February 6, 1862-- Part 1: Fort Henry Captured

FEBRUARY 6TH, 1862:  Naval forces under Flag Officer Foote, comprising the partially ironclad gunboats USS Essex, Carondelet, Cincinnati, St. Louis and the wooden gunboats USS Tyler, Conestoga and Lexington, captured strategic Fort Henry on the Tennessee River.

Originally planned as a joint expedition under Foote and General Grant, heavy rains the two days before the attack delayed the troop movements, and the gunboats attacked alone.  Accurate gunfire from the gunboats pounded the fort and forced Brigadier General Tilgham, CSA, with all but four of his guns useless, to strike his flag and surrender to Foote