Feb. 6, 1862

Feb. 6, 1862: BATTLE OF FT. HENRY, Tennessee - Flag Officer Foote, with seven gunboats of the US Navy river fleet, at 11:00 AM moves upstream and comes within the range of Ft. Henry, on the east bank of the Tennessee River, and opens fire on the Confederate fort. Ft. Henry is poorly located, and part of its ramparts and much of its parade ground is under water, with the river running high due to an early winter thaw, and unseasonably warm weather. Gen. Tilghman, the Confederate commander, sends most of his garrison marching to Ft. Donelson twelve miles away on the Cumberland River, but retains about 70 men of the 1^st Tennessee to work the guns that are not submerged. Foote’s flagship, the USS Cincinnati, opens fire, followed by the Essex, the St. Louis, and the Carondelet; the second line was formed by the Tyler, Conestoga, and Lexington. Capt. Jesse Taylor, of the 1^st Tennessee, describes the drama of the USN flotilla’s approach: "When they were out of cover of the island the gun-boats opened fire, and as they advanced they increased the rapidity of their fire, until as they swung into the main channel above the island they showed one broad and leaping sheet of flame."

The Rebel gunners have the range at first, and are accurate, putting a shot in the Essex’s boiler, exploding it and killing several of its crew and injuring more. The Essex, disabled, drops downstream. The Cincinnati sustains over 30 hits. The Yankee naval gunners do not have their range, at first, and are chastised by Foote, who yells at them that each shell costs the government over $20.00, and that they should not be so wasteful. Yankee shells disable two of the fort’s guns, and two other guns burst their breach and explode, killing or wounding most of their crews. One by one, three more Rebel guns are disabled, and Gen. Tilghman is in his shirtsleeves, helping to serve at one of the remaining cannons. Without orders, the Rebels spike their one last useful gun. At this point (about 1:50 PM), Tilghman finally asks for surrender terms, and he and his men are taken prisoner by Foote, and sailors land to occupy the part of the fort that is not underwater. Grant’s troops–Gen. C.F. Smith’s division on the west bank, and Gen. John McClernand’s division on the east bank–have also begun the march to the fort at 11:00 AM, but it takes some hours for them to arrive. McClernand’s men are delayed by the muddy roads, and finally arrive in time to see the fort surrender. Union Victory.

Losses: U.S. 11 killed 31 wounded

C.S. 15 killed 20 wounded 94 captured

Foote's flotilla shelling Ft. Henry

—On this date, coincidentally, Gen. Bushrod Johnson arrives at Ft. Donelson with reinforcements and takes command.

—On this date, the Richmond Daily Dispatch posts an article from the Charleston Mercury, perhaps the most pro-secession newspaper in the South, citing Samuel Johnson, the great English man of letters, and comparing Yankees with ancient Romans: "Dr. Johnson observed, of the ancient Romans, that, ‘When poor, they robbed others, and when rich, themselves.’ What was true of the Romans, is about to be realized of our Yankee neighbors. When poor, they robbed us. From being the most sterile and inhospitable portion of the United States, they became the wealthiest and most prosperous. But there is this difference between the Yankee and the Roman: The Roman was no hypocrite. With his sword in hand, he said, "‘sic volo, sic jubco [jubeo?].’ He was a brave, frank robber; but our Yankee brethren began their robbery with lies — they continued it with lies, and they have ended it with lies." –Charleston Mercury.