- 06 Feb 2020 13:57
#15064968
February 6, Thursday
Due to the high water, rain, and bad roads, the Federal troops assaulting Fort Henry do not get under way until late morning. About 11 am Flag Officer Andrew Foote with his four ironclads followed by three wooden gunboats move upstream, firing rapidly into the almost open fort. The defenders gallantly reply, striking the flotilla with fifty-nine shots, a few of them causing damage. The boiler of Essex is pierced and scalds twenty-eight officers and men. Cincinnati is also struck. In the fort a shell explodes near the mouth of a thirty-two-pounder, wrecking the gun and crew. Another gun blows up. Shortly after 2 pm Tilghman lowers his flag and surrenders 12 officers, 66 men, and 16 patients on the hospital boat to Flag Officer Foote. The gunboat attack had been timed to coincide with the arrival of the 15,000 Federal infantry, but the soldiers encountered deep mud and are far behind schedule, still out of sight of the fort when they hear the firing stop. The Confederates have lost 5 killed, 6 wounded, 5 disabled, and 5 missing for a total of 21 casualties, but have saved the main garrison. In Foote’s Federal squadron 11 are dead, 31 injured, and 5 are missing.
In the afternoon Grant wires Halleck, and Halleck wires Washington, the same message: FORT HENRY IS OURS. The meaning is clear: with the fall of Fort Henry, a major impediment to Federal advancement south is removed; an important river highway, bypassing the Mississippi, is opened. But about ten miles away on the Cumberland a much more formidable fortification, Fort Donelson, still stands in the way. Foote immediately takes his ironclads north for repairs and then plans to go around and ascent the Cumberland from the Ohio. The three wooden gunboats proceed on a raid up the Tennessee to Florence, Alabama. Over at Fort Donelson Brigadier General Bushrod R. Johnson succeeds Tilghman in command and calls for reinforcements.
In South Carolina there is a Federal reconnaissance to Wright River.
President Davis spends valuable time writing discontented officers over frictions in command.
Due to the high water, rain, and bad roads, the Federal troops assaulting Fort Henry do not get under way until late morning. About 11 am Flag Officer Andrew Foote with his four ironclads followed by three wooden gunboats move upstream, firing rapidly into the almost open fort. The defenders gallantly reply, striking the flotilla with fifty-nine shots, a few of them causing damage. The boiler of Essex is pierced and scalds twenty-eight officers and men. Cincinnati is also struck. In the fort a shell explodes near the mouth of a thirty-two-pounder, wrecking the gun and crew. Another gun blows up. Shortly after 2 pm Tilghman lowers his flag and surrenders 12 officers, 66 men, and 16 patients on the hospital boat to Flag Officer Foote. The gunboat attack had been timed to coincide with the arrival of the 15,000 Federal infantry, but the soldiers encountered deep mud and are far behind schedule, still out of sight of the fort when they hear the firing stop. The Confederates have lost 5 killed, 6 wounded, 5 disabled, and 5 missing for a total of 21 casualties, but have saved the main garrison. In Foote’s Federal squadron 11 are dead, 31 injured, and 5 are missing.
In the afternoon Grant wires Halleck, and Halleck wires Washington, the same message: FORT HENRY IS OURS. The meaning is clear: with the fall of Fort Henry, a major impediment to Federal advancement south is removed; an important river highway, bypassing the Mississippi, is opened. But about ten miles away on the Cumberland a much more formidable fortification, Fort Donelson, still stands in the way. Foote immediately takes his ironclads north for repairs and then plans to go around and ascent the Cumberland from the Ohio. The three wooden gunboats proceed on a raid up the Tennessee to Florence, Alabama. Over at Fort Donelson Brigadier General Bushrod R. Johnson succeeds Tilghman in command and calls for reinforcements.
In South Carolina there is a Federal reconnaissance to Wright River.
President Davis spends valuable time writing discontented officers over frictions in command.
Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without.
—Edmund Burke
—Edmund Burke