ARMY OPERATIONS. 



29 



with the sides sloping upward and downward 

 from the water line, at an angle of forty-five 

 degrees. The bow battery on each boat con- 

 sisted of solid oak timber twenty-six inches in 

 thickness, plated on the exterior surface with 

 iron two and a half inches thick. 



The side and stern batteries were somewhat 

 thinner, but had the same thickness of iron 

 over that portion covering the machinery. 



The boats were built so that in action they 

 could be kept " bow on ; " hence the superior 

 strength of the bow battery. Broadsides were 

 so arranged as to be delivered with terrible ef- 

 fect while shifting position. To facilitate move- 

 ments in action, the engines and machinery were 

 of the most powerful kind. The boilers were 

 five in number, constructed to work in connec- 

 tion with or independent of each other. 



Seven of these boats only were iron clad. 

 The number of mortar boats ordered was thirty- 

 eight. Each one which was built, carried a 

 mortar of 13-inch calibre. The charge of 

 powder for the mortar was abojit twenty-three 

 pounds. Each boat was manned by a captain, 

 lieutenant, and twelve men. Formidable as 

 this naval force appears, its preparation was 

 very tardily undertaken by the Government, 

 and at the moment when first needed, but few 

 of the boats were ready. 



On the 27th of January, the President of the 

 United States appeared as commander-in-chief 

 of the army and navy, and issued the follow- 

 ing order : 



EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 1862. 

 PRESIDENT'S GENERAL WAR ORDER, Xo. 1. 



Ordered, That the 22d day of February, 1S62, be the 

 day for a general movement of the land and naval forces 

 of the United States against the insurgent forces. 

 That especially 



The Army at and about Fortress Monroe, 

 The Army of the Potomac, 

 The Army of Western Virginia, 

 The Army near Munfordsville, Kentucky, 

 The Army and Flotilla at Cairo, 

 And a Naval Force in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 be ready for a movement on that day. 



That all other forces, both land and naval, with their 

 respective commanders, obey existing orders for the 

 time, and be ready to obey additional orders when duly 

 given. 



That the Heads of Departments, and especially the 

 Secretaries of War and of the Navy, with all their sub- 

 ordinates, and the General-in-Chie'f, with all other com- 

 manders and subordinates of land and naval forces, will 

 severally be held to their strict and full responsibilities 

 for the prompt execution of this order. 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



This order was unproductive of direct mili- 

 tary effect, but was viewed as an indication of 

 the President's desire that active measures 

 should be taken speedily toward the initiation 

 of hostilities. Gen. McClellan still continued 

 to be general-in-chief, and all the movements 

 of Gen. Bnell up to the occupation of Xash- 

 ville, and those of Gens. Halleck and Grant, 

 were made under his instructions up to the 

 llth of March, when the order of the Presi- 

 dent was issued, relieving him "from the com- 

 mand of the other military departments." 



By the ' 'Army near Munfordsville,Kentucky," 

 were designated the forces of Gen. Buell. After 

 the battle of M ill Springs, movements w ere made 

 by order of Gen. Buell, as if with the purpose 

 of advancing into eastern Tennessee in force. 

 The Cumberland river was crossed at Waitsboro', 

 and a column was pushed toward Cumberland 

 Gap, while two brigades were moved from Gen. 

 Buell's centre toward his left. The Confeder- 

 ates understood that east Tennessee was the 

 destination of these troops, and hastily sent a 

 large force by railroad from Bowling Green 

 through Nashville toKnoxville. But the army 

 of Gen. Thomas, instead of going to east Ten- 

 nessee, turned back to Danville and subse- 

 quently marched to join Gen. Nelson, at Glas- 

 gow, and flank Bowling Green on the left. 

 Thus, instead of dividing his forces, Gen. Buell 

 concentrated them by a movement from the 

 left to the centre. Meanwhile the centre of 

 Gen. BuelFs force, under Gen. Mitchell, had 

 been advanced toward Munfordsville, on the 

 road to Bowling Green. 



By the term " The Army and Flotilla at Cai- 

 ro," was designated the military force of Gen. 

 Halleck's department, collected at Cairo. Pa- 

 ducah, and Fort Jefferson, under Gen. Grant, 

 together with the gunboats, and intended for 

 the Tennessee river expedition. 



A movement against Fort Henry on the Ten- 

 nessee river was at once undertaken. This fort 

 is situated near the line of Kentucky and Ten- 

 nessee, on the east bank of the stream. It 

 stands on the low lands adjacent to the river, 

 about the high water mark, and being just be- 

 low a bend in the river, and at the head of a 

 straight stretch of about two miles, it commands 

 the river for that distance, and very little else. 

 On Saturday night, Feb. 1, the gunboats St. 

 Louis, Cincinnati. Carondolet, Essex. Tyler, and 

 Lexington, in an incomplete state of prepara- 

 tion, being the only ones manned, left Cairo, 

 and proceeded to the mouth of the Tennessee 

 at Paducah. Here they were joined by the 

 gunboat Conestoga and a fleet of transports, 

 with a land force under Gen. Grant, and on 

 Monday afternoon proceeded up the river. By 

 Tuesday all were anchored about eight miles 

 below the fort, which being an unfavorable 

 place for the debarkation of troops, a recon- 

 noissance was made by the Essex, St. Louis, and 

 Cincinnati. A suitable place for the landing, 

 encampment, and general rendezvous of the 

 troops was found just below the range of the 

 guns of the fort. The troops were landed dur- 

 ing the afternoon, and the transports returned 

 to Paducah for more regiments. By Thursday 

 morning, Feb. 6, a large force was gathered, 

 and a body of troops under Gen. Smith were 

 also landed on the west side of the river, where 

 it was supposed that a considerable Confederate 

 force was encamped. The troops after being 

 landed were formed into two divisions ; the 

 first, consisting of the 8th,_ 18th, 27th, 29th, 30th, 

 and 31st, making one brigade ; and the llth, 

 20th, 45th, and 48th Illinois regiments making 



