The New York herald., 1862-02-09
The Rebel stronghold or Columbus, ON
the Mississippf River.

The Rebel stronghold or Columbus, ON
the Mississippi River.
We present our readers to-day, from several
intelligent sources very important map of the
rebel stronghold at Columbus. Kentucky, TO-
gether with An interesting statement concerning
that locality and the rebel army there from Mr.
Leonard Dentz. late q drill sergeant in that
camp by compulsion, but now in this city, after
a lucky escape from rebel guardhouse and
military execution.
From our map, and from the testimony of
Mr.. Dentz It will be seen that the rebels have
been working like beavers since their drst oc-
cupstion of Columbus last summer TO make it
regular Sebsstopol. On the commanding bluffs
which form the left bank of the river above and
below the town for Eve or six miles they
have erected 8 succession Of heavy bate
ries TO sweep tho river and the opposite
Cat shore they have stretched across tho
stream several strong and massive chains,
supporting numerous submarine batteries or
torpedoes to blow up our gunboats; and they
have below these chains several ganboats and
the famous turtle or steam ram of the re-
doubtable Captain Hollins. So much for the
river and the river front Behind the shore
dessn2ss i ihs rebel camp Of forty, lfy or
aixty thousand men, supported on its right by
the wing Of river battery, and BY line of
rife pits. on elevated ground, Of nearly two
miles long In his rear General Polk has pro
vided against a surprise by the construction Of
several powerful earthworks. and on bis left
flank be has three or four redoubts and bat
teries Of still more formidable character, and
line of rifle pits to protect the railroad which
here comes in from Bowling Green. Alto
getber, il is probable that in this extensive and
elaborate system Of defsnces. Columbus Is sur
rounded by over one hundred pieces Of artil-
lery, mostly of heavy calibre. many rifed, and
with three one hundred and twenty Founders
in the most commanding position.
The nature of the ground covered by these
works is another element Of strength. They
occupy sort Of terrace, elevated from twelve
to seventyavs feet above the surrounding dat
and swanpy country. We may thus form an
approximate idea Of the natural and artificial
streagth of Columbus, and of the Importance
which the rebels attach to its continued occupa-
ton by their troops to the end Of the war, if
possible. We think, however that, with all
these vast and formidable and defensive preps-
rations, they have only been shutting them
selves up in trap Their army of forty or
fifty thousand men, or more is fed from day to
day by the supplies which it receives from be-
low by way Of the river, and from the interior
of Tennessee and Kentucky by the Bowling
Green Railroad. That road having been seized
by our troops at the crossing of the Tennessee
river. the rebel camp at Columbus is even now
reduced to the river channel for the means Of
subsistence.
We ara satisfied, too, from the manner in
which our gunboats stood up to their work in
short range Of the guns Of Fort Henry, that
those boats can snap the chains Of the Missis
sippi, and run the gauntlet of the batteries at
Columbus, and take position below which
will effectually blockade the river. This done,
three or four days will bring Columbus to a
capitulatiou; for we do not suppose that push.
ed to the uttermost, the rebel army there can
longer subsist upon its provisions on hand.
The place is doomed and with its fall the
whole line Of the Mississippi river will be
opened to our gunboats; for upon this plea
the journals Of New Orleans are urging rein
forcements to Columbus and additional bat
teries for its defence, forgetting that it can be
cut off below and in the river from its supplies.
and can thus be quickly starved into submis-
sion.