HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT
OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, January
30, 1862.
Brig. Gen. U.S. GRANT,
Cairo, Ill.:
SIR: You will immediately prepare to send forward to Fort
Henry, on the Tennessee River, all your available forces from Smithland,
Paducah, Cairo, Fort Holt, Bird's Point, &c. Sufficient garrisons must be
left to hold these places against an attack from Columbus. As the roads are
almost impassable for large forces, and as your command is very deficient in
transportation, the troops will be taken in steamers up the Tennessee River as
far as practicable. Supplies will also be taken up in steamers as far as
possible. Flag-Officer Foote will protect the transports with his gunboats. The
Benton and perhaps some others should be left for the defense of Cairo. Fort
Henry should be taken and held at all hazards. I shall immediately send you
three additional companies of artillery from this place.
The river front of the fort is armed with 20-pounders, and
it may be necessary for you to take some guns of large caliber and establish a
battery on the opposite side of the river. It is believed that the guns on the
land side are of small caliber and can be silenced by our field artillery. It
is said that the north side of the river below the fort is favorable for
landing. If so, you will land and rapidly occupy the road to Dover and fully
invest the place, so as to cut off the retreat of the garrison.
Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson, U.S. Engineers, will immediately report to you,
to act as chief engineer of the expedition. It is very probable that an attempt
will be made from Columbus to re-enforce Fort Henry; also from Fort Donelson at
Dover. If you can occupy the road to Dover you can prevent the latter. The
steamers will give you the means of crossing from one side of the river to the
other. It is said that there is a masked battery opposite the island below Fort
Henry. If this cannot be avoided or turned it must be taken.
Having invested Fort Henry, a cavalry force will be sent
forward to break up the railroad from Paris to Dover. The bridges should be
rendered impassable, but not destroyed.
A telegram from Washington says that Beauregard left
Manassas four days ago with fifteen regiments for the line of Columbus and
Bowling Green. It is therefore of the greatest importance that we cut that line
before he arrives. You will move with the least delay possible. You will
furnish Commodore Foote with a copy of this letter. A telegraph line will be
extended as rapidly as possible from Paducah, east of the Tennessee River, to
Fort Henry. Wires and operators will be sent from Saint Louis.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-general.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
7 (Serial No. 7), p. 121-2
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