THE DEFENSE OF FORT HENRY.

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acquiesce, but the accidental observation of a water-mark left on a treecaused me to look carefully for this sign above, below, and in the rear of thefort; and my investigation convinced me that we had a more dangerous forceto contend with than the Federals,—namely, the river itself. Inquiry amongold residents confirmed my fears that the fort was not only subject to overflow,but that the highest point within it would be—in an ordinary February rise —at least two feet under water. This alarming fact was also communicated tothe State authorities, only to evoke the curt notification that the State forceshad been transferred to the Confederacy, and that I should apply to GeneralPolk, then in command at Columbus, Ky. This suggestion was at once actedon,—not once only, but with a frequency and urgency commensurate with itsseeming importance,— the result being that I was again referred, this time toGeneral A. S. Johnston, who at once dispatched an engineer (Major JeremyF. Gilmer) to investigate and remedy; but it was now too late to do so effect-ually, though an effort was made looking to that end, by beginning tofortify the heights on the west bank (Fort Heiman). The armament of thefort at the time I assumed command consisted of 6 smooth-bore 32-poundersand 1 6-pounder iron-gun; February 1st, 1862, by the persistent efforts ofGeneral Lloyd Tilghman and Colonel A. Heiman, this had been increased to8 32-, 2 42-, 1 128-pounders (Columbiad), 5 18-pounder siege guns, all smooth-bore, and 1 6-inch rifle; we also had 6 12-pounders, which looked so much likepot-metal that it was deemed best to subject them to a test, and as two of themburst with an ordinary charge, the others wei-e set aside as useless incum-brances. The powder supplied was mostly of a very inferior quality, so muchso that it was deemed necessary to adopt the dangerous expedient of addingto each charge a proportion of quick-burning powder. That this was necessarywill, I think, be admitted when it is understood that with the original chargeit was almost impossible to obtain a random shot of a little over one mile(that being the distance to a small island below the fort).

During the winter of 1861 and 1862 the Federal gun-boats, notably the Lex-ington and Conestoga , made frequent appearances in the Tennessee , and comingup under the cover of this island would favor the fort with an hour or moreof shot and shell, but, as their object was to draw our fire and thus obtainthe position of our guns, we, though often sorely tempted by the accuracy oftheir fire, deemed it best not to gratify them. On the 4th of February theFederal fleet of gun-boats, followed by countless transports, appeared belowthe fort. Far as eye could see, the course of the river could be traced by thedense volumes of smoke issuing from the flotilla — indicating that the long-threatened attempt to break our lines was to be made in earnest. The gun-boats took up a position about three miles below and opened a brisk fire, atthe same time shelling the woods on the east bank of the river, thus coveringthe debarkation of their army. The 5th was a day of unwonted animationon the hitherto quiet waters of the Tennessee ; all day long the flood-tide ofarriving and the ebb of returning transports continued ceaselessly. Late inthe afternoon three of the gun-boats, two on the west side and one on theeast at the foot of the island, took position and opened a vigorous and well-

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