Latest Northern War news.
From the New York Hereld and Times, of the 18th, we extract the following items of general interest:Movements of the Federals.
St. Louis, Feb., 12, 1862.
--A Cairo special dispatch to the Democrat says that passengers by the Evaneville packet report passing at Faducah this morning eleven transports inden with troops.
The Forty-sixth, Thirty-first, and Fourth Illinols regiments, a battalion of the Twenty-ninth Illinots, and a company of the Eighth Wisconsin, left here this morning.
Signal fire balicons, apparently sent up from May field by the rebels, have been seen here the past three nights.
Cincinnati, Feb. 12.--The weather is improving and the roads are drying.
The Commercial says that our army in Central Kentucky is in motion.
Gen. Nelson's division is marching along the Glasgow turnpike. General Mitchell's division had crossed Green river on Monday morning, taking the advance of the main column to Bowling Green.
Reconnoisance of Fort Donelson.
St. Louis, Feb. 14.
--Four more regiments marched from Fort Henry last night on reconnoitering parties, and went within one mile of Fort Donelson, A squadron of our cavalry barely escaped capture by the nine hundred rebel cavalry, supported by infantry.
Rejoicings over the recent Victories.
The reception of the news from North Carlina and Tennessee has occasioned great rejoincing here. It is now understood that these movemente are only the beginning of what is to be done, and there is reason to believe that the rebellion will be effectually disposed of within a very few weeks.The capture of Fort Menny--the official report of Plag Officer Foots.
Washington, Feb. 12.
--The following is an official copy of the report of Flag Officer Foote to the Navy Department relative to the capture of Fort Henry:
Cairo, Ill., Feb, 7, 1862.
Sir
--I have the honor to report that on the 6th inst., at half-past 12 o'clock, P. M., I made an attack on Fort Henry, on the Tennessee river, with the fron-clad gunboats Cinclutinti. Commander Sternbel (the flagship), the Essex, Commander Porter; the Carondelet, Commander Walker, and the St. Louis, Lieutenant Commanding Paulding, also taking with me the three old gunboats Conestoga, Tyler, and the Lexington, as a second division, in charge of Lieutenant Commanding Pheles, which took a position astern and in shore of the armed boats, doing good execution there in the action, while the armed boate were placed in the first order of steaming, approaching the fort in a parallel line.
The fire was opened at one thousand seven hundred yards distonce from the flag-ship, which was followed by the other gunboats and responded to by the fort.
As we approached the fort, slow steaming till we reached within six hundred yards of the rebel batteries, the fire both from the gunboats and the fort increased in rapidity and accuracy of range.
At twenty minutes before the flag was struck, the Essex unfortunately received a shot in her boilors, which resulted in the wounding and scalding of twenty-nine officers and men, including Commander Porter, as will be seen in the enclosed list of casualties.
The Essex then necessarily dropped out of line astern; entirely disabled and unable to continue the fight, in which she had so gallantly participated until the sad catastrophe,
The firing continued with unanated rapidity and effect upon the three gunboats, as they continued still to approach the fort with their destructive fire, until the rebel flag was hauled down, after a very severe and closely conlested action of one hour and fifteen minutes.
A boat containing the Adjutant-General and Captain of Engineers, came alongside after the flag was lowered, and reported that Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, the commander of the fort, wished to communicate with the flag officer, when I dispatched Commander Stemoel and Lieut.
Commanding Phelps, with orders to hoist the American flag where the rebel ensign had been flying, and to in form Gen. Lilghman that I would see him on board the flagship.
He came on board soon after the Union had been substituted for the rebel flag on the fort and possession taken of it. I received the General and his staff and some sixty or seventy men as prisoners, and a hospital ship, containing sixty invalids, together with the fort and its effects, mounting twenty guns, mostly of heavy calibre, with carracks and tents capable of accommodating 15,000 men, and sundry articles, which, as I turned the fort and its effects over to Gen. Grant, commanding the army, on his arrivall in an hour after we had made the capture, he will be enabled to give the Government a more correct statement of than I am enabled to communicate from the short time I had possession of the fort.
The plan of the attack, so far as the army reaching the rear of the fort to make a demoustration simultaneous with the navy, was frestrated by the excessively muddy roads, and the high stage of water preventing the arrival of our troops until some time after I had taken possession of the fort.
On securing the prisoners, and making the necessary preliminary arrangements, I dispatched Lieut, Commanding Phelps, with his division, up the Tennessee river, as I had previously directed, and as will be seen in the enclosed order to him to remove the rails and so far render the bridge of the railroad for transportation and communication between Bowling Green and Columbususeless, and after wards to pursue the rebel gunboats, and secure their capture, if possible.
This being accomplished, and the army in possession of the fort, and my services being indispensable at Calro, I left Fort Henry in the evening of the same day, with the Cincinnati, Essex and St. Louis, and arrived here this morning.
The armed gunboats resisted effectually the shot of the enemy, when striking the casemates.
The Cincinnati, the flagship received thirty one shots; the Essex fifteen; the St. Louis seven: and the Carondelet six; killing one and wounding nine in the Cincinnati, and one in the Essex, while the casualties in the latter from steam amounted two twenty-eight in number.
The Carondelet and St. Louis met with no casualties.
The steamers were admirably handled by their commanders and officers presenting only their bow guns to the enemy, to avoid the exposure of the vulnerable parts of their vessels.
Lieutenant Commanding Phelps, with his division, also executed my orders very effectually, and promptly proceeded on the river in their further excention after the capture of the fort.
In fact, all the officers and men gallantly performed their duty and, considering the little experience they have had under fire, far more than realized my expectations.
Fort Henry was dufended with the most determined gallantry by General Tightman, worthy of a batter cause; who, from his own account, went into the action with eleven guns of heavy callbre bearing upon our boats, which he fought until seven of the number were dismantled or otherwise rendered useless. Sir
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. H. Foots Flag Officer. Hon. Gidson Welles, Secretary Navy, Washington.
A. H. Foots Flag Officer. Hon. Gidson Welles, Secretary Navy, Washington.
The killed and wounded.
- W. D. Porter, commander, scalded.
- J. H. Lewis, paymaster, scalded.
- T. P. Perry, third master, soalded badly.
- S. B. Britian, master's mate, killed by connon shot.
- James McBride, Pilot, killed by scalding.
- William H. Ford, pilot, killed by scalding.
- John Matthews, quairmaster, badly scalded.
- A. D. Waterman, captain of forecastle, missing.
- Henry Gemper, fireman, missing.
- Samual Bayer, nreman, scalded badly.
- John Santt fireman, missing.
- James Joffey, scaman, killed by scalding.
- N. McCarty, scaman, scalded.
- H. Hagan, scaman, scalded.
- Dana Wilson, killed by scalding.
- Ben. Harrington; and scalded badly.
- Wm. O'Brien, scaman, scalded badly.
- Thos. Muiten, scaman, scalded badly.
- W. H. Maxey, scaman, scalded badly.
- T. Sullivan, scaman, scalded badly.
- Jas. Hedard, scaman, missing.
- J. P. Bears, scaman, killed by scalding.
- John C. Hara, scaman, scalded.
- John Castello, scaman scalded.
- J. J. Phillips, scaman, scalded.
- B. Lonla, scaman scalded.
- H. Reynolds, scaman missing.
- James Argus, scaman, scalded.
- Thomas Mullett, scaman, padly scalded.
- In addition to the above we had nineteen soldiers injured, of which several have since died.
Seward and the stone blockade in Europe.
The statement of Secretary Seward implying that the American Government held themselves hound, after subjugating there to restore the destroyed harbors or open batter once added considerable to the disguist of Federal bondholders, since it makes a further indefinite addition to the proposals of the ultimate amounted debt. It is believed that even if the war was wound up immediately the debt of America would, at the rate of interest that must be paid, involve an annual charge on the revenue equal to more than half the total required for the national debt of England.Federal news from Fort Royal.
The bark Charles Kean arrived at this port yesterday morning. By her we have received news from Sort S. C., up to noon of the 4th inst. By this arrival we learn that part of the naval and military expedition destined for operations against Savanban had taken its departure, and the rest was preparting to follow. The names of the transport vessels whish act as pioneers to the expedition, are the Bosion; Delaware, and Cosmopolitan, The transports were accompanied by six tugboats for the special purpose of debarking troops. The troops are in excelient health, and appear anxious to have a desh at the rebela. The negroes in the vicinity of Port Royal were ransacking the plantations and the dwellings of their masters, and whaterver they could not convert to some bensficial purpose they destroyed. All the cotton they could lay their hands upon they were disposing of for a mere nothing. This the rebels to a great degree. About 4,000 of these people were in quarters at Head.Gen. Hunter's expedition
Leavenworth, Feb. 11, 1862.
--The greatest activity prevails at Fort Leavenworth in making preparations for the expedition to start from here under Gen Hunter.
Troops and supplies are being concentrated in the Southern portions of the State, and the indications appear favorable for an early advance.
Seven regiments of cavalry, four regiments of infantry, and three full batteries of artillery, with Parrott and Wiard guns, are now en routs from the East, and are daily expected to join the expedition, which will be of the most formidable yet organized during the war.
Maunchauce like Stories.
St. Louis, Feb. 12.
--The Federal gunboats went as far as Florence, Ala., and were received with the wildest joy along the river.
Old men cried like children at the sight of the Stars and Stripes, and invited the officers and men of the gunboats to their houses, and told them all they had was at their disposal.
Large numbers were anxious to enlist under the old flag, and the Tyler brought down two hundred and fifty men to fill up the gunboats' crews.
Our officers were assured that if they would wait a few days whole regiments could be raised; and if the Government would give them arms to defend themselves they could bring Tennessee back into the Union in a few monthe.
They said that when the secession ordinance was passed armed men stood at the polis, and every thing went as certain politicians said.
At Savannah, Eastport, and Florence, the officers and men of our gunboats went a shore without arms, and mingled freely with the people.
The Union men along the river comprise the wealthy and best portion of the inhabitants, large numbers of whom have American flags.
Not a gun was fired either going or coming.
The railroad bridge at Florence was not destroyed.
A quantity of papers were capturnd on the Eastport belonging to Lieut. Brown, late of the Union havy, Among them were letters from stating that submarine batteries could not be used successfully in the rapid streams of the West.
One hundred and fifty hogsheans of tobacco and a quantity of other freight will be brought down from the mouth of Sandy river to-morrow.
Lieut. S. L. Phelpe commanding the expediton, says in his report: ‘
"We have captured two hundred stand of arms and a quantity of clothing and stores, and have destroyed the encampment of Col. Crews, at Savannah, Penneessee.
We found the Union sentiment strong along the river." ’
