Chapter 27: Fort Henry.
- River-defenses. -- ___location of Forts. -- strategic importance. -- topography. -- Polk's report. -- General Johnston's orders and preparations. -- warning to Polk. -- Major Gilmer, chief-engineer. -- his operations. -- Lloyd Tilghman in command. -- fortifications projected on the Cumberland. -- difficulty of getting labor. -- gunboats. -- abortive attempts at defense. -- supreme efforts of the North. -- their gunboats. -- General Johnston's warnings and precautions. -- origin of Federal plan of invasion. -- Scott's share. -- Sherman's picturesque narrative. -- Halleck and Buell's views. -- Federal demonstrations. -- Grant, Smith, and Foote. -- Federal advance. -- River-defenses. -- letter of Hon. James E. Saunders. -- General Johnston's appeal for reinforcements. -- directions for defense. -- Floyd detached. -- General Johnston's strength. -- condition of Fort Henry. -- Gilmer's report. -- firing on the Fort. -- Tilghman's strength. -- Tilghman's telegrams. -- reinforcements sent. -- Tilghman's movements. -- the attack and bombardment. -- defense. -- surrender. -- loss. -- Phelps up the Tennessee.
When Tennessee seceded, her authorities assembled volunteers at the most assailable points on her borders, and took measures for guarding the water-entrances to her territory. All the strong points on the Mississippi were occupied and fortified-Memphis, Randolph, Fort Pillow, and Island No.10. The last-named place, though a low-lying island, was believed to be a very strong position. Captain Gray, the engineer in charge when General Johnston assumed command (September 18th), reported that Island No.10 was “one of the finest strategic positions in the Mississippi Valley,” and, “properly fortified, would offer the greatest resistance to the enemy;” and that “its intrenchments could not be taken by a force four or five times superior in number.” It is not necessary here to enter upon a narrative of the defenses of the Mississippi River. Columbus was relied upon as the chief barrier against invasion; and was found sufficient, until, for strategic reasons, it was deemed expedient to abandon it. The defense of the points lower down the Mississippi, however important in a general history of the war, did not greatly influence the catastrophe of this biography, and hence may be here omitted. In the ___location of her water-defenses, comity forbade Tennessee to invade the soil of another sovereign State under the plea of fortifying for her own defense; so that, despite the supreme value of Columbus to her security, the Southern troops did not seize that stronghold until the last shadow of neutrality vanished, and its occupation became an absolute necessity. The same consideration governed the selection of points for the defense of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Governor Harris wished to locate the forts as near the Kentucky line as he could find suitable sites for them, and sent General Daniel S. Donelson, a West Point graduate, and a man of influence and standing, to select proper situations. He reported Donelson as the strongest position on the Cumberland near the State line, and that there was no good position on the Tennessee River within the jurisdiction of the State. General Donelson wished to build a fort in Kentucky, on better ground; but, under the Governor's orders, adopted the site at Fort Henry as the best in Tennessee near the Kentucky line, and because of the convenience for mutual support between it and Fort Donelson. These locations are said to have been approved by General Bushrod R. Johnson also. Indeed,
