Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-02-09
IN MEMORY
~ "''''lji' Of LINCOLN
Appropriate Exercises Will
Be Held in City Schools
UNDER AUSPICES OF
WADSW0RTH POST, GAR.
Old Veterans and Ladies' will lncui-
cate Patriotism and Loyalty In
the Younger Generations.

Perhaps In no state throughout
the Union ID the birthday of the
immortal Lincoln more universal
ly celebrated than in Colorado,
and in no town of the state is the
day remembered more fittingly
than in Rocky Ford.
In this city exercises commem-
orative of our martyred President
are held in the public schools,
and thither the remnant of the
army that fought and bled for the
freedom of the black man, wend
their way to retell the oft-told
tales of that mighty struggle and
of the causes that led to the mar
tyrdom of their revered leader.
With the gallant "old boys in
blue" to inculcste patriotism and
reverence for their country in the
breast of the younger generation
will this year be associated
the auxiliary orders of the Grand
Army of the Republic, the Wom-
ans Relief Corps and Ladies of
G. A. r., whose members loyalty
supported their fathers, husbands
and brothers during the trying
times of fifty years ago.
At this time the following
graphic "reminiscences of one Incl
dent in the Civil War will be
found very interesting reading,
coming as it does from the pen of
one who took part in the event he
narrates, and being told upon the
tiftieth anniversary of a never-to-
be-forgotten occasion:
The Capture of FIT. Henry Fifty
Years Ago.
General Grant, after occupying
Paducah, Ky, in the fall of 1901,
while fortifying the place and Smith
land, twelve miles I'D the Ohio river,
organized and equipped an army ii
perhaps $4,000 men, preparatory to 4
forward movement aginst the enemy
in early spring. All preparations
having been made, his army broke
camp about the Ist day OF February
and went aboard the boats. IFS in
number, ready for an advance up the
Tennessee river, with the purpose of
capturing Fit. Henry and Ft. Hymen.
about I4o miles up the river, and
opcnig the same for navigation TO be
used in transporting supplies to his
army. which he intended if success siul
10 push against TT. Donelson and
other important positions occupied
by the Confederates. Commodore
Foot, commanding the gunboats Es-
sex, Lexington. Conistoga, and Ty-
Ter, went in advance of the trans
ports carrying the army in order to
clear the river banks OF any Confed-
crate batteries that might be found
to resist our advance. The move
ment up the river was slow and cau-
tious.
Arriving on Feb. 9th near Ft.
Henry, the army discmbarked, part
on each side OF the river. each divis-
ion moving around towards the rear
OF the respective forts, Henry and
iiymen, in order to prevent the Con
federates from escaping. The gun
boats, moved up in range of Ft.
Henry, and opened fire, the Confed-
crate batteries responded vigorously
and it was an artillery duel worth
seeing and hearing for Is minutes
when the Confederate guns were al
silenced, and the fort surrendered
There was no fighting of any conse.
quence between the infantry. The
number OF prisoners captured was re
ported at about 1000. the most OF tht
garrison having escaped to FIT. Dan
elson, twelve miles away on the Gum
berland river.
FIT. nymen, on the opposite side o
the river, was found in an unfinished
condition, the cannon not having
been mounted in it yet.
The loss os the Union side wa
eight men scalded on the gunboa
essex, caused by shot from Ft
Henry going through a port hole il
the boat and severing steam pipe
The gunboats proceeded up the riv
er as far as Florence, Ala, TO whicl
point the river thereafter was KEEP
open and navigated by the Unioi
forces.
This victory. was the beginning o
General Grants fame, which event
ually made him commander in chic
OF the armies of the United State
and afterwards president. 1t wa
nevertheless a severe blow to tn
Confederates, for it not only depriv
ed them OF the use of this river, bu
wrested from them a large area q