, 1862-01-24

6-Battery+ three grnE. 7-Battery, guns. s.
rear. % Batteries light guns commanding raar
he pit ene ile ong chareh sa used as
WEI UPON tic lu 1s@Railroad Snd assa 'of pumping
We hare been fortunate enough to obtain
I've shall not say how plan of the rebel
Notifications at Columbus. The sketch was
drawn from memory BY one who las been
there and knows all about the place. Ofcoursc
it is not drawn with the precision which a
practiced engineer would give, but it is sut1i-
cicntly accurate to present an intelligible idea
of the place and its surroundings. Many Of
our readers have been at Columbus aud will
recognize the features at a glance.
Columbus is situated On a bluff just below
bend Of the Mississippi river. The bluff is
OF limestone, and had an agency in turning
the river at this point. It is about seventy
five feet high, and is danked by narrow strip
Of land at its base, overdowed at times by
high water. The village is situated on its
southern slope. The country in the rear has
been heavily timbered, but the rebels have
made good use Of their axes, and hundreds Of
acres arc 1eye1led to the ground, presenting an
abboM as formidable to our troops as that
around Washington to tile rebels under Beau
regard and Johnston. The railroad enters the
town through an excavation about fifteen feet
deep. With this general view Of the surround
ing Topographic features, our readers will
readily understand the accompanying sketch:
Commencing up stream, We find at figure
4 14-gun battery under the bluff. When our
informant saw it, it was simply breastwork,
but it is now reported that the rebels are case
mating it with the timber which was cut out
at O'Neil's mill, which was burned by Gen
Paine on the return Of the expedition last
week.
In the river in front Of tAe battery is sub
marine battery, or torpedo. Continuing on,
we come to 4 stationary steam engine (t2)
used TO pump water upon the bluff for the use
Of the troops. Still further along, near the
point where the bluff retreats from the river,
is 4 three gun battery(2 The Reverend Gen.
arch-rebel Bishop Polk's headquarters are
there. Continuing OIL to thu lower end Of the
town, We come to q three gun battery on
shore near the railroad dcIf,:; also, 4 foating
! battery Of twenty guns, the w1arEboats and
some old flats having been used for the pur-
| pose.
Back Of the depot, overlooking the town, is
a circular work Of eight guns ~ commanding
the river, also the approaches to the town
/ from the rear.
Ascending now the bluff {at figure y there
is a work containing three guns which carry
| projectiles weighing 12s pounds each Thi:
battery has range Of the river for four miles
| Immediately south ofthis there is strong
intrenched work with 4 brcastwork at the edge
Of the bluff, and n ditch and breastworb at ths
rear, thus commanding both front and rear
There arc also {at 9, 81 two works mounting
sixteen guns, designed solely to protect ths
rear. Still further towards the rear is lons
rifle pit as breastwork, extending from tht
| edge Of the bluff on the north to the railroad
excavation on the south. An idea of the are:
may be had when it is considered that this MI
is more than mile long.
A church ny is used for magazine. Las
| week Comm odore Foote made Reconnaissance
Of the place with two Of his gunboats; where
upon tic ammunition was speedily removed
further south, beyond the reach Of his shells
There are about eighty guns in all, exclusive
Of field artillery. The rebel force is yariousl1
estimated from twenty-five to forty t4ousant
men, probably thirty thousand is flir esti
mate. Some Of the regiments are well armed
with Springfield and Enfield muskcts, whilt
some of then, have only shot~guns. Thcrear,
not many sixty days men in Columbus, hui
mainly troops enlisted for the war.
II will be seen by this sketch, that it is nj
| tritling job which Com, Footc and Gen. GRAM
have on their hands. If an attack is 1nads
! there will be serious work. Com. Footci is cx
| trenlely anxious to obtain the mortars which
have becr promised him again and again, hui
:: none Of them have been received. Tie thirty
eight boats prepared for them are lying at ths
lcycc in Cairo. Why cannot the naval depart
mcnt send portion Of those now casting al
Pittsburgh, to Cairo? Let it bc remembered
i that those batteries on the bluff will be entire
u out Of the reach Of our gun-boats in clost
action. But with those thirty-eight lnortar=
Com, Foote aud Capt. Constable would pro
ducc stampede surprising that from Hilto1
Head. Without them, it may be feared tha
an attack will not dislodgc tho rebels from
/ their strong position.