Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-14
THE WESTERN GUNBoAT FLEET.
The Projected Attack upon Cslumbu.-The
Chances.

lCairo correspondence Of 81. Louis Republican ]
The gunboats are nearly completed, the last
finishing touches being all now necessary. The
Benton, which will be the flag ship, has had
its boiler placed lower in the hull, and floats
upon the water the most formidable river craft
probably ever made. From trial the jar caused
by firing on the different boats is SO slight as
to be hardly perceptible, while the craft can be
moved in position easier than was anticipated.
They will soon thunder their broadsides before
Columbus, and on their effect will hang the
fate of the rebel stronghold.
While the Federal gunners, under cover Of
the iron sides, Will be working more safely
than in cssemstes, their opponents, within
open earthwerks viii be fully exposed to the
falling storm ef. shot and shell. The advan-
tage possessed by the sssailants In such a case
was fully shown at Port Royal, and with the
immense mortars and splendid guns Of the
present 6eet in full play, Columbus cannot be
held. The country for a mile surrounding
there can in less than day be made wholly
untensble, perfect rain Of shell falling among
its defenders, while not one shot in two hum
dred fred at the boats will prove effective,
unless setting at naught all calculations of
science. :
Although Understanding the struggle ne
cessary to take Columbus would be worse than
folly. the opposite view can be rendered still
more injurious by embracing the extreme and
oclOIo OnlOu hOluleIS Iu6 ghosts Oh I'M
possible and barely imaginable terrors Every
clump Of bushes around Columbus is not a
masked battery, and their flying artillery are
not 12S- S-pOunders, like the 60 Lady Polk" of
Belmont fame, which burst, it will be remem-
bered, some time since, killing so many, and
nearly breaking the leg of Sir Bishop, after
whose lady it was named.
To show the difficulty Of hitting vessels on
the river, the case Of the Lexington and Con-
estoga, which occurred when first came to
Cairo, some months since, will demonstrate
These beats were engaged for over three hours
with several batteries, in all twenty guns just
above Columbus, and although the cannon
aiding was kept up vigorously by the Csnfede-
rates, not q single shot took effect. A gunboat,
when in action, lies with the bow up stream,
in which position it is motionless, and does not
sway with the currents action; only the stern's
breadth affords an object for its opponent 8
aim, and at a mile and q half. or even less,
this appears small.
At peaceful practice it would be hard to hit
similar target, and in the heat of battle it is
much more difficult. So, with all the brsgging
and taunts of another Manassas the most pru-
dent military men stoutly affirm that Colum-
bus can and will be taken. The Confederate
srmy now there numbers about sc, 900 strong,
and deserter who came into the lines night
before last states that six hundred torpedoes
are sunk in the river between Columbus and
Memphis. This last story serves to show how
credulous a commander would be who should
place any reliance upon the men who con-
stantly arrive, proclsiming themselves from
the secession army, and telling marvellous tales
Of hair-breadth escapes. =