Fort Henry stood on a bluff overlooking the river and commanded a fine view of the surrounding country.

In shape it was a parallelogram, being about three hundred and fifty-six feet in length, and one hundred and fifty in width.

Surrounded by a stockade fence twelve feet high, with a yard wide walk running around the inside, and with bastions at each corner large enough to contain six defenders, the fort presented an almost impregnable defense.

The blockhouse was two stories in height, the second story projecting out several feet over the first.

The thick white oak walls bristled with portholes.