Some important reconnoissances were made in western Kentucky at this time, extending even to the Tennessee line. The country around Fort Columbus was fully explored, the length and condition of the roads ascertained, the number of bridges and their strength, the depth of the streams without bridges, and the sentiments of the inhabitants. Fort Henry was twice approached by the gunboat Lexington, and its strength estimated. These reconnoissances were made by forces from the Department of Missouri, then under the command of Maj.-Gen. Halleck. Early in January troops began to concentrate at Cairo, Paducah, and Fort Jefferson from different quarters. To such an extent had this progressed that, in the public mind, it was supposed that a great movement was on foot.

The plan of the campaign in the West now began to be manifest. At the time when Gen. Buell was ordered to the command of the department of the Ohio, the views of the Government were favorable to an expedition to the Cumberland Gap and into east Tennessee, for the purpose of seizing the Virginia and east Tennessee line of railroad and affording aid to the loyal citizens. The Confederate line of defence had now become so fully developed, with its strong positions of Bowling Green and Columbus, that the propriety of an expedition by the forces in Kentucky into east Tennessee became a question for military investigation. The mountainous character of the country through which the Gap had to be reached, the roughness of the roads, rendering the conveyance of artillery extremely difficult and slow, and subjecting an army at every interval to formidable resistance, were discouraging obstacles to an advance in that direction.

On the other hand, the movement of troops from Cairo up the Cumberland river by transports and gunboats against Nashville, so as to reach the rear of the Confederate army under Gen. Buckner, presented an easy manner of breaking the enemy's line and compelling the evacuation of Kentucky. Its successful achievement might be attended with the capture of the Confederate force at Bowling Green. These views finally prevailed and measures were taken to carry them into execution. The original plan of the western campaign had been for a military and naval expedition to proceed from St. Louis and Cairo down the Mississippi river. For this purpose the gunboats were originally constructed. They were found to be of sufficiently light draft to navigate the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and the cooperation of the western department under Gen. Halleck was also secured. Indeed the Mississippi river expedition was thus diverted at the outset, and Gen. Halleck, by order of the President, assumed the entire commahd After a union of these two armies, they were expected to control the whole country to New Orleans.

The reconnoissance of Fort Henry had con

vinced Com. Foote, in command of the western fleet of gunboats, that it could be easily reduced by his gunboats. At an early day he applied to Gen. Halleck for permission to attack the fort. These views undoubtedly had an important influence on the plan of the western campaign.

The States which contributed chiefly to the force organized by Gen. Buell in Kentucky were: Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, as follows: Ohio, thirty regiments of infantry, two and half regiments of cavalry, and eight batteries of artillery; Indiana, twentyseven regiments of infantry, one and half regiments of cavalry, and five batteries of artillery; Illinois, three regiments of infantry; Kentucky, twenty-four regiments of infantry, four regiment, of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery; Pennsylvania, three regiments of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, one battery of artillery; Michigan, three regiments of infantry, one battery of artillery; Wisconsin, three regiments of infantry; Minnesota, two regiments of infantry, and one battery of artillery; Tennessee, two regiments of infantry. Besides these there were of regulars, three regiments of infantry, and three batteries of artillery. Thus making one hundred and two regiments of infantry, ten regiments of cavalry, and twenty-one batteries of artillery; which might be summed up as follows: infantry 100,000, cavalry 11,000, artillerists 3,000; total 114,000 men, and 126 pieces of artillery. This army was divided into four grand divisions under the command of Gens. Alexander McDowell McCook, Geo. H. Thomas, Ormsby M. Mitchell, Thos. L. Crittenden. Among the brigade commanders, of whom there were twenty, were the following officers: Ebenezer Dumont, Albin Schopff, Thos. J. Wood, Wm. Nelson, Richard W. Johnson, Jerre T. Boyle, Jas. S. Negley, Wm. T. Ward.

The force organized by Gen. Halleck, with his headquarters at St. Louis, was concentrated at that place and Cairo and Paducah, excepting that portion which was in the field in the State of Missouri. It was somewhat less in numbers than the army of Gen. Buell. For operations in Kentucky and Tennessee it was placed under the command of Gen. Grant. It was drawn chiefly from the States adjacent to Missouri.

The naval force prepared to cooperate with the military consisted of twelve gunboats carrying an armament in all of one hundred and twenty-six guns. None of these guns were less than 32-pounders, some were 42-pounders, and also 9 and 10-inch naval columbiads. In addition, each boat carried a rifled Dahlgren 12-pounder boat howitzer on the upper deck. Several of the larger guns on each boat were rifled.

The boats were built very wide, in proportion to their length, giving them almost the same steadiness in action that a stationary land battery would possess. They were constructed

another brigade, with one regiment (the 4th Illinois), and four independent companies of cavalry, and four batteries of artillery, under Gen. McClernand. This division was ordered to move across the country to a point on the road leading from the fort to the town of Dover, on the Cumberland river, for the purpose of preventing reenforcements to the enemy and cutting of his retreat. The second division consisted of the 7th, 9th, 12th, 28th, and 41st Illinois regiments, the 11th Indiana, 7th and 12th Iowa, 8th and 13th Missouri, with artillery and cavalry, under Gen. Smith. About ten o'clock the land force commenced the march over the hilltops, and the gunboats began to move under steam toward the fort. Passing up the narrow passage to the westward of the island below the fort, they were protected from its guns until within a mile, and emerged in line of battle, the St. Louis, Lieut. Paulding, on the left, next the Carondolet, Commander Walke, next the flag ship Cincinnati, Commander Stembel, and next upon the right the Essex, Commander Porter. The other boats acted as a reserve. Firing upon both sides soon commenced, but the gunboats continued to approach until within six hundred yards of the Confederate batteries. The action lasted for one hour and a quarter, when the flag on the fort was hauled down. Meantime the high water and muddy roads prevented the arrival of the land forces under Gen. Grant, and the Confederate troops in the fort retired, and escaped. Commodore Foote, commanding the naval portion of the expedition, says: "The garrison, I think, must have commenced their retreat last night, or at an early hour this morning. Had I not felt it an imperative necessity to attack Fort Henry to-day, I should have made the investment complete and delayed until to-morrow, so as to secure the garrison. I do not now believe, however, the result would have been any more satisfactory."

This Confederate force was supposed to number between four and five thousand. The fort was armed with twenty guns, 32 and 34-pounders, including one 10-inch Columbiad. Before the close of the action a shot entered the boiler of the Essex, which resulted in wounding and scalding twenty-nine officers and men. Eightythree prisoners were taken, among whom was Brig. Gen. Tilghman, and a large amount of stores, and everything belonging to the retiring force. On the gunboats two were killed and nine wounded in the action, and on the part of the Confederates five killed and ten wounded.

The result of this action occasioned great joy in the Northern States. The Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, sent the following despatch to Com. Foote:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, February 9, 1862. Your despatch announcing the capture of Fort Henry, by the squadron which you command, has given the highest gratification to the President, to Congress, and the country. It was received and read in both

Houses of Congress in open session. The country appreciates your gallant deeds, and this depart ment desires to convey to you and your brave associates its profound thanks for the service you have rendered. GIDEON WELLES.

Secretary of the Navy. Flag Officer A. H. FOOTE, U.S. N., commanding the United States naval forces, Cairo, Ill.

By the possession of Fort Henry the Federal forces were in the rear of Columbus on the Mississippi, and within ten miles of the bridge by which the railroad connection was made between Columbus and Bowling Green. There was now no obstacle to the passage of the gunboats to the sources of the Tennessee river in northern Alabama.

Immediately after the surrender, Commander Phelps was ordered to proceed with the gunboats Conestoga, Tyler, and Lexington, up the river to the railroad bridge, and to destroy so much as would prevent its use by the enemy, and thence proceed as far up the river as the stage of water would permit, and capture the gunboats and other vessels which might be use ful to the enemy.

After dark, on the same day, the expedition arrived at the bridge for the railroad crossing about twenty-five miles above Fort Henry, where considerable camp equipage was destroyed. Thence the expedition proceeded as far up the river as Florence in Alabama, at the foot of the Muscle shoals. Here the enemy burnt six of their steamers and two were captured, beside a half complete gunboat and considerable lumber. Two hundred stands of arms, a quantity of stores and clothing were also seized, and the encampment of a regiment destroyed. This sudden appearance of the Federal gunboats was like an unexpected apparition to the inhabitants, and loyal and friendly feelings were manifested on every side.

The next step of Com. Foote was to return to Cairo to prepare the mortar boats for operations against Fort Donelson. He desired a delay of a few days to complete them, believing that thereby the garrison, however extensive, could be shelled out without much loss of life to the Federal force. But Gen. Halleck regarded an immediate attack as a military necessity, and it was made although the fleet was reduced to a crippled state, and the loss of life was considerable. There is no question of the correctness of Gen. Halleck's views relative to the attack; the deficiency resulted from a degree of precipitation in the entire movement after the issue of the President's proclamation.

At this time Gen. Crittenden, in command of the right wing of Gen. Buell's army, having advanced to the left bank of Green river near South Carrollton and manoeuvred in front of the Confederate (Gen. Buckner's) force, suddenly retreated to Calhoun on Green river. Steamers were there awaiting him, on which his force was embarked and taken down the Green river to the Ohio, down the Ohio, and

Illinois Infantry.-7th, Col. John Cook, acting brigadier-general; Lieut.-Col. Andrew J. Babcock; 8th, Col. Richard J. Oglesby, acting brigadier-general; Lieut.-Col., Frank L. Rhodes; 9th, Col. Augustus Marsey; 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. C. Carroll Marsh; 22d, Col. Henry Dougherty (invalid); Lieut.-Col. H. E. Hart; 27th, Col. Napoleon B. Buford; 28th, Col. Amory K. Johnson; 29th, Col. James S. Riordan; 30th, Col. Philip B. Fouke, absent; Lieut.-Col. E. B. 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.-Col., Thomas G. Allen; 50th, Col. Moses M. Bane; 52d, Lieut.-Col. John S. Wilcox; 55th, Col. David Stuart; 57th, Col. S. D. Baldwin.

Illinois Artillery.-2d regiment, Col. Silas Noble; 3d regiment, Col. Eugene A. Carr; 4th regiment, Col. T. Lyle Dickey; 7th regiment, Col. William 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.-3d Iowa, Col. N. G. Williams; 7th Iowa, Col. John G. Lauman; 11th low, Col. Abraham F. Hare; 12th Iowa, Col. Jackson J. Wood; 13th Iowa, Col. Marcellus M. Crocker; 14th Iowa, Col. William T. Shaw; 8th Missouri, Col. Morgan M. Smith; 13th Missouri, Col. Crafts J. Wright; 1st Missouri Artillery, Major Cavender; 11th Indiana, Col. George F. McGinniss; 23d Indiana, Col. Wm. L. Sanderson; 48th Indiana, Col. Norman Eddy; 52d Indiana, Col. James M. Smith. Gen. Lewis Wallace commanded a third division, in which were the following regiments who were engaged in the battle at Donelson: 28th Kentucky, Col. James L. Shackelford; 31st Indiana, Maj. Fred. Arn; 44th Indiana, Col. Hugh B. Reed; 17th Kentucky, Col. John McHenry.

The force of Gen. Grant had grown within a few days into almost gigantic proportions. Its numbers have been variously stated. After the surrender of Donelson, Gen. Halleck sent the following despatch to Gen. Hunter:

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF ST. Louts, Fed'y 19. To Maj. Gen. D. Hunter, Commanding

Department of Kansas at Fort Leavenworth: To you more than any other man out of this depart ment, are we indebted for our success at Fort Donel

plied to you. You responded nobly, by placing you forces at my disposal.

most heartfelt thanks. This enabled us to win the victory. Receive my

(Signed) H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. the morning of Feb. 14: A respectable authority wrote as follows, on

At eleven o'clock last night we arrived within two miles of the fort. Here we found the Carondelet at anchor. She had been engaging the enemy during the afternoon, at a distance of a mile, had fired about two hundred shots, and retired without receiving any dam age. By six o'clock this morning, sixteen transports had arrived from St. Louis, Cairo and Cincinnati, carrying in all about 10,000 troops, cavalry, artillery and The sight of such strong reenforcements encouraged infantry. The debarkation occupied about four hours. all our men greatly. Knowing already that the fort was surrounded by Gen. Grant's command-estimated at 30,000-we felt that such a large addition to his numbers would make assurance doubly sure.

Senator Trumbull thus stated, in the Senate of the United States, his view of the force engaged: "I think there is a disposition to overestimate the number of men upon both sides in the field. We have seen a statement within a few days going the rounds of the papers, that Fort Donelson was invested by an army of fifty thousand men; I have seen it in a number of papers; but when we come to see what regi ments were there, instead of being fifty thonsand, there were not thirty thousand men. A gentleman direct from Cairo, well acquainted i with all the troops engaged in that gallant affair, informs me that the number of our troops was less than twenty-eight thousand."

The Confederate regiments in the fort were reported as follows:

Regiments.-Tennessee, 11; Mississippi, 8; Texas, 1; Kentucky, 2; Arkansas, 1; Virginia, 4; Alabama, 1.

Cavalry Battalions.-Alabama, 1; Tennessee, 1; Mississippi, 1.

Op

The location of the fort was on a fine slope, one hundred and fifty feet high, on a slight bend on the west side of the Cumberland river. At this point the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, both running north, approach within about twelve miles of each other. posite on the Tennessee is situated Fort Henry. There were two batteries at Fort Donelson-the first about twenty-five feet above the water, consisting of nine guns, eight 32's and one 10-inch; the second having one rifled 32-pounder and two 32-pound carronades, located sixty feet higher up. The main fort was in the rear of these batteries, occupying a high range cloven by a deep gorge opening toward the south. The outworks consisted in the main of rifle pits. Along the front of the extension line, the trees had been felled and the brush cut and bent over breast high, making a wide abatis very difficult to pass through. The Confederate camp was behind the hill and beyond the reach of shot and shell from the gunboats.

At three o'clock on the afternoon of Feb. 14, Com. Foote began the conflict with four