buck
ner and Zollicoffer. In the rear Of the
advanced Confederate line was Fort Henry
on the Tennessee River. and Fort Donelson.
ONLY twelve miles distant across country.
on a bend Of the Cumberland River. The
Confederates. also, had established Inc
Of Notifications along tho Mississippi.
from Columbus 10 the mouth, the strong
est being at Vicksburg which was made
tho citadel OF the river because OF its CEN
trail position From whichever direction
the Union forces might come IL was
thought they could be stayed at Vicksburg
and control Of the river retained In that
way.
For the purpose Of warfare on the Mssis-
sppi and it's tributaries II was decided by
the administration 70 construct a number
OF ironclad river gunboats. James B.
Eads the famous engineer. whose name Is
connected with the great bridge across the
river at 81. Louis and the jetties at tho
mouth Of the Father Of Waters" was in
vited 10 go to Washington early in 1861 10
discuss the subject. He contracted 70 build
seven ironclad gun boats Of his own design,
and performed the remarkable feat az con-
structing them within one hundred days IN
fact. a larger one. the Benton. in addition.
was delivered at Cairo within this period.
The vessels We're accepted on January Is,
1867 and put into commission.
The greatness OF Eadss feat is more
clearly realized when it IS recalled that
the total tonnage OF the fotilla was 5000.
that the speed which the vessels were 10
make was nine knots. the engine being
built also within the period of one nun
dred days and that the craft carried more
than a hundred big guns. Notwithstanding
all the efforts which Eads put forth. the
government was not equally prompt with
It's payment. and all the great battles on
the upper Mississippi in which they par
tcipated with such marked success were
fought before the vessels had been paid
for and while they were still the property
Of Mr. Eads.
The vessels were really great rectangular
iron covered boxes, or classmates on RATS
propelled by stern paddle wheels tncased
within these big boxes. They were 10
feet long. 5lia feet wide and carried thlr-
teen big guns each. The classmates had
! slanting sides, pierced for guns 70 fire
either forward or backward or in broad
sides. The vessels, however. were intended
| TO fight bow on. and the front end Of the
| boxes. therefore, had the greater thickness
Of oak and iron. The Benton was protected
by 80 inches Of iron. The vessels were
placed in command of Captain Foot man
Of deep religious instincts and great force
Of character. and were manned by monde
script crews picked up wherever they could
be gathered together. The men proved TO
/ he Of the right stuff.
| Continued on fourth page.