Wednesday, Jan. 22 1862 HYDROLOGICAL HEIGHT HINDERS “HENRY” HUNT
The USS “Lexington” set forth to perform reconnaissance in
advance of the planned attack on Ft. Henry, Tenn., with Brig.
Gen. Charles F. Smith in charge of the project and Lt. Shirk
assisting him. It was a hard winter, with much snow in the
mountains and rain in the lowlands; the river was very high, and
still rising. This hampered the effort, but not so much that the
“Lexington” and the other union gunboats were prevented from
firing a few mortar rounds at Ft. Henry. In other Naval action,
Lt. Worden reported to his superiors that construction of the
radical new gunboat “Monitor” was progressing on schedule. The
only delay was caused by late delivery of the 11-inch guns with
which the ship would be armed. via This Day in the American
Civil War for January 22. Friday, Jan. 17, 1862 INTENSIVE
INFANTRY INVESTIGATION ICED Two groups of Union forces were on
the move in Kentucky this day…or at least trying to. Troops of
Grant’s command, under McClern