Evening star., 1862-02-15
STRATEGIC POINTS ON THE CUMBER
LAND AND TENNESSEE RIVERS,
rHH rRsNEssEE RttER.


tributary Of the Ohio. Its most remote sources
are Clinch and HOlston rivers, which rise in
the Allegheny Mountains Of Virginia. 1t has
half dozen other branches, which, uniting,
form the Tennessee proper at point forty-fv
miles southwest of Knoxville. From Knoxville
IL pursues a southwest direction across the
State, and enters Alabama, when it pursues a
westerly course for 80 or 200 miles and then
turns north and enters Tennessee again, cross
ing the State and the western portion Of Ken
lucky, and entering the Ohio eleven and half
miles below the mouth of the Cumberland, and
fOrty-seven and half above the mouth OF the
Ohio. The whole descent of the river from its
feet Its whole length by the course OF the
river is 200 miles. II drains a surface Of
II 200 square miles. There are no perpendic-
ular falls, and few rapids which obstruct nav
igatiOn through is whole course. The greatest
obstruction is at Muscle Shoals, Ala, POI miles
from the mouth, to which point steamboats,
ascend. A canal thirty-six miles in length has
been built around these shoals, and above the
navigation for boats is unobstrueted for $50
miles The river being rapid, is chiefly favor
able for navigation down stream.
FLORENCE, ALABAMA.
This town, which the Federal gunboats Wis
tied in their dashing exploit up the Tennessee,
after the capture of Fort Henry, is at the head
of navigation, three hundred miles from Pa
ducah, and contains about two thousand inhab-
itants 1t is at the foot of Muscle Shoals
nearly opposite Tuscumbia, and two hundred
and fifty miles northwest of Montgomery, the
whilOm capital Of the CCnfederacy. 1t Is about
three hundred miles from the mouth Of the
river. The river here Is about half mile
wide, and is crossed by fine bridge. The
route OF the Memphis and Charleston Railroad
Is within a short distance Of the place. 1t has
several public buildings, including three large
brick churches.
the town is, however, that 1t is the principal
shipping point for the produce Of the country
and the; adjacent parts Of Tennessee. The
amount Of cotton raised in the vicinity is very
large Lauderdale county, of which Florence
il the capital, produces from ten to twelve
thousand bales Of ginned cotton, Of four hun
dred pounds. Franklin county, on the other
side Of the river, produces over $4,000 bales.
Cotton is also produced to some extent in Ten
EesSee, on the line of the river. There are two
large cotton factories on Cypress creek, three
miles from the place, having capital of
Sl5.0 900 each. ShOal creek, nine miles distant
also gives motion TO a cotton factory which cost
500 coo. The hospitable and cordial greeting
given to the men on our gunboats In this VI
cinity, although due to some extent, no doubt,
to fear, may yet be considered as not wholly
affected.
1t was known that northern Alabama, to-
gether with eastern Tennessee and western
Virginia, were the last TO assent to the heresy
Of secession, and we're only driven into it by
the mob spirit everywhere prevailing. They
illustrate the lines
''He that consents against his will
Is OF the same opinion still ."
1t would appear from the facts quoted above
that one of the most eligible places to open q
cotton port would be at Florence, as the
principal shipping point Of large cotton
growing region.
EXPECTED ATTACK on FORT DoNELsOy
We expect mOmentarily news of the attack
on Fort DOnelson, on the Cumberland river,
sixty miles from its mouth, and fifteen miles
southeast Of Fort Henry. 1t was intended
that the attacks on the two forts should be
nearly simultaneous. The last news that we
received was that Gen. Grant had surrounded
1t with several batteries Of artillery, and that
the attack would be commenced shortly. 1t
was constructed some time last summer, ts-
ge;her with Fort Henry, to prevent the ad-
vance Of our forces up the Cumberland, as
Fort Henry was built to prevent our advance
up the Tennessee. It is the counterpart of
Fort Henry, and these two forts in our posses
sion, we have the key to the positions Of the
rebel armies at Bowling Green and Columbus,
and can easily prevent them from efecting a
junction, and can cut of their communication
with the South, unless they abdicste their po-
sitiOns speedily and retire further into the re-
ccsses Of rebeldom.
Of the Cumberland river, where that stream
washes an acute angle at Dover. 1t is a forti-
fcation of earth. 1t is at the intersection OF
some seven or eight post roads. and but four
miles north Of the Memphis and Gainesville
Railroad. The position is important as con-
trolling the river as far up as Gainesville
Gainesville is thirty miles distant, and is the
site Of extensive and formidable rebel works
which have been under construction for four
months past, TO protect the bridge crossing
the Cumberland on the railroad route to Nash
vile. The capture Of Fort DoneIson is consid-
cred only as a matter Of time since the taking
Of Fort Henry.
TIE CUMBERLAND RIVER.
The capture Of Fort Donelson will give US a
very strong hold on the Cumberland and be-
come base for operations further on, extend
ing in time, probably, to Nashville, the capital
of Tennessee.
The Cumberland river rises in the Cumber-
land mountains, near the boundary between
Virginia and Kentucky, and pursuing a west
erIy or sOuthWesteTly course enters the State
of Tennessee. After an extensive sweep to the
south il turns nOrthwestwardly and northerly.
and enters and crosses Kentueky, entering the
Ohio IL miles east Of the mouth Of the Ten.
nessee river, and 50 miles above tho mouth 0,
the Ohio
The entire length of the river is about Coz
miles, and il drains territory of IL 500 sauar.
miles Ii is navigable for large steamboat.
and vessels to Nashville, 203 miles from the
mouth, and for boats Of fifteen tons 800 milei
further. At certain seasons Of high water, yes
sells Of 400 tons can descend the river 400 miles
to the Ohio, and for half its length boats may
navigate ii at all seasons. 1t is the second
river in size which enters the Ohio, being In
ferior only 10 the Tennessee. Below Nashville
the river is deep and narrow. There are OF
the borders of the Cumberland nineteen fur
naces, nine forges, and two rolling mills, pro
ducing annually A., 500 tons Of iron, valued Al
S1,67StOO.
THE CITY OF NASHVILLE.
In a short time, if oar armies progress in the
West as energetically as they have done OF
late, Nashville will become place Of interest
as connected with our movements up the Cum.
berland 1t is connected with Bowling Green
by railroad. Nashville is situated on the left
or the west bank Of the Cumberland river
some two hundred miles by the course of the
stream from its mouth two hundred and eigh.
ty miles northeast Of Memphis; two hundred
and six miles southwest of Lexington, in Ken.
lucky; and six hundred and eighty four miles
L - So q