, 1861-11-07
FOft3fcat1ous of Padueall-Elahorata
De1ences OF the Place.
EEQrreEnnnifenc Of be ST 1onio Rannf1;no,.

LeoAieepelluelA.e u lEe ST. LOUIS RepQbHcaQ.l
But few are aWare Of the immense werk
lately performed by Government to strengthen
the pest, with view to hold it with as small
q garrison IS possible. It may be long before
Kentucky becomes tranquil, while armed hosts
from Tennessee could be thrown at any mo-
ment OF her sell to take advantage Of any
opening that present1k Consequently, to keep
an army Of eight thousand men constantly
here, would be:a great expense, and embarrass
the effectiveness Of other movements. while
earthWorks and Notifications can offer, prop.
erly managed, as effective barrier to hostile
forces as masses ofmen.
In company with Capt. John Rziha, who
has charge OF the works here, visited them
all Yesterday, and description may Prove in
tereEtlDg. It viii be giving neither aid nor
comfort to the enemy, as it is no secret, and
they are known to haVe numberIess charts Of
all. a few weeks ago Capt. Rziha, who is
Pclander by birth, and an officer Of the Nine
teenth Regiment United States regular army.
was detached On dnty as Typographical Engi.
The whole work vas given into his charge,
and having had large experience in Eu.
rope, he has surrounded Paducah by such q
network Of man-traps, batteries, palisades,
covered ways and means Of destruction that il
Is eate to say eight thousand men could safely
not walk within circle Of q mile or more
around Paducah Without being in range Of
some gun, while body Of hostile troops,
sEonld they gain possession Of battery.
would hare the fire Of one CT two others at
orce directed upon them, cansing hasty
evacuation OF the position. The forts are
Elk in number, situated at distances Of half
aud thFee-quarters of mile apart. Each can
mennt from two to three CT more guns, and
are surrounded By covered Ways, in which
rtie men can be concealed and pour destruc-
tive IRE upon any force advancing. These ways
!thant are made y digging ditch Just under and
cutter bank low ea1thwork. In the trench
the soldiers load and fire, their heads alone
bslng visible, and then only when the WEAPONS
are discharged. Being level almost with The
Surface Of the ground it is difficult to see
them, while the shot from the cannon in
the fort pass over their heads. Each fortitica-
tion has magazine capable Of holdinp
twenty tons Of powder, and is defended bY
TWO cnmpanies Of infantry, and one Of artil-
lery. Round shot, grape and shell lay Piled
rear By, ready for use. Running from one
1oft 70 the other, afe either covered ways or
palisades. These are made by digging trench
IS four feet deep and setting in fnem upright
p3sis close together, thus making solid
wall Of timber with sharp edges above.
tae huge fence winding up bill and down for
three miles around town, looking much ike
too5e n1lit around orchards to discourage
apPleIloVlng youths, except that seven Or
eight inches Of green timber defy any attempt
az breaking Or battering. Another means Of
letence that has been used extensively here
Is That Of the Nabattis," a military term ap.
pied to the telling Of trees in order to preyent
IN IN tl slnsmys approach. The great Importance
OF this last can be understood when It il seen
that Padncah is completely surrounded by
woods, into which enter the roads to Mavfie1i
BlandVt1e and Columbus. 1900 men from the
regiments we're sent out as chopuers.
ana ana IL 2 81 toIce Of that number were en-
gagee 1of three weeks telling the trees in cir
cle OF mile or more vide around the city.
Conse quently It is impossible to approach or
move IN any direction except along the main
roads, and these are each entirely commandei
y large guns. Against such q series Of bat-
Ieres and almost completed defences, it is
t.g4,y tag hni1 improbable f9e would advance at:
[lme the works were going On, and even be-
!oIe any had been commenced. The cita.
ael Of the town Eiu be the former Ma.
E7ne Hospital, the task Of fortifyrng which |
nas aian neen mentioned mentor letter OF two back. IN
which are brick, from shot, large defenses of
7ast timber will be built outside the ORIGINAL
walls. The surrounding eerthworks are on
N immense scale and built in as effective q
nah9er 5H;e as military genius can suggest: Capt.
szlhl u doing his utmost to make the posi-
ion as far as possible an impregnab1e one, in
'ase it should ever have to be used as a resort
y beleagured garrison. Communication
8ith the river close by, and the command Of
wells is being Eo arranged that the supply Of
Fater can never be cut Of Guns are being
mounted on those paris Of the earthworks
1ticlensly completed. The graveliy nature
# the soil is such that were 3 cannon
'a11 to strike the banks, pebbles would be
CATERED with murderons effect around. To
uard against this, different earth viii be
'laced loot deep on the dangerous soil, and
own with grass seed. The sick have ali heen
emoVed from the building to the Court
deuse, which is and will continue to be usgd
5 hospital.