Unknown, February 10, 1802

GENERAL:

Following is the report of the operations of the First Division of the advance forces, under my command, from the date of their embarkation at Cairo, on the 2d instant, to the date of their marching from Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, to this place:

The division consisted of the First and Second Brigades of the Army of the District of Cairo, of which you were chief.

The First Brigade, commanded by Col. R. J. Oglesby, acting as brigadier, was composed of the Eighth, Lieut. Col. F. L. Rhoads; Eighteenth, Col. M. K. Lawler; Twenty-ninth, Col. James S. Rearden ; Thirtieth, Lieut. Col. E. S. Dennis, and Thirty-first Regiments, Col. John A. Logan; Stewart’s, Dollins’, O’Harnett’s, and Carmichael’s cavalry companies; Schwartz’s battery, Lieut. G. C. Gumbart, commanding, and Dresser’s battery of James rifled pieces.

The Second Brigade, commanded by Col. W. H. L. Wallace, was eom- –

posed of the Eleventh, Lieut. Col. T. E. G. Ransom; Twentieth, Col. €. C. Marsh; Forty-tifth, Lieut. Col. J. A. Maltby, and Forty- eighth Regiments, Col. I. N. Haynie; Fourth Cavalry, Ool. T. Lyle Dickey, and Taylor’s and McAllister’s batteries; all Illinois volunteers, except a few men in Schwartz’s battery.

The staff of the First Division consisted of the following officers : Maj. M. Brayman, Twenty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, aeting assistant adjutant-g general; Capt. A. Schwartz, light artillery, acting chief of staff; Capt. Warren Stewart, Independent Cavalry, acting aide; Capt. .J. ames Dunlap, assistant quartermaster and aide; H. P. Stearns, surgeon and aeting aide; Lieut. Henry C. Freeman, acting engineer: Ens aide; Lieut. William H. “Heath, acting assistant commissary of subsistence and aide; Lieut. E. S. Jones, Twenty- seventh Regiment, ordnance officer and aide.

Arriving at Paducah at 3 o’clock p. m. of the 2d instant in advance of the transports bearing my division, I awaited their coming up, and

in the mean time sought an interview with you, in which you instructed. y

me to continue my advance up the Tennessee River. Prescribing the

order in which the transports should proceed and preceded by two gun- _ boats, assigned by Flag-Officer Foote as aconvoy, we immediately started, and without accident or delay disembarked at Itra Landing, in Tennes- y

see, 8 miles below Fort Henry, at 4.30 o’clock a. m. next day.

Commanders of brigades, before landing their troops, will cause one company of

infantry to be detailed for the purpose of affording protection and other assistance to

At the moment of disembarking I issued the following field order,

each battery. These companies will defend the batteries to the last, the cannoneers haying only to attend to the working of the guns.

In forming encampments for the troops, commanders of brigades will strictly observe the following instructions, viz:

ist. The artillery will be placed in the most commanding positions, at all times giving it as wide a range as possible.

2d. Adequate support must always be given to the batteries, and for this purpose the infantry camps should be suitably arranged.

3d. In the absence of commanding positions for the artillery within the limits of the camp it will be placed centrally, so as to be protected by infantry in front and rear and on the flanks. In the latter case the guns will not be unlimbered.

4th. Cavalry not on picket or other duty will be kept in the rear.

5th. In all cases practicable infantry camps will be formed, so as to facilitate an immediate formation in line of battle before the encampment and fronting the enemy.

6th. Public roads and other means of communication must not be obstructed by encampments or baggage trains.

7th. Requisitions and returns for provisions and forage must be made in due form, approved by brigade commanders, and correspond with the showing of the proper reports. . th. Commanders of brigades are expressly enjoined to punish all depredators upon

the persons or property of peaceful citizens—such depredators being members of their

commands. In short, as an assurance of success, the utmost discipline and most perfect subordination are required and expected.

Having disembarked at Itra Landing and sent out Lieutenant Freeman and Captain Schwartz to select suitable ground for encamping my division; having also sent forward a detachment of cavalry to reconnoiter toward the enemy, and having gone forward with Captain Stewart, of my staff, for the same purpose, you came up, and upon my return, and in view of the fuller information you had obtained, ordered the reembarkation of my division, preparatory to a second disembarkation nearer Fort Henry at a more favorable point.

By 10 o’clock, and before the transports bearing any other of our troops had come in sight, preceded by myself and staff, my division had reached Bailey’s Ferry, 4 miles below Fort Henry, and by 3 o’clock p. m.had all disembarked on the Tennessee shore. In the meantime a loyal citizen, being the proprietor of a neighboring farm house, informed me that mounted pickets of the enemy had been posted hard by, where some of them had been seen about the time of our landing. Corroborative of this report, upon my return to our transports I observed several mounted pickets of the enemy on the opposite or Kentucky shore of the river. A shot or two from the carbine of one of my orderlies, followed by a shell from one of the gunboats, dispersed not only them, but another party of the enemy in sight farther up the river. Immediately after I ordered an inland movement, which served both as a reconnais-

-sance in force and as an occupation of the neighboring hills.

At this.time the Fourth Illinois Cavalry (Colonel Dickey), which had been disembarked at Patterson’s Ferry, 13 miles above Paducah, had not joined us, in consequence of heavy rains and miry roads; but making the most of my means, I ordered a small cavalry force to reconnoiter toward the fort, which, soon encountering the enemy’s pickets, drove them baek. While this was going on my infantry and artillery had moved inland, and, occupying the crest of a range of hills running parallel with and near the river, bivouacked in line of battle, prepared to

‘. meet any emergency. The formation of the hills and the disposition of

my forces of all arms relatively to the hills, the river, and the enemy are illustrated by the diagram herewith inclosed. *

A reconnaissance made the same evening by myself and staff convinced me of the expediency of sending forward a battery,supported by at least two regiments of infantry, to command the road leading to Fort

Henry where it crossed Panther Creek. By an early hour next morning this had been done. At this place, named by me Camp Halleck,

the portion of Colonel Cook’s brigade with him, ineluding a battery of

Major Cavender’s Missouri artillery, formed a part of my command

until General Smith’s division, of which it was a part, came up.

At Camp Halleck, on the night of the 4th, my men lighted their camp fires for the first time since their departure from Cairo. In the mean time the rations which they had drawn for the 1st and 2d of February had been consumed. On the 4th they had twice disembarked and once embarked, closing the labors and trials of the day by ascending to the crest of high and rocky hills, up which they hauled their artillery by haud and the aid of prolonged ropes. Here, bivouacking in the cold, they cooked a meal for the first time in three days.

Our camp, marked distinctly by its numerous fires, ranging along the crest and down the slopes of lofty hills and in the valley toward the river, together with the many transports and gunboats which had come up and formed the foreground, exhibited a most grand and imposing spectacle, and, having been witnessed by the enemy’s scouts on the opposite side of the river, multiplied in their imaginations our numbers, and, as we afterward learned from prisoners, materially contributed to induce the early evacuation of Fort Henry.

On the 5th [ ordered Col. R. J. Oglesby, commanding the First Brigade, to send a strong detachment of infantry and cayalry, under instructions to reconnoiter the country between Camp Halleck and Fort Henry, the approaches and accessibility of the latter, and its position and various external relations. The order was promptly executed, under the personal supervision of Colonel Oglesby, accompanied by Col. J. D. Webster, chief of your staff, Capt. A. Schwartz, chief of my staff, and Lieut. H. C. Freeman, engineer of my division and also a member of my staff, whose zeal and efficiency were rewarded by valuable information gained.

During this reconnaissance Captain Schwartz and Lieutenant Freeman, together with their orderlies, being in advance, encountered the pickets of the enemy at the crossing of two paths, about one mile and a half from the fort. A few shots caused the enemy to dissappear, but, as was supposed, for the purpose of returning with increased numbers and the hope of capturing our party. Captain Schwartz and Lieutenant Freeman having reported what had transpired and the supposed intention of the enemy to Colonel Oglesby, the latter promptly moved forward his detachment of infantry to and beyond the spot where the enemy had been seen. In the mean time the enemy had shown himself in the rear both of our infantry and cavalry, with the evident design of cutting off the latter. Not being apprised of the proximity of the former, Captain Dollins instantly turned upon the superior numbers of the enemy and boldly met him, and aíter a sharp skirmish of some ten minutes, in which one man was killed and several wounded on each side, put him to flight, forcing him to abandon a number of his guns and sabers, which were carried away by our cavalry as trophies. All this was done before it was possible for the infantry to extend to Capn Eu the support which had been promptly attempted by Colonel

_ On the 5th the division commanded by Brig. Gen. C. F. Smith came up from Padueah to Camp Halleck, and was disembarked on the opposite bank of the river; and about dark the Fourth Illinois Cavalry also. came up after a laborious march and joined my division. During the same evening I had the honor to receive from you the following field order:

The First Division, General J. A. MeClernand commanding, will move at 11 o’clock a. m. to-morrow, under the guidance of Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson, and take position on the roads from Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Dover.

9d. It will be the special duty of this command to prevent all re-enforcements to Fort Henry or escapes from it; also to be held in readiness to charge and take Fort Henry by storm promptly on the receipt of orders.

4th. The Third Brigade, Second Division (General Smith), will advance up the east or same bank of the Tennessee River as fast as it can be securely done, and be in readiness to charge upon the fort or to move to the support of the First Division, as may be necessary. i

5th. All of the forces on the west bank of the river not required to hold the heights commanding Fort Henry will return to their transports, cross to the east bank, and follow the Third Brigade as rapidly as possible.

In pursuance of this order, notwithstanding the heavy rains throughout the previous night, which found my division without tents and ill prepared for exposure, it was put in motion by 11 o’elock a. m. of the 6th in the order of march previously directed by me, and so as to enable the different brigades and arms of my command to afford mutual support in ease of an attack.

The distance from Camp Halleck to Fort Heury by the route of our march is about 8 miles, whereas by the river it is only half that distance. By 1 o’clock p. m. we had accomplished a march of 4 miles, when the firing of our gunboats upon the fort, being distinctly heard by my men, was hailed by loud shouts, and they pushed on with increased eagerness, hoping to reach the fort in time to cut off the retreat and secure the surrender of the enemy.

About 3 o’elock p. m., the report coming back that the enemy were evacuating the fort, I immediately sent an order to my cavalry in advance to make rapid pursuitif upon investigation it were found to be true.

A similar order had also been sent forward by Colonel Oglesby. Captain Stewart, of my staff, with à squad of his own cavalry, first coming up with the enemy, boldly eharged his rear while he was in the act of clearing the outer line-of his defenses, while a portion of Colonel Dickey’s cavalry, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel McCullough, also hastening up, pursued the enemy several miles and until nightfall, and successively overtaking his rear guards of cavalry and infantry quickly dispersed them, killing 1 man, capturing 38 prisoners, and driving him to abandon six pieces of artillery, with their gun-carriages and one caisson, a large number of different kinds of small-arms, knapsacks, blankets, animals; in short, everything calculated to impede his flight, which were subsequently brought into the fort by detachments respectively under the command of Colonel Logan, Captain Dresser, and Lieutenant Gumbart.

The Eighteenth Regiment, Colonel Lawler, forming the head of the column, composed of the First Brigade, eagerly hastening forward, first reached the fort, entering the same at 3.30 o’clock p. m., and were immediately followed by the remainder of that brigade.

The Second Brigade, under the able and judicious lead of Col. W. H. L. Wallace, although unavoidably detained by a battery of heavy siege guns and the aggravated condition of the roads, followed close upon the First, and soon after the portion of Colonel Cook’s brigade with him, thus completing the arrival of all the forces under my command within the enemy’s works, where they encamped for the night in his deserted 9 R R—VOL VII huts and tents—Captain Stewart, of my staff, being temporarily assigned to the command of the main fort.

Although the letter of your order required the halting of my column near the junction of the Dover and Bailey’s Ferry roads, some 2 miles ~ 1rom the fort, in view of the information already referred to I did not deem it within its spirit to do so, and accordingly pressed on, as already mentioned, having accomplished a march of near 8 miles in four hours and a half, over the worst possible roads, cutting a portion of them through woods and bridging several streams made too deep for fording by recent rains.

Upon entering the fort it was found to have been defended by seventeen heavy and effective guns, well mounted, and so disposed as to eommand both river and land approaches. The wholenumber of guns taken, including the six field pieces brought in as before mentioned, amount to twenty-three. The fortifications are extensive, and afford evidence of a high degree of engineering skill and great labor. Their hasty surrender without a more protracted struggle can only be accounted for by the terrible cannonade from our gunboats and their apprehension of being cut off from retreat by the rapid advance of our land forces.

The casualties in my command, except those already recounted, were chiefly confined to the loss and injury of animals and other property, and are chargeable to the desperate condition of the roads.

The gallant and successful attack made by the gunboats under FlagOfficer Foote is worthy to challenge our warmest admiration, and reflects the highest credit upon him and all the officers and men of his command who participated in it. The success of the Mississippi River fleet in this signal instance triumphantly demonstrates the efficiency of that arm of the public service. As a just tribute to distinguished merit I have the honor to announce the name of Fort Henry has been changed to Fort Foote, by an order formally published by me to that effect.

Of my own command it is my duty as well as my pleasure to say that both officers and men did their whole duty with the most commendable spirit and alacrity. . It was the first of the land forces to enter the fort, and I may truly say for them it is their greatestregret that circumstances beyond their control prevented them from accomplishing their greatest desire, which was to cut off the enemy’s retreat and force him to fight or Surrender.

JOHN A. McCLERNAND, Brigadier-General, Commanding First Division. Brig. Gen. U. S. GRANT, Commanding District of Cairo.

Report of General A. Sidney Johnston, C. S. Army, commanding Western Department.