The Manitowoc Pilot

U. S. Flag-Ship Cincinnati off Fort Henry,
Tennessee River, Feb. 6, 1862.

The gunboats under my command, the Essex, Commander Porter, the Carondolet, Lieut. Commander Walker, the Cincinnati, Commander Stembel, the St. Louis, Lieut. Commanding Paulding, the Conestoga, Lieut. Commanding Phelps, the Tyler, Lieut. Commanding Gwin, and the Lexington, Lieut. Commanding Shirk, after a severe and rapid fire of one hour and a quarter, have captured Fort Henry, and taken Gen. Lloyd Tilghman and his staff and sixty men as prisoners. The surrender of the gunboats was unconditional, as we kept an open fire upon the enemy until the flag was struck in half an hour for the surrender. I handed the fort and prisoners over to Gen. Grant, commanding the army, on his arrival at the fort with troops. The Essex had a shot in the boiler, after fighting effectively for two-thirds of the action, and was obliged to drop down the river. I fear that several of her men were scalded to death, injuring the two boats. She, with the other gunboats, her officers and men, fought with the greatest gallantry. The Cincinnati received thirty-one shots, and had one man killed and eight wounded—two seriously. The fort, with twenty guns and seventeen mortars, was defended by Gen. Tilghman with the most determined gallantry. I would write as soon as possible.

I have sent Lieut. Commanding Phelps with the gunboats up after the rebel gunboats.

(Signed) A. H. Foote, Flag Officer.

Cincinnati, Feb. 7.

The Gazette's and Commercial's Cairo correspondents give the following accounts of the bombardment and capture of Fort Henry:

Yesterday at 12:40 P.M., the gunboats Cincinnati, St. Louis, Carondolet and Essex, the Tyler, Conestoga and Lexington bringing up the rear, advanced boldly against the rebel works going to the right of Porter's Creek Island immediately above which on the east shore of the river stand fortifications, and keeping out of range until at DeJol's Island, and within a mile of the fort, passing the island in full view steadily advancing every man at quarters ready for action. The Flag Officer in the Cincinnati leading the complete line of the attacking fleet. The rebel works mounted some sixty guns. The Cincinnati, St. Louis and Essex taking the lead in the center, the Carondolet on the left and the Tyler on the right. We advanced in line abreast a length ahead, when at 1 o'clock the Cincinnati opened the ball amid the thundering commencing to answer us. The enemy not being able to get back, wanting a masked battery and the fire was furious for half an hour. We still advanced, receiving rapid return thundering shot and shell. When getting within three hundred yards of the enemy's works we came to a stand, and fired into them right and left. In the meantime the Essex had been disabled and dropped from the line of action taking the Cincinnati, Carondolet and St. Louis. At 1:40 past one the action became general, a perfect roar of fire from the rebel works which was replied to by our gunboats with fearful effect. The rebel fire soon began to slacken, and in a few minutes ceased entirely, the white flag being hoisted on the fort, announcing its surrender which was immediately followed by the appearance of a man on the parapet waving a white handkerchief. The number of guns in the fort was about 40 or 50. The loss on our side was light, only 32 casualties during the engagement and working one of their gunboats. The rebels claim to have had but fifteen effective guns worked by fifty-four men. The number of prisoners is about 60. They lost five killed and ten wounded. A vast deal of muskets fell into our hands, including a great and valuable quantity of ordnance stores. Gen. Tilghman's display was one of the most damaging by guns of the war.

In reply to Flag Officer Foote the rebel General remarked:

“I am glad to surrender to so gallant an officer.”

Flag Officer Foote:

“You do pretty right sir. In surrendering, I should have blown my boats to the water before I would have surrendered to so.”

In the engagement the Cincinnati was in the lead and drawing the Flag Officer's pennant, which was the chief mark. Flag Officer Foote and Capt. Stembel crowded her deck to the teeth of the enemy's guns. She got thirty-one shots, some of them nearly through her. The Essex was fully crippled when about half through the fight. Crowding steadily the enemy a ball went through her port side forward, passed through her heavy bulkhead and sparely through one of her turrets and escaping the crew reaching and killing several of her crew.

Capt. Porter, his aid, S. S. Britton, and Purser Lewis were standing in direct line of ball passing. Britton being in the centre of the group. The shot struck Britton on top of the head scattering his brains in every direction, and the escaping steam went with the pilot house instantly killing Ford and Mehride, pilots— Many of the sailors, at the rush of the steam, jumped overboard and were drowned.

The Cincinnati had one killed and six wounded. The Essex had six seamen killed and seventeen temporarily wounded and missing.

No casualties on the St. Louis or Carondolet though shot and shell fell upon them like rain.

The St. Louis was commanded by Capt. Leonard Paulding, who stood upon the gun deck and fought the guns to the last. Not a man flinched, and with cheer upon cheer sent shot and shell among the enemy.
Cincinnati, Feb. 8.
Special to the Commercial & Gazette gives additional details of the capture of Fort Henry.

At the time of the attack, the rebel infantry were in their camp eating dinner. They abandoned everything, leaving shot, guns, all their camp equipage and clothing.

In pursuing the enemy, Major McColloch, of Col. Hickey's cavalry, captured sixteen guns, and Col. John A. Logan captured eight guns, and took thirty-three prisoners.