The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-14
COLUMBUS EVACUATED
KENTUCKYFREE3

OFFICIAL DIsPATCH. TO GEN. HALLECK.
ST.. LOUIS, March 4.-Ths following is
from the official report Of Gen. Cullom =
CoLpxBus, Kentucky, March 4th.-Te
Major General Halleck: Columbus, the
Gibraltar of the coast, is ours, and Ken
lucky is freeI A.W#&i
At 4 o'clock A. NJ, the, Flotills, under
the command of Commodore Foote, con.
sistiug of six gunboats, mortar boats and
transports, conveyed the 9th Illinois regi.
ment, q battalion of the 54th and 74th
Ohio, and the 55th Illinois, under the com.
mand of General Sherman, proceeded to
this place.
On arriving here, it was difficult to say
whether the Notifications were occupied by
our own cavalry, or scouts from Paducah,
or by the enemy.
Preparation was rade for opening lire
and landing infantry, when Gen. Sherman
and Capt P. Yell with thirty soldiers made
reconnaissance with tugs steaming direct
ly under water batteries.
Satisfied that our troops had possession,
they landed and assembled the summit to-
gether with the stars and stripes amid the
cheers of our brave tars and soldiers.
Though rising from sick bed to go with
the expedition, could not reach the land
ing to examine the works, which are of i'm.
mense strength, consisting of tiers upon
tiers of batteries upon the river front,
and strong parape: and ditch covered
by thick abatts on the land side.
The Notifications seemed to have been
evacuated hastily. A large quantity of
ordnance and ordnance stores, numbsr OF
anchors, the remainder of the chain once
stretched over the river, and large supply
OF torpedoes were secured.
lhe desolation was visible everywhere.
Huts, tents, and barracks presented moth
ing but the blackened remains, though the
town was spared. A garrison was left in
the works, consisting Of 1000 infantry and
400 cavalry.
(Signed) G.. W. CULLUM,
Rrigadier General.
OFFICIAL TO THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, March 4. --- Secretary
Welles today received dispatches dated
Columbus, March 4th, saying Columbus is
in onr possession. Since our reconnaissance
of the %, the enemy evacuated in haste,
leaving quite number of guns, ammuni-
rion, &C., large quantities of shot and shell,
anchors, aud remnants OF chain cable, lately
stretched across the river, with quantities OF
torpedoes. Most of the huts, tents, &c,
were destroyed. The works were of very
great strength.
NEWSPAPER DISPATCHES.
CHICAGO, March "A despatch to the
Times, from Columbus, wa Cairo, says the
evacuation OF Columbus commenced On
Thursday, the last Of the rebals not leaving
until yesterday afternoon.
The burning commenced on Friday, and
vas continued till Sunday morning Por-
ti0ns of their barracks and other quarters
are still on fire.
The Notifications were not molested.
Everything that could not be carried OF
was h:ed or thrown into the river. A
large number OF cannon were thrown into
toe river.
Lieut.. Col. Hogg, with $50 men, went
into the works at FIVE O'Clock yesterday
afternoon.
Oar gunboats and Transports reached
there at 8 O'Clock to day. not knowing that
the place bad oeen evacuated.
3 man, representing himself as Union
list, says the rebels have mined portions of
the works, and thinks thay may be blown
up.
But few people remain at Columbus.
At lie time Of the evacuation there were
$4,000 troops there.
They lett on the transports, and by Rail-
road. The track and bridges are torn up
and burned for six miles. Their further
destination is not yet known. Ii is report.
ed that Polk and his officers had become
unpopular because he had not done any
thing but iortify the town. The men bad
become demoralized and reckless, and it
was feared they would be surrounded or
shelled cut.
The ex- Mayor was suspected of treason
to the Coufederated Government, and was
carried off by the rebels.
The works were very extensive. proba-
bly, four miles in extent, every bluff on the
river and around the town being fortified.