February 5, 1862 (Monday): "You Must Not Fail."

Civil War Telegraph Operations

SAINT LOUIS, February 5, 1862. 

Major-General McCLELLAN:
Gunboats supplied with temporary crews and in the field. Mortar boats of no use at present. Enlistments of regular crews going on rapidly. Bombardment of Fort Henry now going on. Our troops have landed 3 miles below. 



H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, February 5, 1862. 

Brigadier-General BUELL, Louisville:
Our advance column is moving up the Tennessee-twenty-three regiments. More will soon follow. Can't you make a diversion in our favor by threatening Bowling Green? 



H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General. 


LOUISVILLE, February 5, 1862. 

General HALLECK:
My position does not admit of diversion. My moves must be real ones, and I shall move at once unless I am restrained by orders concerning other plans. Progress will be slow for me. Must repair the railroad as we advance. It must probably be twelve days before we can be in front of Bowling Green. 



D. C. BUELL,
Brigadier-General, Commanding. 


SAINT LOUIS, February 5, 1862. 

Major-General McCLELLAN:
It is reported that 10,000 men have left Bowling Green by railroad to
re-enforce Fort Henry. Can't you send me some infantry regiments from Ohio? Answer. 




H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General. 


WASHINGTON, D. C., [February] 5-7 p.m.
 
Brigadier General D. C. BUELL, Louisville, Ky.:
Halleck telegraphs that report says 10,000 men left Bowling Green by railroad to re-enforce Fort Henry, and asks for regiments from Ohio. If report true, can you not assist by a demonstration in direction of Bowling Green? Communicate with Halleck and assist him if possible. Please reply. 



GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General, Commanding. 


WASHINGTON, D. C., February 5, 1862-7 p.m. 

Major General H. W. HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo.:
Have telegraphed Buell to communicate with you, and suggested demonstration on Bowling Green. Have just moved eight regiments from Ohio into Western Virginia. Cannot well spare more thence from Buell unless absolutely necessary. Please communicate fully with Buell and with me. 



GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General, Commanding. 


LOUISVILLE, February 5, 1862-12 p.m.
Major General GEORGE B. McCLELLAN:
I am communicating with him [Halleck]. Bowling Green is secure from any immediate apprehension of attack by being strongly fortified behind a river, by obstructions on the roads for nearly the whole distance between us (40 miles), and by the condition of the roads themselves; can only be threatened with heavy artillery. No demonstration, therefore, is practicable. I will send him a brigade. 



D. C. BUELL,
Brigadier-General. 


LOUISVILLE, February 5, 1862.
Major-General HALLECK, Saint Louis:
I will re-enforce your column by a brigade from Green River if you find that you absolutely require it; otherwise I have use for it. Do I understand you are moving up the Tennessee River only? You must not fail. 



D. C. BUELL,
Brigadier-General. 


SAINT LOUIS, February 5, 1862. 

To the COMMANDING OFFICER AT PADUCAH, KY.,
For General Grant:
Ten thousand men have left Bowling Green to re-enforce Fort Henry. Order forward all your available troops as rapidly as possible. I send down the Fourteenth Iowa to-day, the Forty-third Illinois to-morrow, and the Second Iowa in a few days. 



H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General. 

Series I., Vol. 7., Part 1, Page 584.

Fort Henry was a weak point in a Confederate line stretching from Columbus, Kentucky (Beauregar-12,000 men) and Bowling Green (Hardee-22,000 men).  Albert Sydney Johnston, commanding in the theatre, simply did not have enough force to prevent the line from being punctured at Fort Henry.  Fort Henry was a faulty position, experiencing flooding (so much so it would be completely under water by February 8).  Fort Donelson, to the east, was better situated but also poorly manned.   

Although the Union held great advantages, this correspondence shows the apprehension being experienced by the Union high command, even the day before Grant’s victory.  It also demonstrates the new ability armies now had to communicate in real time over vast stretches by means of telegraph.  Grant and naval commander Foote had a much sounder understanding of the situation than the high command and no apprehension of failure.  Tilghman, with only 4,000 men to cover to two forts, was initially confident of a great victory, but his optimism would soon come face to face with reality.