THE CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY: Full Details from Our Special Correspondent; The Land and Naval Forces in the Expedition (2/12/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 2/12/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

FORT HENRY, Friday, Feb. 7, 1862.

For several days, at Paducah, outsiders suspected that something was on foot, from the fact that the utmost vigilance was exercised at the headquarters of the Provost-Marshal, in issuing passes, and on Sunday and Monday no person was allowed to pass in or out of the lines. Suspicion grew into almost certainty when, Sunday night, half a dozen gunboat steamed leisurely into port and brought their black forms to anchor opposite the levee, in the centre of the river.

Monday afternoon, steamers commenced coming up from Cairo, laden with troops and stores, and by night the whole landing in front of the town was crowded with the arrivals. The fleet which came up brought Gen. GRANT and Staff, and the First Division, under command of Brig.-Gen. MCCLERNAND. The steamers were under command of Commodore G.W. GRAHAM, and consisted of the following boats: City of Memphis, Iatan, D.A. January, Chancellor, Alp, "W.H.B.," New Uncle Sam, Rob Roy, Alex. Scott, Minnehaha, Illinois, Keystone, Emerald and Fanny Bullett.

The First Division, on these boats, was made up of the two brigades, composed as follows, and commanded by Gen. JOHN A. MCCLERNAND:

FIRST BRIGADE, COL. OGLESBY, COMMANDING.

Seventh Illinois, Col. COOK.
Eighth Illinois, Lieut.-Col. RHOADES.
Eighteenth Illinois, Lieut.-Col. LAWLER.
Twenty-ninth Illinois, Col. REARDON.
Thirtieth Illinois, Lieut.-Col. DENNIS.
Thirty-first Illinois, Col. JOHN A. LOGAN.
SWARTZ's and DRESSER'S Batteries.
STEWART's, DOLLINS, O. HARNETT's and CARMICHAEL's Cavalry.
SECOND BRIGADE, COL. W.H.L. WALLACE, COMMANDING.
Eleventh Illinois, Lieut.-Col. HART.
Twentieth Illinois, Col. MARSH.
Forty-fifth Illinois, Col. SMITH.
Forty-eighth Illinois, Col. HARNEY.
TAYLOR's and MCALLISTER's Batteries -- in the latter, four siege guns.
Fourth Illinois Cavalry, Col. KELLOGG.
Seventh Illinois Cavalry, Col. DICKEY.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4037384/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Capture of Fort Henry: Full Details from Our Special Correspondent – 2-4
Important from Tennessee: A Great Battle Impending at Fort Donelson – 4
The Burnside Expedition: The First Blow Struck by the Combined Land and Naval Forces – 4, 7-9
The Scene of Operations on the North Carolina Coast – 5
Topography of the North Carlina Coast – 6
Gen. Halleck’s Department: Our Paducah Correspondence – 9-10
News from Washington: The Treasury Note Bill to be Acted Upon in the Senate To-Day – 10-11
“In the Rear” – 11-12
Editorial: Burnside at Roanoke Island-Norfolk Threatened – 12
Editorial: The Case of Gen. Stone-Telegraphic Censorship – 12
Editorial: Arrest of the Herald Spy – 12-13
Editorial: Success Followed Up – 13
Editorial: Prospects of Intervention – 13
Col. Garfield’s Division – 13

[rdl6989]

Early in the campaign the weather was unseasonably warm so many of the Union troops dropped their blankets and coats en route from ft. Henry to ft. Donelson. This was a very bad idea.

[rdl6989]

That didn’t format the way I wanted, but here’s the link to where I found it

https://www.mycivilwar.com/battles/620206.html

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I’ve got some Civil War atlases that I can post from. I will do so as soon as I get a chance.