The Rebels Evacuating Clarksville

Condition of Our Troops – They Ask to be Led Against Nashville – Number of Prisoners 13,300.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19. – The Republican’s Cairo dispatch says latest advices from Fort Donelson report the gunboat St. Louis, Capt. Paulding, proceeded up the Cumberland to Clarksville and found the enemy abandoning that place in panic.

Two large flats, laden with munitions of war, were captured at Rolling Mills, just below Clarksville.

Everything is being moved to Nashville, where the next Rebel stand would be made.

Everything at Donelson is progressing satisfactorily.  Our army are encamped in captured works, having comfortable quarters in log huts and tents in the late garrison.

Our soldiers are very enthusiastic and are anxious to march at once against Nashville.

With the exception of sever colds, consequent upon recent exposure, the army was well.

The actual number of prisoners taken were 13,300, among them Gen. West not previously mentioned.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

From Island No. 10

Special to the Chicago Times.

CAIRO, April 2.

Accounts from Island No. 10 represent matters there unchanged.  The bombardment continued at intervals.  Shells have been thrown into the new fortifications in the bed of the river.  A few shots have been received in return, with no great damaged on either side.

The rebels are continually building new fortifications.  They are improving every moment of time, and when the attack is made it will be found that the delay has greatly enhanced the difficulty of capture.

Firing is continually heard in the direction of New Madrid, and it is supposed that the enemy are making desperate efforts to prevent Gen. Pope from crossing the river.  They have erected batteries on the point opposite New Madrid, which command a stretch of about five miles of the river, and place his transports in danger of annihilation.  He must silence these batteries before he can cross to the relief of the fleet.

The rebels have also built batteries on the river below New Madrid, and have their gunboats in readiness for action. – There are one or two of these boats guarding the point where our troops are expected to cross.

Advices direct from New Madrid report that Gen. Pope is in active preparation and will soon be in a condition to enter the field, with an overwhelming power.  We are not permitted to give details of his plans, but they will be such as will accomplish the desired result, if it is within the range of possibility.

There is nothing from the Tennessee river of direct importance.

We hear that Gen. Grant is nearly prepared for the grand battle that is expected.  The members of his staff who are here have been ordered to report at head-quarters immediately.

Gen. Buell is on the line of the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, making very slow progress.

The terrific storm that visited this locality last night extended over a wide track of country, and did an immense amount of damage.  Ten or twelve lives were lost by the breaking loose and sinking of boats. – At Paducah and Mound City a large number of houses were unroofed, and several lives lost.  We have heard nothing of its effects on the bombarding fleet.

Special to Evening Journal.

CAIRO, April 2.

The Pike arrived tonight from the fleet.  She reports the gunboat and mortars uninjured.  Two Transports were somewhat damaged.

CAIRO, April 3.

The steamer Philadelphia which was blown away in the gale, yesterday, and supposed to be lost, has been found, on the shore just above Columbus.  She is badly damaged and lost three of her crew.

Eight persons were blown overboard from the steamer Americus and drowned.

A flat boat, occupied by a poor family as resident, was blown away and sunk, the family escaping upon a coal barge, as it floated past.

The Cairo and Columbus wharf-boat was towed back last night, not much damaged.

Things are working at Island No. 10. – Night before last Col. Roberts of the Ills. 42d, with 40 picked men of his command in company with a boat’s crew from each of the gunboats, under command of 1^st master Johnson, of the St. Louis, started at 11 o’clock to take soundings.

At 12 o’clock they brought up at the redan fort, which is the upper one of the rebel works, where they landed.  The rebel sentinels fired their pieces and ran in, leaving the battery in our possession.

The union troops found six guns here which they spiked and left.  One of the guns was a massive 64-pounder; the rest were 24 and 32 pounders.

Not a man was killed or wounded on our side, nor was any one hurt on the other so far as heard from.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 1

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Evening Journal

Special Dispatch to the Chicago Evening Journal

ON BOARD THE STEAMER “B,”

CUMBERLAND RIVER, Feb. 4.

This morning Gen. Grant and his staff, Cols. Webster, McPherson and Rawlins, Captains Hillier, Lagon, [Butick?], and Riggen, and Gen. McClernand and his brigade arrived at [illigible] Landing, some six miles below Fort Henry.

The gunboats Essex and St. Louis, with Gen. Grant and Staff, made a reconnoissance of the rebel works for the purpose of landing the land force.  They went within one and a half miles of Fort Henry.  Throwing several shells within the entrenchments.  The fire was returned.  One shot (a 24 pound rifle shot) struck the Essex, going through the corner of Capt. Porter’s cabin.  The range of the gun was obtained, and a fine place selected for disembarking the land forces.  It will be done this afternoon.

The force of the enemy is supposed to be fifteen thousand.  Our officers are entirely confident of success.  The fight will commence to-morrow.

JACK.

SECOND DISPATCH

FOUR MILES FROM FORT HENRY,

On Board Steamer “B.”  Feb. 5 – 11 a. m.

Gen. Grant and gunboats are within four miles of Fort Henry.  The enemy is 15,000 strong.  Fight expected today.

JACK

– Published in The Dubuque Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 7, 1862, p. 1

From Cairo

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, March 6.

At 12 o’clock Wednesday last our pickets were driven in at Columbus, by rebel cavalry, numbering 80.  Captain Paulding, of the gun-boat St. Louis, lying at the landing, sent a messenger to Colonel Buford asking if he should shell the woods in the rear of the town, and having returned with an affirmative answer the St. Louis steamed across the river, and the mortar boat took position and shelled the woods vigorously for an hour.

The 2d Illinois cavalry was, at last accounts, in hot pursuit of the rebels.

At 12 o’clock last night, and again at 4 o’clock this morning, heavy cannonading was distinctly heard at Columbus, apparently in the direction of New Madrid.  Many of the inhabitants of Columbus are returning, who report that they left the town weeks ago, in fear of the depredations of the rebel army.

The Rev. Gen. Polk’s headquarters upon the bluff, present an entertaining spectacle being filled with champaign bottles, cigar boxes, perfumery cases, toilet articles, and other unmilitary utensils.  Col. Buford still remains in command of the town.

Adjt. [Habn], of the 23d Illinois passed through here last evening, en route for Chicago.

The mortars of the fleet are all mounted.

The Cumberland and Tennessee rivers are now in pursuance of Gen. Halleck’s orders, open for commercial navigation. – The Express in the first boat to avail itself of the new order, and left last night for Fort Henry, with passengers and freight.

A gentleman just arrived from Florence, Alabama, says the rebels of that section stand in mortal terror of the gun-boats. – He asserts that there were but two regiments at Pittsburg when the late skirmish took place.  The majority of the people thereabouts are strongly Union.

The reports in regard to Gen. Pope and his force are very conflicting.  The first is a rumor of the evacuation of New Madrid.  Second, that his forces had been shelled out by the rebel gun-boats.  Third, that Gen. Pope had not been within 18 miles of the place.

The rebel army there numbers 40,000 men, having been swelled by large reinforcements from Columbus and Memphis.  They have also 8 wooden gun-boats lying at the landing.

Steamers are rapidly arriving and departing.

The weather is very cold here.  There was quite a heavy fall of snow last night.

From late rebel papers I glean the following facts:

Gen. Polk, previous to the evacuation of Columbus, ordered every bridge on Mayfield creek and other creeks to be destroyed.

The Memphis Appeal says, “Columbus, we can positively state, is not to be evacuated and will not be unless at the point of the bayonet.”

The steamer Cambridge was sunk on the 23d near Grand Glaize, Arkansas, and 42 lives lost.

Heavy rains have fallen in South Alabama.

The machinery from the various workshops in Nashville was removed prior to the evacuation to Chattanooga.

The wheat and all ground crops in the South promise well.

[General] Bragg is in command at Mobile.

The people of the South are warmly urging and demanding Jeff Davis to take the field.

A bitter contest is going on at Memphis as to whether the town shall be burned at the approach of our gun boats.

A letter written to Memphis from Va. States that Jeff. Davis complains of lack of weapons, and Southern manufacturers cannot even supply the want.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 8, 1862, p. 1

Columbus, Ky., March 4 [1862]

At 10 o’clock this morning the 27^th, 52d and 55^th Illinois Regiments hoisted the stars and stripes over the rebel fortifications at Columbus.

The gunboats Cincinnati, Flag ship Louisville, Carondelet, St. Louis and Lexington, with four more boats in tow of the steamer Lake Erie, and the 27^th Ill., Col. Buford, 52d Ill., Col. Roberts and 55^th Ill., Major Sanger, acting Colonel, upon the transports Aleck Scott, Illinois, Magill and Ike Hammit, left Cairo this morning at 4 o’clock for Columbus.

The fleet arrived at Lucas Bend, about two miles above Columbus, at 6 o’clock, and was drawn up in line of battle.  The drums beat to quarters, and guns were manned ready for action.  Two tugs were sent in advance reconnoitering, but failed to provoke a shot from the enemy.  Everything about the works was quiet.  Glasses revealed stragglers on the bluff and about the water batteries, and in a few moments a flag was raised.  Its character could not be made out.

The fleet gradually neared the town, and laid in the stream of Belmont battlefield, while scouts were sent out upon tugs towards the rebel works.  The tugs cautiously approached until within a quarter of a mile of the batteries, found the works deserted and both set off at the top of their speed for the honor of landing first.  The scouts rushed on the ‘double quick’ to the top of the bluff, and unfurled the stars and stripes, which were saluted by the crews of the gunboats as they steamed up to the town.  The transports landed their troops, and Columbus was in our possession.

The works were entirely destroyed, and the barracks, or rather rough board and log cabins, were burned.  An immense amount of stores and ordnance fell into our hands.  Many of their cannon were thrown into the river.  Six thirty-two pounders, some howitzers, and an almost innumerable quantity of grape, canister, shell and round shot, were found in the batteries.  The fortifications were very extensive, and its natural position almost impregnable.

Columbus is completely destroyed. – Every building was thoroughly ransacked and the contents destroyed by the rebels.  The rebels commenced leaving on Thursday last and finished yesterday.  The largest number ever there was 37,000.  Beauregard was not there.  It is believed that when the river falls all their guns will be found.

The land forces, mortar boats and the gunboat St. Louis remain in possession of the town.  The balance of the boats returned to Cairo in the afternoon.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 1

From the Cumberland River

ST. LOUIS, February 19.

The Republican’s Cairo dispatch says:

Latest from Donelson reports the gun boat St. Louis, Capt. Paulding, proceeded up the Cumberland to Clarksville, and found the enemy abandoning that place in a panic. – Two flats laden with munitions of war, were captured at a rolling mill, just below Clarksville.  Everything was being moved to Nashville as fast as possible, where the next rebel stand would be made.  Everything at Donelson is progressing satisfactorily.  Our army are encamped in the capitulated works, having comfortable quarters in the log huts and tents of the late garrison.

Our soldiers are enthusiastic and anxious to march at once against Nashville.

With the exception of severe colds, consequent upon the recent exposure, our army was well.

The actual number of prisoners taken was 13,000.  Among them Gen. West, not previously mentioned.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 20, 1862, p. 1

The Cumberland Expedition

Officers and Troops Engaged.

From the Chicago Tribune.

Gen. Ulysses S. Grant of Ohio in command of the Federal Forces in the attack on Fort Donelson, entered West Point in 1839, was appointed to the 4th Infantry, U. S. A., in 1843, with rank of Second-Lieutenant.  He was transferred to the 17th infantry in 1845, was brevetted for gallant service at Moline del Ray in Mexico, and again at Chepultepec.  He was a captain in 1853, resigning the service the year following.  He resided in Galena at the outbreak of the rebellion and was appointed a Brigadier-General succeeding on such appointment General Prentiss on command at Cairo.

The following is Gen. Grant’s Staff:

Acting Major General	Brig. Gen. U. S. Grant
STAFF
Assistant Adj’t Gen	Maj. J. A. Rawlins
Quatermaster	Capt. Lawton
Medical Director	Maj. Jas. Simmons, M. D.
First Aid	Captain C. B. Lagone
Second Aid	Captain W. S. Hiller
Volunteer Aid	Captain Graham
Acting Chief Engineer	Colonel Webster
Brigade Surgeon	Captain Brinton, M. D.

THE GUNBOAT[S] AND THEIR OFFICERS.

The following are the officers in command of the fleet, which was brought into action and of each boat:

OFFICERS OF THE FLEET
Flag officers	ANDEREW H. FOOTE, U. S. N.
Fleet Captain	Commander A. M. Pennock, U. S. N.
Ordnance Officer	Lieutenant J. P. Sanford, U. S. N.
Ordnance Lieutenant	Byron Wilson
Flag Lieutenant	James N. Prickett
Flag Officer’s Secretary and Acting Paymaster-in-Chief	S. Heariques

GUNBOAT ESSEX.

Commander, H. D. Porter, U. S. N., first master, Robert K. Riley; Second Master, James Lanning

GUNBOAT CARONDELET.

Commander, Henry Walker, U. S. N.; First master, Richard K. Wade; Second Master, Jno. Dorety.

GUNBOAT CINCINNATI.

Commander, R. N. Stembel, U. S. N.; First Master, vacant; Second Master, ___ Pratt.

GUNBOAT ST. LOUIS.

Lieutenant Commanding, Leonard Paulding, U. S. N.; First Master, Saml. Black; Second Master, Jamey Y. Clemson.

GUNBOAT CONESTOGA.

Lieutenant commanding, Phelps, U. S. N.; First Master, John A. Duble; Second Master, Charles P. Nobel.

GUNBOAT TAYLOR.

Leitenant Commanding, W. Gwin, U. S. N.; First Master, Edward Saw; Second Master, Jason Goudy.

GUNBOAT LEXINGTON.

Lieutenant Commanding, J. W. Shirk, U. S. N.; First Master, Jacob S. Hurd; Second Master, Martin Dunn.

ARMAMENTS OF THE GUNBOATS

	Guns
Essex	9
Carondelet	18
Cincinnati	18
St. Louis	18
Conestoga	9
Taylor	9
Lexington	9

These guns are all in battery, and none are less than 32-pounders – some are 42-pounders, some 64-pounders, and one (on the Essex) throws a shell weighing one hundred and twenty-eight pounds.  In addition of these, each boat carries a Dahlgren rifled 12-pounder boat howitzer on the upper deck.  Several of the larger guns on each boat are rifled.

LIST OF THE LAND FORCES.

We give below a list of forty-two regiments and seven batteries, forming Gen. Grant’s army, to which should be added Gen. T. L. Crittenden’s command that has lately joined him, from Calhoun, Ky.  The entire force under Gen. Grant is hardly less than 50,000 men – an immense column, almost wholly the creation fo the last ten days.  Indeed regiments have been moving about so fast that it is next to impossible to keep track of them, and for this reason it is difficult to tell how the brigades and divisions have been formed.  The troops are as follows:

IOWA INFANTRY.

2d Iowa – Col. J. M. Tuttle.

3d Iowa – Col. N. G. Williams.

7th Iowa – Col. John G. Louman.

11th Iowa – Col. Abraham F. Hare.

12th Iowa – Col. Jackson S. Wood.

13th Iowa – Col. Marcellus M. Crocker.

14th Iowa – Col. William T. Shaw.

ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

7th – Col. John Cook, acting Brigadier General; Lieutenant Colonel, Andrew J. Babcock.

8th – Col. Richard J. Oglesby, Acting Brigadier General; Lieutenant Colonel, Frank L. Rhodes.

9th – Col. Augustus Mersey.

10th – Col. James D. Morgan.

11th – Col. Thomas E. R. Ransom.

12th – Col. John McArthur.

16th – Col. Robert F. Smith.

18th – Col. Michael K. Lawler.

20th – Col. Carroll A Marsh.

22d – Col Henry Dougherty, (invalid); Lieut. Co. H. E. Hart.

27th – Col. Napoleon B. Buford.

28th -  Col. Amory K. Johnson.

29th – Col. James S. Reardon.

30th – Col. Philip B. Fouke, absent; Lieut. Colonel, E. L. Dennis.

31st – Col. John A. Logan.

32d – Col John Logan.

41st – Col. Isaac C. Pugh.

45th – Col. John E. Smith.

46th – Col. John A. Davis.

48th – Col. Isham N. Haynie.

49th – Col. Wm. R. Morrison, wounded; Lieut. Colonel, Thomas G. Allen.

50th – Col. – Moses M. Bane.

52d – Lieut. Col. John S. Wilcox.

55th – Col. David Stuart.

57th – Col. S. D. Baldwin.

ILLINOIS CAVALRY.

2d Regiment – Col. Silas Noble.

3d Regiment – Col. Eugene A. Carr.

4th Regiment Col. T. Lyle Dickey.

7th Regiment – Col. Wm. Pitt Kellogg.

ILLINOIS ARTILLERY.

Batteries – Schwartz’s, Dresser’s, Taylor’s McAllister’s, Richardson’s, Willard’s and Buell’s, in all thirty four guns.

TROOPS FROM OTHER STATES.

8th Missouri – Col. Morgan L. Smith.

13th Missouri – Col Crafts J. Wright.

1st Mo. Artillery – Col. Totten.

11th Indiana – Col. Geo. F. McGinnis.

23d Indiana – Col. Wm. L. Sanderson.

48th Indiana – Col. Norman Eddy.

52d Indiana – Col. James M. Smith.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, February 19, 1862, p. 2

By Telegraph

WASHINGTON, February 17.

Gen. McClellan has received a dispatch fully confirming the capture of Fort Donelson.

ST. LOUIS, February 17.

Dispatches from Gen. Grant to Gen. Halleck announce the surrender of Fort Donelson with 15,000 prisoners, including Johnston [sic], Pillow and Buckner.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 17.

Further official advices from Fort Donelson say Gen. Floyd escaped during the night with 5,000 men, and the rebels in the fort denounced him as a black hearted traitor and coward.

The enemy are known to have had thirty thousand troops, fifteen thousand of whom are our prisoners.  Five thousand escaped, and the balance are reported killed, wounded or otherwise disabled.

Our loss is not stated, but the slaughter in our ranks is mentioned as terribly severe.

Previous to the surrender our forces en route had most all arrived.

Gen. Halleck intended to leave to-day, but orders for preparations were countermanded on receipt of Fort Donelson dispatches.

The steamer John Warner left to-day with Gen. Hamilton, the 25th Mo. Regiment and 3d Mich. Battery, for the Tennessee river.

The greatest activity prevails at the Arsenal here, backing cartridges and loading shell for shipment down the river.

It is reported on high military authority that Gen. Curtis captured most of Price’s men after leaving Springfield, including his Chief Adjutant.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 17.

Fort Donelson surrendered at 9 o’clock yesterday morning to the land force.  The gun boats were present at the time.

An immense amount of war material is among the trophies of the victory.

Floyd skulked away the night before the surrender.

The gun boat Carondolet, Capt. Walker, arrived at Cairo with the news.

A large number of our wounded have been brought to the Paducah and Cairo Hospitals.

This city is wild with excitement and joy.  The news was received at the Union Merchants exchange, creating the most intense enthusiasm.  The Star Spangled Banner, the flag of our Union, and Red White and Blue were sung by all present, after which they adjourned and marched to the army headquarters, 120 to 150 strong, where three rousing cheers were given for Halleck and Foote.  Halleck appeared at the window and thanked the people for their hearty demonstrations and said: “I promised, when I came here, that with your aid I would drive the enemies of our flag from your State.  This has been done and they are virtually out of Kentucky and soon will be out of Tennessee.”

More cheers were given for the Union, the Star Spangled Banner was repeated, and the crowd dispersed.

Judge Holt wept for joy when he heard the news.  Many stores are closed, and the city is being decorated with flags, and evidences of great joy are everywhere manifest.

Gov. Yates, Sec. Hatch and Auditor Dubois, of Ills., left for Ft. Donelson this forenoon, to look after the wounded Illinois troops.

A requisition has been made for all the steamboats in this vicinity, to be held in readiness for the transportation of troops and Government stores.

ST. LOUIS, February 17.

The casualties on the gun-boats at Fort Donelson are as follows: St. Louis, 3 killed, including P. R. Riley of Cincinnati.  Two wounded, among them Lieut. Kendall, slightly.  Louisville, 5 sailors killed; 4 slightly wounded and 2 severely, each having both arms shot away.  Carondelet, 4 killed and 6 badly wounded, including Wm. Hunter.  Pilot, 2 severely.  Pittsburg, 2 wounded.

The force en route for Fort Donelson, had mostly come up and were located on the left.

Gen. Lew Wallace, with the 8th Missouri and 11th Indiana arrived Friday.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 18, 1862, p. 1

Gun Boats Going Up Cumberland River

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 13.

The Democrat learns that Com. Foote, with the gun boats St. Louis, Louisville and Pittsburg, left Cairo for the Cumberland river at 10 o’clock on Tuesday night. The Carondelet was expected to join them at Paducah. In consequence of high water and unusually rapid current on all the rivers, the fleet is not expected to reach Fort Donelson till this morning, and as it was presumed the attack will not be made until there is complete readiness on the part of both land and naval forces, the news of the result cannot be expected before to-night or tomorrow morning.

The Republican of this morning states that Gen. Hitchcock has not yet accepted the appointment of Maj. Gen., but will respond when his commission is received.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 14, 1862, p. 1

The Great Union Victory in Kentucky!

Special to the Chicago Journal.

CAIRO, Feb. 7.

I arrived from Fort Henry on the gun-boat St. Louis this morning. We left the Fort at 9 o’clock last evening.

Our gun-boats took one 128-pounder, one 24 rifled, two 24-pounders, ten 32 pounders, one 24 siege gun, two 12-pounders, one 6-pounder caisson in the fort.

A rifled shell was fired directly into the muzzle of the 128 pounder. Seven guns were disabled. Thirty-one shots struck the Cincinnati, seven struck the St. Louis and fourteen struck the Essex.

The Cincinnati, Carondelet, and St. Louis were within 300 yards of the rebel batteries when the flag was hauled down on the St. Louis.

No one was injured. The St. Louis is as good as new. She fired 126 shots during the engagement. The Cincinnati fired one-hundred and thirty-six shots. The Essex fifty-five shells.

The Essex was disabled by a round shot that entered a forward post, passing through a heavy bulwark into her boiler. She reports 26 killed, wounded and missing. Her pilots, Marsh Ford, of Pittsburg, and Jas. McBride, of Cincinnati, were scalded and died.

Capt. Porter’s clerk, S B. Britton, was killed, a round shot taking off his head. Two were killed on the Cincinnati. The second master, Hewitt, lost a leg, but will probably recover.

Our prisoners are: Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman; Capt. H. L. Jones, of Ky., acting quartermaster; Captain. J. H. Hayden, chief of engineers; Capt. John McLaughlin, Quartermaster; Maj. W. L. McComico; assistant adjutant-general; Capt. Jesse Taylor, commanding garrison; Lieuts. J. Ormsley, Watts, and Fred. J. Weller; Capt. G. R. G. Jones; and sixty privates.

In the evening, three 6-pounders and five rifled field-pieces, that had been taken into the woods, were recovered.

The Lexington and Conestoga went up the river, it was supposed, to destroy the bridge of the Clarksville and Memphis RR., last night.

Gen. Smith, on the west side of the river, had captured the whole camp equipage of two regiments, and, it was believed, a number of prisoners.

At least six hundred shots were fired during the engagement. It was a most terrific cannonade. The guns were well served.

I saw six dead rebels. Their loss could not be ascertained, the dead having been taken away.

The scene inside the rebel intrenchments was terrible. In three rows of their log barracks not one escaped, shot and shell having torn everything to splinters.

On the Cincinnati one was killed, P. Cassidy, of St. Catherines; [8] wounded, one of whom, Wm. Lakeman, will die. Captain Pratt may save his leg.

Our land force on the east side of the river encamped at Fort Henry last night.

Flag Officer Foote, commander of the fleet of Federal gunboats that captured Fort Henry yesterday, was on the Cincinnati, which led the advance.

Gen. Tilghman, in surrendering, said he was “gratified to surrender, if he must, to so gallant an officer as Flag Officer Foote.”

Commodore Foot replied, “You did right to surrender. I should not have given up until you had sunk my boats. Your surrender must be unconditional.”

Here is the complete list of the Essex dead wounded and missing. This casualty to the Essex has cast a gloom over our fleet and some what dampens the enthusiasm of our victory.

KILLED – M. H. Ford, Jas. McBride, pilots; S. B. Britton, Quartermaster’s mate; David Wilson, captain of gun; J. Coffey, Jasper P. Brease, seaman.

OFFICERS WOUNDED – Commander W. D. Porter, Theo. P. Ferry, 3d master.

SEAMEN WOUNDED (badly.) – John Matthews, N. McCarty, Peter White, G. E. Nichols, Samual [sic] Boyer, B. Harrington, W. O’Brien.

SEAMEN WOUNDED (slightly.) – J. Rodgers, Francis Wilson, Harvey Hogan, Thomas Mullen, W. H. Maxley. T. Sullivan, John O’Hara, John Costello, J. J. Phillips, B. Solin.

MISSING – A. D. Waterman, Jno. Larrise, Henry Gulper, Henry Reynolds, J. Bedard.

A detachment from one of the Indiana regiments, taken on board the Essex just before engaging the enemy, to act as sharp shooters, under command of Danl. Trotter, lost some of their men as follows:

Killed – Chris Stocker; L Gantz.

Scalded – Lieut. Trotter, Chas. E. Erb, J. Lump.

Missing – Wm. O’Neal and Benj. Lubec.

Our gun boats did splendid fighting. We can bake no distinctions. The Cincinnati, however, was in the lead, and flying the flag officer’s pennant, the chief mark. Flagg officer Foote and Capt. Stombel crowded her defiantly into the teeth of the enemy’s guns. She got 31 shots, some of them going through and through her. She expended 110 shots.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, February 10, 1862, p. 1

From Fort Pillow

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

OFF FORT PILLOW,
CAIRO, April 19, 1862.

The Enemy’s gunboats have laid behind Criaghead Point for two or three nights past, fearing an attempt on our part to run the blockade.

The firing upon both sides on Thursday, was very heavy. The mortars opens at noon, four being in operation. The enemy replied immediately and briskly from the land batteries, throwing shell clear over us, and nearly across the river to the Tennessee shore.

Their firing was very accurate and from very heavy guns.

The St. Louis, Carondelet and Cairo, stationed as picket stops near the extremity of the point, where obliged to move up the river several times to get out of range.

A skiff attached to a mortar raft was hit by a shell and dashed to pieces. The shells flew thick and all about our gunboats, but none were hit.

On Thursday night the mortars commenced firing at 8 o’clock, the enemy replying immediately, and the fire was kept up until midnight.

A rebel shell exploded directly above the stern awnings of the St. Louis, slightly injuring one man in the wrist, another shell struck the broadside casemate of the Cairo, but did no damage. The firing ceased at midnight.

Yesterday but little was done except a few shots fired by the mortars. In the morning the mortars were shifted form the Arkansas to the Tennessee shore for the greater protection. In their past locality they have been in great danger from bands of rebel scouts prowling through the woods. These scouts have already cut the levee in two or three places, to embarrass the operations of the mortars.

Deserters are being rapidly taken both from the rebel gunboats and from their batteries. They say that nearly all of the crews of the gunboats have been impressed, and so great is the fear of the officers lest they desert that they frequently muster them every hour in the day.

The batteries now mount about forty very heavy guns. They have sixty more guns which they are rapidly putting in position. Within the past few days Bragg has arrived and succeeds Gen. Villipage, hitherto in command. There are about 6,000 troops there. Both troops and guns are from Pensacola.

There are but four gunboats in the river – the Mariposa [sic], Macray [sic], Ponchartrain and Livingston, mounting a total of twenty-four guns. The Ivy has gone to New Orleans with Hollins on board. The Gen. Polk is at Memphis repairing. Capt. Engee is acting Commodore in Hollin’s absence.

An independent company at Memphis has five boats below Fort Pillow, intended to grapple on our fleet and take it down to Dixie.

There are four rams at New Orleans, among them the Manassas. Active preparations are not expected at present.

Commodore Foot suffers severely from his wound received at Donelson.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 22, 1862, p. 1

Bombardment of Fort Pillow

OFF FT. PILLOW, April 19. – Enemy’s gunboats have laid behind Crag Head point for two or three nights past, fearing an attempt on our part to run the blockade. Firing upon both sides on Thursday was very heavy, mortars opened at noon, four being in operation. The enemy replied immediately and briskly from the land batteries, throwing shell clear over us and nearly across the river to the Tennessee shore, their firing was very accurate and from very heavy guns. The St. Louis, Carondolet [sic], and Cairo, stationed as picket ships near the extremity of the point were obliged to move up the river several times to get out of range. A skiff attached to a mortar raft was hit by a shell and dashed to pieces.

The shells flew thick and fast all about the gunboats, but none were hit. Thursday night the mortars commenced firing at 8 o’clock, the enemy replying immediately, and the fire was kept up until midnight. A rebel shell exploded directly above the stern awnings of the St. Louis, slightly injuring one man in the wrist; another shell struck the broadside casemate of the Cairo, but did no damage. The firing ceased at midnight. Yesterday but little was done except a few shots fired by the mortars in the morning. In the afternoon the mortars were shifted from the Arkansas to the Tennessee shore for greater protection; in their past locality they have been in great danger from bands of rebels scouting and prowling through the woods, these scouts have already cut the levee in two or three places to embarrass the operations of the mortars.

Desertions are very rapidly made both from the rebel gunboats and from their batteries. – They say that nearly all the crews of the gunboats have been impressed, and so great is the fear of the officers lest they desert that they frequently muster them every hour in the day. The batteries now muster about 40 guns very heavy. They have 60 more guns which they are rapidly putting in position.

Within the past few days Bragg has arrived and succeeds Gen. Villthige [sic], hitherto in command.

There are about 6,000 troops there. Both troops and guns are from Pensacola. There are but four gunboats in the river – the Malipa, [Macrov], Ponchartrain [sic] and Livingston, mounting a total of twenty four guns.

The Ivey has gone to New Orleans with Hollins on board. The Gen. Polk is at Memphis repairing. Capt. [Sug c] is Acting Commodore in Hollins’s absence.

An independent company at Memphis has five boats below Pillow intended to grapple into our fleet and take it down to Dixie.

There are four rams at New Orleans – among them the Manassas.

Com. Foote suffers severely from his wound received at Donelson.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 4

Special Dispatch in the Chicago Tribune

Special Dispatch in the Chicago Tribune

Cairo, April 11, 1862

Gov. Yates arrived here this morning from Springfield, en route for Tennessee, to look after the wounded of the Illinois regiments. He was welcomed with a salute from Cairo.

The Ohio Belle came in this morning with an invoice of rebel prisoners from Island No. 10. The Ohio Bell is a secesh boat captured at the Island, and is the craft which, upon the day of the general bombardment, came around the point with rebel officers on board, reconnoitering, and was fired at by the Benton.

Cairo is filled with physician, nurses and civilians from Chicago, Springfield, Indiana and Iowa, all desirous of going up the Tennessee. The civilians will all be disappointed, as Gen. Halleck, before his departure yesterday, issued stringent orders against granting passes. The 17th Wisconsin regiment, a Chicago battery, and Coggswell’s Iowa battery arrived this morning from Benton Barracks, St. Louis.

Affairs are quiet at Island No. 10. The prisoners are rapidly being sent off. The Benton, St. Louis and Mound City are at the Island, and the Carondelet and Pittsburg at Mound City.

A large number of wounded were brought down from Pittsburg this morning to the Mound City Hospital.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, April 17, 1862