February 21, 1862: Foote presses for advance to Nashville

While Henry W. Halleck sat in St. Louis, prey to his fears of overreaching, Flag-Officer Andrew H. Foote and Brigadier Ulysses S. Grant wanted to press the pursuit of the retreating Confederates up the Cumberland River to Tennessee's capital, Nashville. On this day 150 years ago, Foote expressed his frustration with Halleck's interference:

PADUCAH, February 21, 1862.

General Grant and myself consider this a good time to move on Nashville. Six mortar boats and two ironclad steamers can precede the troops and shell the forts. We were about moving for this purpose when General Grant, to my astonishment, received a telegram from General Halleck not to let the gunboats go higher than Clarksville; no telegram sent to me.

The Cumberland is in a good stage of water and General Grant and I believe that we can take Nashville.

Please ask General Halleck if we shall do it. We will talk per telegraph.

Captain Phelps representing me in the office, as I am still on crutches.

A.H. FOOTE,
Flag-Officer.

General CULLUM,
Cairo.

Even on crutches, Andrew H. Foote was more aggressive than Henry W. Halleck.