Latest from the North.
the Yankee victory in Tennessee.
interesting Washington news.
&c., &c., &c.
The New York Herald, of the 8th, puts us in possession of the very latest Federal accounts of the attack and capture of Fort Henry, and other important intelligence, as will be seen below:
Northern account of the "splendid victory" in Tennessee--the surrender of Fort Henry--the Memphis and Ohio Railroad bridge taken possession of.
Cairo, Ill., Feb. 7.
--We have taken Fort Henry.
It was surrendered to Commodore Foote yesterday at two o'clock in the afternoon, after a most determined resistance.
The fight, which lasted an hour and twenty minutes, was conducted by the gunboats Cincinnati, Essex, and St. Louis.
The Cincinnati fired one hundred and twenty-five rounds, and received thirty four shots from the rebel guns; but only one man was killed.
The St. Louis fired one hundred and ten rounds, but received no damage.--The Essex was disabled after firing ten rounds, by a ball striking her boiler.
Thirty-two persons on board of her were killed, being scaided to death.
Captain Porter, who commanded her, was badly scalded, but not dangerously so.
One rabel General, one Colonel, two Captains and one hundred privates were taken prisoners.
The fort mounted twenty guns and seventeen mortars.
The land forces did not reach the scene of the action until half an hour after the surrender of the fort.
The Memphia and Ohio Railroad bridge, fifteen miles above the fort, has been taken possession of by our troops.
Details of the battle.
Cincinnati, Feb. 7, 1862.
--The Gazette and Commercial's Cairo correspondence, gives the following account of the bombarnment and surrender of Fort Henry: ‘
Yesterday, at half-past 12 P. M., the gunboats Cincinnati, St. Louis, Carondelet, and Essex, the Tyler, Conestoga, and Lexington bringing up the rear, advanced boldly against the rebel works, going to the right of panther Creek Island, immediately above, where, on the east shore of the river, stands the fortifications, and keeping out of range till at the head of the island and within a mile of the enemy, passing the island in full view of the rebel guns.
We steadily advanced.
every man at quarters, every ear strained to catch the flag officer's signal gun for the commencement of the action.
Our line of battle was on the left of the St. Louis, next the Carondelet, next the Cincinnati, (for the time being the flag-ship, having on board Flag-Officer Foote,) and the next the Essex.
We advanced in line, the Cincinnati a boat's length ahead, when, at half-past 11, the Cincinnati opened the ball, and immediately the three accompanying boats followed suit.
The enemy was not backward, and gave an admirable response, and the fight raged furiously for half an hour.
We steadily advanced, receiving and returning the storms of shot and shell, when, getting within three hundred yards of the enemy's works, we came to a stand and poured into him right and left.
In the meantime the Essex had been disabled, and drifted away from the scene of action, leaving the Cincinnati, Carondelet, and St. Louis alone engaged. ’
Confederate colors struck.
At precisely forty minutes past one o'clock the enemy struck his colors, and such cheering, such wild excitement as seized the throats, arms or caps of the four or five hundred sailors of the gunboats, can be imagined. After the surrender, which was made to Flag-Officer Foote by General Llyod Tilghman, who defended his fort in a most determined manner, we found that the rebel infantry, encamped outside the fort, numbering four or five thousand, had cut and run, leaving the rebel artillery company in command of the fort.The Fort.
The fort mounted seventeen guns, most of them thirty-two and thirty-four pounders, one being a magnificent ten-inch columbiad. Our shots dismounted two of their guns, driving the enemy into the embrasures. One of their rifled thirty-two pounders burst during the engagement, wounding some of their gunners. The rebels claimed to have but eleven effective guns, worked by fifty-four men — the number all told of our prisoners. They lost five killed and ten badly wounded.Gasconade.
The infantry left everything in the fight. A vast deal of plunder has fallen into our hands, including a large and valuable quantity of ordnance stores. Gen. Tilghman is disheartened. He thinks it one of the most damaging blows of the war. In surrendering to Flag-Officer Foote, the rebel General remarked, ‘"I am glad to surrender to so gallant an officer."’ Flag-Officer Foote replied, ‘"You do pefectly right, sir, in surrendering; but you should have blown my boats out of the water before I would have surrendered to you."’Casualties.
In the engagement the Cincinnati was in the lead, and, flying the Flag-Officer's pennant, was the chief mark. Flag-Officer Foote and Captain Stembel crowded her defiantly into the teeth of the enemy's guns. She got thirty-one shots, some of them going completely through her. The Essex was badly crippled! when about half through the fight, and crowding steadily against the enemy. A ball went into her side forward port, through her heavy bulkhead, and squarely through one of her boilers, the escaping steam scalding and killing many of the crew. Capt. Porter, his aid, C. P. Brittan, Jr., and Paymaster Lewis, were standing in a direct line of the balls passing, Mr. Britton being in the centre of the group. A shot struck Mr. Britton on the top of his head scattering his brains in every direction. The escaping steam went into the pilot-house, instantly killing Messrs. Ford and Bride, pilots. Many of the soldiers, at the rush of steam, jumped overboard and were drowned. The Cincinnati had one killed and six wounded. The Essex had six seamen and two officers killed, seventeen men wounded and five missing., There were no casualties on the St. Louis or Carondelet, though the shot and shell fell upon them like rain. The St. Louis was commanded by Leonard Paulding, who stood upon the gun-boat and worked the guns to the last. Not a man flinched, and with cheer upon cheer sent the shot and shell among the enemy.The pursuit — Unfaithfulness of Confederates.
Paducah, Ky., Feb. 7.
--Gen. Smith on the west, and Gen. Grant on the east side of the Tennessee river, are pursuing the retreating rebels.
It is reported and credited by some of our officers, that the rebel troops at Fort Henry were not true to the rebel cause, and took advantage of the opportunity offered by an attack to run away from a fight that was distastaful to them.
Description of Fort Henry.
This fort, the only fortification on the Tennessee river of much importance, is situated near the line of Kentucky and Tennessee, on the east bank of the stream. It stands in the bottom, about the high water mark, just below the bend in the river, and at the head of a straight stretch of about two miles. It therefore commands the river for that distance down stream, and very little else. The land around it is a little higher than the fort, and a portion of it is covered with timber. The armament of the fort consists of eight thirty-two pounders, four twelve pounders, and two six pouners. The thirty-two and twelve pounders are heavy guns, and the six pounders light pieces. On the opposite side of the river are three hills, which completely command the fort. Recently some new fortifications were commenced on these hills, where it was intended to mount some very large guns and three rifled cannon. The late rebel garrison was composed as follows: Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman, commanding. Staff. Captain Powhatan Ellis, Assistant Adjutant General. Captain S. C. Morris, Aid-de-Camp. Troops. Fourth Mississippi regiment. Seventh Mississippi regiment. Regiment Louisiana Volunteers. First Kentucky Volunteers. One regiment rebel cavalry.Damage to the gun-boats.
The St. Louis and Cincinnati are pierced for thirteen guns each, the Essex for nine guns. The bow guns are heavy eighty-four pound rifled cannon; the others are eightinch columbiads. The sides of the boats, both above and below the knee, incline at an angle of forty-five degrees, and nothing but a plunging shot from a high bluff could strike the surface at right angles. The iron plating has been severely tested by shots from rifled cannon at different distances, and has shown itself to be utterly impervious to any shots that have been sent against it, even at a range of three hundred yards. The boats, it will be perceived, are built very wide, in proportion to their length, giving them almost the same steadiness in action that a stationary land battery would possess. They are constructed on the same principle on the famous iron battery as the sides upward battery. Broadsides were so arranged as to be delivered with terrible effect while shifting position. To facilitate movements in action, the engines and machinery are of the most powerful kind. The boilers are five in number, constructed to work in connection with or independent of each other. In case of damage done to any one or more of them, a valve was arranged to close the connection between the damaged and undamaged boilers, and the latter operate as if nothing had happened.Importance of the Seizure of the Railroad.
The capture of the Memphis and Ohio Railroad bridge, as mentioned in the above dispatch, secures an important strategical position, to which others must, in the course of military events, be auxillary. It in effect turns the enemy's left flank, cuts off the communication between Memphis and Bowling Green, from which the latter is depencent for its supplies, and isolates Columbus from Bowling Green; so that for all military purposes communication is cut off between the rebels-at these points. No doubt the Federal force will push on until they reach the Nashville and Memphis Railroad, near Camden, Tenn.--This point, once in our possession, will cut off Hickman and Memphis from Nashville. This accomplished, then good-bye to Gens, Johnston, Beauregard, Buckner, and the rebel host. There will be no necessity then to attack Columbus or Bowling Green.--Starvation will do the work. The New Orleans Delta, in a late edition, says:‘" The safety of the whole South depends on the result of the battle at Columbus. This place once taken, there can be no effectual resistance at other points."’ In military philosophy a position turned and besieged is equal to a place captured. Hence, according to the New Orleans Delta, the safety of the whole South is in jeopardy.The victory announced.
Gen. Halleck sends this message to Gen. McClellan: Fort Henry is ours! The flag of the Union is re-established on the soil of Tennessee. It will never be removed.Commodore Foote's report.
U. S. Flagship Cincinnati off Fort Henry, Tennessee River, Feb. 6, 1862.
The gun-boats under my command — the Essex, Commander Porter; the Carondelet, Commander Walker; the Cincinnati, Commander Stembel; the St. Louis, Lieutenant commanding Paulding; the Conestoga, Lieutenant commanding Phelps; the Taylor, Lieutenant commanding Gwinn, and the Lexington, Lieutenant commanding Shirk--after a severe and rapid fire of one hour and a quarter, have captured Fort Henry, and have taken Gen. Lloyd Tilghman and his staff, with sixty men, as prisoners.
The surrender to the gun-boats was unconditional, as we kept an open fire upon the enemy until their flag was struck.
In half an hour after the surrender I handed the fort and prisoners over to Gen. Grant, commanding the army, on his arrival at the fort in force.
The Essex had a shot in her boilers, after fighting most effectually for two-thirds of of the action, and was obliged to drop down the river.
I hear that several of her men were scalded to death, including the two pilots.
She, with the other gun-boats, officers, and men, fought with the greatest galfantry.
The Cincinnati received thirty-one shots, and had one man kiled and eight wounded, two seriously.
The fort, with twenty guns and seventeen mortars, was defended by Gen. Tighman with the most determined gallantry.
I have sent Lieutenant commanding Phillips and three gun-boats after the rebel gun-boats.
