ST. LOUIS "DEMOCRAT" ACCOUNT. CAIRO, February 7, 1862. Three of the gunboats, the Cincinnati, the Essex and the St. Louis, having returned from the capture of Fort Henry, and having obtained all the particulars from officers and men, I hasten to write you the details which I was unable to transmit by telegraph.

HOW THE ATTACK WAS CONDUCTED.

The attack was begun yesterday noon, the first gun fired from the Federal fleet, just after twelve o'clock. Only four of the gunboats were engaged -the Cincinnati, (the flag-ship,) the Essex, the Carondelet, and the St. Louis. These moving up towards the Fort abreast the Conestoga, Tyler and Lexington remaining behind, but within easy hail. The order of the approach was, the Essex on the right; next to her the Cincinnati, then the St. Louis, and the Carondelet on the left. This disposition of the boats commends itself at once as an admirable stroke of Commodore Foote's undoubted naval genius. The object was to bring to bear the best guns of the fleet, and, at the same time, to prevent the exposure of the broadside of any of the boats to any of the enemy's guns. Had there been such exposure, it is easy to imagine the destruction and probable failure which would have occurred, for the boats are extremely vulnerable in their after-parts.

This order of approach having been assumed at the beginning, was preserved throughout the engagement, the fire opening at the distance of about one mile, and continuing with terrible effect until the surrender, when the fleet was not more than five or six hundred yards from the Fort.

Commodore Foote, it seems, pursued the same tactics that rendered him so famous in his attack upon the China forts a few years since, the English | firing at a long distance and suffering severely, while he ran immediately under the guns of the Chinamen, and poured such a hot and effective fire into their wooden walls, that they inflicted but little damage to the boats, and were quickly and completely disabled and beaten.

Gen. Tilghman, the rebel commander of Fort Henry, upon his capture, promptly testified to the splendid manner in which the attack was conducted, saying that when he discovered the purpose of the Commodore, his chief object was to disable the flag-ship, and by getting the flag-officer out of the way, to disconcert the other boats, and enable him to pursue his firing with better effect. This accounts for the hearty manner in which his compliments were paid to the Cincinnati, she having received thirty-one shots out of about fifty, of which the whole fleet bear the marks. The Commodore complimented Gen. Tilghman upon his gallant defence of the Fort, at the same time assuring him that he would have pursued the purpose of his attack, even to the landing of his boat at the very bank under the Fort, and that the Cincinnati, had the fight continued, should have kept head on until she was sunk. Another reason given by the rebel general for

the concentration of fire upon the flag-ship, was the fact that she seemed to have got a better range than any of the other boats, and that her fire, just before the surrender, was most terrific. The Cincinnati bears many honorable scars. Several shots have left their marks upon her ironplated sides, showing in each case a shallow and raking dent. One of her largest guns was struck on the right side of its muzzle, the shot chipping out a piece of the metal as large as a man's two hands, and actually splitting the muzzle eighteen inches down from the mouth. This will disable the gun entirely. Another gun, a thirty-twopounder, I believe, bears a deep dent on its side, about eighteen inches from the mouth. Just behind the forward port gun, and where the sides of the boat are not covered with iron, several shots have gone entirely through the bulwarks. One of these completely decapitated one of the gunners; another passed through the bulwarks, scattering the splinters right and left, glancing along the timbers over the machinery, and passing into the wheel, but not doing much damage. The most terrible effect of the enemy's fire upon the Cincinnati, is seen on her upper works, the deck seeming to have been swept with the destructive missiles, the smoke-stacks pierced in several places, and the small boats riddled and almost destroyed. One large shot struck the iron-plated pilot-house, leaving an ugly mark, but doing no damage. The concussion was violent, and is described by the pilots as surprising the Commodore and them into a very decided grunt. But one man was killed outright on the Cincinnati. few were wounded with splinters, whose name I have sent you. Capt. Pratt was badly hurt by a spent ball striking his leg. The men describe the crash of the balls through the timbers of the vessel as a terrible sound, but none of them flinched, say their officers, but the party manning the gun at which one of their number was beheaded. At the ghastly sight they scattered and fell back for a moment, but immediately rallied and stood their ground. The Cincinnati came into port with the large rebel flag flying under the Stars and Stripes, her appearance being greeted with many cheers and congratulations among the persons on the Cairo levee.

A

The Essex, which has always seemed an unfortunate boat, notwithstanding the pains taken with her and the admirable naval and fighting qualities of her commander, Capt. W. D. Porter, and his manly crew, was very unlucky in this engage. ment. For half an hour she bore her part in the contest most gallantly, her magnificent armament playing with fearful effect upon the Fort, when she received a most fearful shot immediately over the forward port-gun. Capt. Porter, at the moment was peering out the port-hole, watching the effect of his firing, and a young man named Brittain, son of the celebrated Dr. Brittain, of New York City, was standing by his side, his hand on the Captain's shoulder. The ball divided his head, completely carrying away its crown, and scattering his brains upon the person of a paymaster who was standing by his side. This terrible mes

senger of death flew along the ship, through the bulkheads which were to protect the machinery of the boat, and crashed into the middle boiler. Immediately, with a rushing sound, the scalding steam filled every part of the vessel. The two pilots, both well known in St. Louis, who were standing nobly at their work, so absorbed, as it seemed, in their duties, that they had neglected to close the trap-door which leads from below to their house, were enveloped by the blistering vapor and almost immediately scalded to death. They made a desperate struggle to get out of the pilot-house, running their arms through the lookout holes, which were not large enough to pass their bodies, and vainly striving to get their heads through for fresh air. The tars who had stood so gallantly to their guns, were appalled at this new and terrible enemy, and many of them were seen to throw themselves out of the port-holes into the river. Capt. Porter was badly scalded on the face and hands. At this writing, however, his wounds are said not to be so bad as was first anticipated. The large number of wounded and missing by this untoward event, I have already sent you. At this disaster the Essex was disabled, and began to fall back, which Commodore Foote observing, was for the moment perplexed. He thought first of falling back with her, and by fastening to her, to bring her again into line, but the second thought decided him to let her go; and pressing more eagerly forward with the Cincinnati, urged on by the plain necessity of close and desperate fighting, bore down upon the Fort, with a fiercer front than ever, hurling his messengers of death and destruction so rapidly upon the enemy, that all resistance was useless, and they were compelled to capitulate.

The St. Louis and Carondelet did splendid work, but did not seem to receive so much attention from the enemy. They are marked in several places, but did not lose a man.

Commodore Foote informs me that but eleven of the guns of the four boats were used, and the rebel officers represent that, out of the seventeen guns with which the Fort was armed, but eleven were brought to bear upon the boats-so that no advantage can be claimed by either side. The guns of the Fort were all of heavy calibre, the largest being a one hundred and twenty-eightpounder a beautifully finished piece from the Tredegar Works at Richmond. They had one rifled cannon, a thirty-two-pounder, which burst during the engagement, and became useless. Their guns were most skilfully handled, and all our officers give them the credit of a most gallant and determined defence of their fort.

The rebels report but five killed and eight or ten wounded. The number of prisoners is now stated to be fifty-four. The disposition of Gen. Tilghman and staff I have already sent you. They will probably be sent to this place to-day

or to-morrow.

When the flag of the Fort was lowered, it was not quite taken out of sight of the boats, and Commodore Foote did not know but some trick was about to be played upon him, so he remained

quiet for a few minutes, waiting further demonstrations. Soon a small white yawl put out from the Fort, containing two officers, and on approaching the Cincinnati was hailed by Master Hoel. The officers said they wanted a conference with the Flag-Officer, which was at once granted them. One of our boats then put out for the Fort, containing Captain Stembel of the Cincinnati, and Captain Phelps of the Conestoga, which boat had now come up to the scene of the action. Entering the Fort, they immediately reared the American flag and brought off the rebel flag. Gen. Tilghman and staff then came on board the Cincinnati, and asked to be shown to Commodore Foote. At the interview, the General desired to know the terms of the surrender, to which the Commodore replied: "An unconditional surrender." And so it was accepted.

The amount of army plunder which fell into our hands is represented as very large, consisting of cannon, ammunition, tents, baggage, and muskets.

The rebel infantry forces encamped outside of the Fort, whose numbers are variously estimated from three to ten thousand, quit their position before and during the fight, getting off in such a hurry that much valuable property was left.

General Grant, with an advance guard, took possession of the Fort about an hour after the surrender, Commodore Foote turning every thing over to him. Whether Gen. Grant pursued the enemy that night or the next day, I cannot positively learn. The gunboats Tyler, Conestoga, and Lexington passed up the river toward the railroad bridge, and have not been heard from at this writing. The steamer Golden State is just in from Paducah, and brings no later news than that brought by the gunboats, though a boat was hourly expected down the Tennessee.

The general comment on the fight at this place is marked by much complaint of General Grant, though how justly or unjustly such complaint may be made cannot now be ascertained. It is known that Commodore Foote desired a brigade of infantry to go along the bank of the river with his boats, but this was not granted. Gen. Grant, it is thought, is much to blame for his inadequate transportation. He might have had boats enough to have landed all his force at once, and to have surrounded the enemy instantly. As it is, they have all escaped but those left in the Fort to man the guns. It is hoped that the rebel army has been vigorously pursued.

Yours,

RESULTS OF THE VICTORY.

G. W. F.

CAIRO, Friday Night, Feb. 7, 1862. The reduction of Fort Henry and the capture of General Tilghman, staff and men, though they may be justly regarded as comprising one of the most brilliant feats of the war, are not more gratifying in themselves than important in their results. It is not very difficult to imagine the effect which the affair will have upon the rebel leaders generally, and upon the camp at Columbus

particularly. At that impregnable point, as they have been pleased to regard it, they will now have a lively and rather disturbing appreciation of the effectiveness of the gunboat service of the West. Commodore Foote has shown what it is in his power to do with but four of his boats, and they bringing to bear but eleven of their guns. Fort Henry was, perhaps, as strong an earthwork as any yet constructed by the rebels. It was mounted with seventeen heavy guns, eleven of which, equal in calibre to those on the gunboats, were taxed to their utmost in defence of the Fort, but yet, in the wonderfully short space of one hour and twenty minutes, were entirely silenced and surrendered into the hands of Commodore Foote. These guns, too, were mounted by some of the finest artillerists of the South, yet were insufficient.

With this instructive lesson before their eyes, it would seem reasonable to conclude that not even in Columbus will the rebels venture to dispute the palm with Commodore Foote, when in command of his full fleet of twelve boats and their full armaments. If they make the fight, we have a reasonable assurance that that place will meet the same destruction that was so summarily visited upon Fort Henry.

In this connection, we may allude to a significant bit of information: that the whole gunboat fleet is to be put in complete readiness at once, each boat in the late action to repair as well as she can until the order to move is given, which | may be issued at any moment.

Another important result of the Fort Henry victory is the opening of Tennessee to the army under Gen. Grant, and the seizure and perhaps the destruction of the Nashville and Memphis Railroad, thus severing the connection between Bowling Green and Columbus, and threatening the rear of both these important points. Gen. Grant's division, including the brigade under Gen. Wallace, which we take for granted has ere this joined him, will number at least twenty thousand men. To this, we learn, additions of a large character will be rapidly made. A regiment passed up to-day on the Empress. One or two more are coming down the Central Railroad tonight, and will be forwarded immediately. The railroads in Illinois, we hear, have been appropriated for twelve days for the transportation of troops. The Quartermaster's department here is very much hurried, while activity and hopefulness are noticed in all army circles.

All this, I think, is the natural and important result growing out of the reduction of Fort Henry, and we may justly regard it as the beginning of a development which has for its speedy maturity either the capture of Bowling Green and Colum

with the rebel prisoners on board, and satisfactory information from Gen. Wallace's movements. Yours, etc., G. W. F.

GENERAL TILGHMAN'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
FORT HENRY, February 9, 1862.

Col. W. W. Mackall, A. A. General, C. S. A.,
Bowling Green :

SIR: Through the courtesy of Brig.-Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding Federal forces, I am permitted to communicate with you in relation to the result of the action between the Fort under my command at this place, and the Federal gunboats, on yesterday. At eleven o'clock and forty minutes on yesterday morning, the enemy engaged the Fort with seven gunboats, mounting fifty-four guns. I promptly returned their fire with the eleven guns from Fort Henry bearing on the river. The action was maintained with great bravery by the force under my command until ten minutes before two P.M.; at which time I had but four guns fit for service. At five minutes before two, finding it impossible to maintain the Fort, and wishing to spare the lives of the gallant men under my command, and on consultation with my officers, I surrendered the Fort. Our casualties are small. The effect of our shot was severely felt by the enemy, whose superior and overwhelming force alone gave them the advantage.

The surrender of Fort Henry involves that of Capt. Taylor, Lieut. Watts, Lieut. Weller, and one other officer of artillery; Capts. Hayden and Miller, of the engineers; Captains H. L. Jones and McLaughlin, Quartermaster's Department; A. A. General McConnico, and myself, with some fifty privates and twenty sick, together with all the munitions of war in and about the Fort.

I communicate this result with deep regret, but feel that I performed my whole duty in the defence of my post.

I take occasion to bear testimony to the gallantry of the officers and men under my command. They maintained their position with consummate bravery, as long as there was any hope of success. I also take great pleasure in acknowledging the courtesies and consideration shown by Brig.-Gen. U. S. Grant and Commander Foote, and the officers under their command. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, Your obedient servant,

LLOYD TILGIIMAN, Brigadier-General, C. S. A.

Doc. 29.

too late for a cure.

We are looking for important news from above to-night. A boat may get down before midnight

SANDY HOOK, MD., February 8, 1862. ABOUT Seven yesterday morning a flag of truce was displayed in a landing-arch in the railroad wall, just above the recent Harper's Ferry bridge, where an angular flight of steps led from the town side of the stone embankment, under the rail