Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-28
w. d. WALLACH:
OPENING THE MISSISSIPPI.


70 evscuste Columbus, where months Of labor
and thousands Of dollars have been expended
to render the Rebel Notifications impregnable,
it is not likely he will attempt to make staRd
above Randolph, Tenn, should he, indeed,
stop short Of Memphis. To get out of the reach
of the huge anaconda now winding its stupen-
dous coils to strangle the rebellion in the Mis-
si ssippi valley, he will have to 90 at least that
far for present safety. Even this would not
save him long if the prophetic signs of events
are verified. We assume, however, that efforts
will still be made by the Confederate authori-
ties to impede the navigation Of the Mississip-
pi river into the cotton growing region, and as
Randolph is the best available spot above
Memphis not fanked by the Union army on
the Tennessee and Cumberland, it is not un-
reasonable to suppose that some resistance
will be offered there, by concentrating force
commercial metropolis of Tennessee.
The keen, prospective eye of Gen. Halleck
is doubtless now upon Memphis, the key to the
Gulf Of Mexico. When Memphis falls, then
goed-by to "NeW Orleans and intermediate
landings, as the steamboat bills say. That
city by far the most important between St.
Louis and the mouths of the Mississippi, is the
eRtrep0t of four railroads traversing North
South, East and West. The shipments of cot
ton alone in the year ending September 1st
1850, amounted to 400, 900 bales; and its gen.
eral business, in ordinary times, is immense.
With q population of q, 900 souls, we may we'll
believe that if the inhabitants are sincerely
and strenuously opposed to the Union which
they are not }, the approach Of Union forces is
a matter of profound concern. But though
there are thousands of loyal people in Mem
phis, and though Gas the papers Of that city
tell US the recent success Of our Generals
were received by many there with undisguised
satisfaction, it must be said that the red hot,
bowling Secessonists are by no means scarce
The place has been strongly fortified, and the
possession OF il will be very reluctantly given
up. Nature has done much for it in the way
vi defeDces. The city is situated Immediately
below the mouth of Wolf river, on the fourth
Chickasaw bluff, from thirty to forty feet
above high water mark. Extending in front
is a beautiful terrace or esplanade, nearly a
thousand feet wide, forming glacis of suf-
6cient compass to accommodate a large army
facing the landing. Heavy cannon have been
mounted upon the most eligible sites sSput
the city, and the exposed portions greatly
strengthened by skilfui engineers. But the
same military necessity which compelled the
evacuation OF Bowling Green, and which now
compels the evacuation Of Columbus, will, in
due time, make itself apparent at Memphis
When everything is in readiness it will fall
into the hands of the Federal troops, and most
likely without any prolonged conflict.
Between Columbus and Memphis the rebels
have erected no less than FIVE somewhat for
midable fortifcations. A strong water battery,
mounting twelve 80 and 42-pounders at Hick-
man, was erected to protect the Nashville and
Northwestern railroad, connecting at Union
city with the Mobile and Ohio, and at McKen-
zie, hfty-hve miles southeast, with the Mem
phis and Ohio railroads; but as communication
is now already cut off between Columbus and
Nashville, the possession Of Hickman is no
longer Of any use to either army. The same
remark holds good in relation to an extensive
tha Sfafa lin Kap u.Hv
from Tennessee, upon which 500 negroes, under
the superintendenee of an able engineer officer
are said to be set to work in September. Fort
Pillow, a short distance below, q strong earth
work with bastions, walls and trenches, mount
ing thirty guns en- barbette, and the redOUbts
and embankments raised by JEFF Thompson at
New Madrid, must likewise be abandoned as
ST no further service in the present posture Of
Gen. Grants forces
Having mentioned four defended points be-
low COlmmbas, We next come to Fort Ran
dolph, sixty miles above Memphis, and about
three hundred and fifty miles from st. Louis.
This is anything but weak position. 1t is
built upon the third Chickasaw bluffs, more
than one hundred feet above the river, and
Immediately south Of Island No. 81, the lower
part of which commands the three mouths Of
the Hatchie river, a stream (navigable at good
stages) that empties into the Mississippi just
above the town of Randolph, at the upper edge
of the bluffs These bluffs form natural para
pets for batteries, and oommsnd a view of the
Mississippi river for six miles each way. By
silencing whatever guns may be placed on the
island, iron-clad boats, in the present condition
of the lower Mississippi, might enter the
northern mouth Of the Hatchie out Of range Of
Fort Randolph.
The town Ct Randolph, near which the fort
stands, consists of half dozen or 90 dilapida-
ted frame houses, and il approached in the
rear by several good roads, but the country
behind it,being full Of ravines and gorges Is
capable Of being fortified TO an almost indef.
mite extent. The position, however, is of no
manner Of use or benefit, except to dispute the
navigation of the river. II has no railroad
communications, and as an army stationed
there weuld have to depend on the river ex-
elusively for the transportation Of supplies, it
would not require long TO starve it out So
Gen. Polk may take his choice. If he concen.
trates At Randolph, the capture Of Memphis
will be so much the easier. If he falls back
on Memphis, that much more territory is re-
claimed to Federal authority
The late trip Of the gunboats up the Ten
nessee river demonstrated that that stream is
unobstructed as far as the Muscle Shoals in
Alabama. An army could be landed near the
southern boundary line of Tennessee, at a
point nearest Corinth, where the Mobile and
Ohio railroad crosses the Memphis and Charles
ton road, the seizure Of which would be OF
terms. From Corinth to Memphis the dls.
tance by railroad is about ninety miles, and
as reinforeements would thus be measurably
cut Of, the work Of reducing the latter city
could be prosecuted at leisure. That is to saw,
no attack would be required to be made until
the result should, by the concentration of men
and arms, be rendered certain. The resources
and Vigor Of Gen. Halleck give assurance that
the country will not have long to wait, for the
times and places Of new conflicts and new VIC
tories have already been determined on.
With the rebel blockade Of the Mississippi
raised, and commercial intercourse between
the loyal people Of the North and South re-
sumed as Of old, upon what can the rebellion
maintain itself? The fertile valley, stretch
ing from the great Northwest to the Gulf Of
Mexico, oEes more in possession Of the Union.
to which by every right il belongs, and ever
shall belong, the insurrectiOn must die for
want Of sustenance. To US Of this section the
navigation Of the Mississippi, unObstructed by
secession cannon and unhsmpered by secession
impost tributes, Is natural necessity. The
rounrnoD fraasura of the nation has ka.p