, 1862-03-05

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Only q part Of the machinery Of General |
Halleck before which Columbus has been
vacated, was made to appear in the earliest |
dispatches. We wish to do tic rebels the
Justice to state that they were not driven
head1oDg down the river By the threatened
advance Of Commodore Foote, though VIC be-
Ieve he would have proved that 4 sufficient
ground for their withdrawal. The complete
ness Of Gen. Halleck'5 plans did not allow this
as the sole dependence for the final squeeze to
rebel possession in Kentucky. To show this,
the accompanying diagram will corae in play,
and other facts VIC shall present will inteii-
gently explain with its help, just why the
rebels found it Convenient to leave, General
Halleck's official dispatch tells J. part of the
story. Our ddyance guard from. Rsdstcah 7odc
into Columbus on NoaEoy cycaing.
The rebel Generals, at their LEISURE may
make up .their dispatches. If they tell the
truth, it will be about as follows: Gen. Pope,
in Missouri, ,ett Commerce, :,ot represented
iu our diagram, but :. few miles above Cairo,
Madrid, point on the Mississippi river due
east Of Union City, on the Missouri side
4 largc force from Paducah, and Withdrawn
| from the Cumberland, proceeded to Mayfcld,
| and thence the advance directly westward upon
| Columbus. Nor was this all, Tor third
strong column Of troops, flushed with victory
! On the Tennessee and Cumberland, seized, or
were about to seize, Union City, cutting off
| retreat By railroad to Memphis Thus it will
he seen that the rebels were cooped like rats
in trap, and had the7 remained, could have
| been oycrhaulcd at leisure. They wisely with
drew, and with this explanation our readers
have our dispatches announcing the event
The rebels have done many more cowardly
acts in this war than to abandon Columbus.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribunc.l
coluNsrs. Ky. via Cairo, March 4. 1862.
1t 10 O'Clock this morning the eth, SD aud
55th Illinois regiments hoi=ted the stars and
stripes over the rebel Notifications at Co.
lumbus.
The gunboats Cincinnati, flag ship Louis
vile, Caroudolet, St Louis and Lexington
four mortar boats in tow Of tho steamer Lake
Erie, ard the eth Illinois, Col. Buford; sd
NSA- AhoDI4 sAA tOtA AA44A1Ao3 nAAjSA
Sanger, acting Colonel, upon the transports
A1eck Scott, Illinois, Magill and Ike Hammit,
| left Cairo this morning, at four o'clock, for
Columbus. The feet arrived at Lucas Bend,
about two miles above Columbus, at six
o'clock, aud was drawn up in line Of battle
: The drums beat to quarters and the guns were
manned ready for action. Two tugs were seni
in advance accommodating, but failed to pro
yoke shot from the enemy. Everything
about the works was quiet. Glasses revealed
stragglels on the bluff and about tho watel
batteries, snd iD few moments flag wa:
Iaised, but its character could not be madt
out. The fleet gradually neared the town ant
! laid in the stream off the Belmont battle field
while scouts were sent out upon tugs towards
the rebel works.
: The tugs approached cautiously until within
quarter Of mile Of the batteries, found tn
, works deserted, and both set OF at the top 0
their speed for the honor Of landing first.
: The scouts rushed on the double quick Il
the top Of the bluff, and unfnrled the Star
: and Stripes, saluted by the crews Of the gun
! boats, as they steamed up to the town.
? The transports landed their troops, au
!
Tie works were entirely deserted, and th
J barracks, OF herrough board and log cabins
). | we're burned.
d An immense amount Of stores, coal an
t. ordnance fell into our hands. Many Of thel
cannon were thrown into the river-six thirty
|, two Founders, some howitzers, and an almos
\ innumetable quantity Of grape, canister, she
= = and round shots, were found In the batterie:
i, The fortiGcations are very extensive and Il
|. nntural position almost impregnahle.
5 Columbus isl completely deserted. Ever
!. building Was thoroughly ransacked and col
[. tents destroyed by the rebels. The rebels con
. menced leaving on Thursday last and 6nishe
l. yesterday. The largest number ever the
T. WIS thirty-seyen thousand. Bcauregard ".
lc not there.
st It is believed when the river falls al the
IL guns viii be found. The land forces mort
l. boats and guuboat St. Louis remain in po
session Of the town.
= Tic balance Of the boats returned to Cal
as in the afternoon.
4 THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
Ut WAsmSGrus, March 4, 1862.
It. Secretary We1les to-day received a dispat,
,rt dated Columbus, March 4, saying Columb
is in Qpr possession. Since our reconncissan
n nh Of the I'd inst, the enemy evacuated in hast
- leaving quite number Of the gums, smmu1
.rs ton. DC, and lnrgc quantity Of shot.
q. Here was also found remnant Of the chs
~ cable lately stretched across the river at II
ers point with quantity Of torpedocs. Most
ID the buta, tents, &c, were destroyed
20. The works were not Of any great strengtl
Ich BRIG. GEN. cU1LUTs REPORT.
ny 81. LOUIS, March The following is fl
nd aad tho official report Of Gen. Cullum:
IL. CoIuxBus, Ky. Feb. T. 1886:
yas 10 MOI. Cen Hal7eek, Commanding Hectern
!, q pd.1me.t:
tat. Columbus, The Gibraltar Of the West,
," ours aad kentucky is.f5se. -
cg. 1t four o'clock this morning the dotilla
on der Commodore Foote, consisting Of 9 g.
e. boats, 4mortar-boatE and tra1epoIts, conve!
srI ery the 37th Illinois regiment, a battalion Of
aye 5&th, tic 74th Ohio, and 55th Illinois. IN
-. =. command Of Gen. Sherman, proceeded to
oaE t'Dasre .