The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-03-08
Evacuation of Columbus $.

was Immediately followed 10y its occupancy
by the Federal forces.
We copy the following connected and
ineligible account OF the affair from the
Cairo oorresp9 ndence March ~ of the
Chicago Times
The great problem connected with the
evacuation OF this place has been solved.
| The rebels have left in disgrace after their
long and VICTORIOUS boasting. Columbus
| has been the acknowledged Gibralter Of
the Mississippi River, and to evacuate
without ever striking a blow, shows that
the rebels themselves appreciate the inn
portance of our recent victories in Tennes-
see AS have stated in former letter,
our policy undoubtedly would have been
to surround them and how near this had
been accomplished when it was actually
known the place was about to be vacated
would probably, in the eyes of the autho-
rites here, be giving information to the
enemy. The rebels themselves, as soon as
Forts Henry and Donelson fell, and Clarks-
vile aud Nashville were occupied by our
troops, commenced making preparations
to leave the place. 1t was clearly their
only policy and safety, and so stated, by
citizens remaining, to have been the opin-
ion of their officers from the moment the
aforementioned places fell 1t was CON
sidered at Cairo by most military men to
be the course the rebels would pursue
and the result has proved the wisdom OF
the prediction. How wisely the authori
9es at st. Louis have acted in allowing
them to leave and not surrender, as they
did ct Henry and Donelson, if it was pos
sible to prevent it, the public will have to
determine when ali the facts shall be
made known.
After several reconnoisances, the last
one Sunday night last) demonstrating
almost beyond il doubt that the enemy
had left, it was decided TO make an attack
Receiving an invitation from Captain Dove,
Of the gunb6at Louisville. your oorrespon-
dent went on board Monday evening and
the whole flee, got under way some time
during the night and the next morning
1t consisted OF the guuboats CINCINNATI,
alag ship, Louisville, st Louis, Carnde-
let, Pittsburgh, Tyler, and LeXin gton, and
transports towing four mortar boats fol-
lowed by three steamers with the Twenty
seventh and Forty second Illinois, Eighth
Wisconsin, and portions of the Fitty-ffth
Illinois and Seycuty-frst and Fifty fourth
Ohio Regiments.
At daylight on Tuesday morning the
wind was fresh and strong. sky clear
bidding fair that the day would be q good
one for gun and m-rtar-boat operations.
The guuboats in advance moved dowa to
within three miles Of Columbus when
upon a signal from the Flag Officer. they
all came about, aud remained III that posi-
ton until the mortar boats had taken
position near the Missouri shore Not
being saluted 10y the enemy they foated
down, and, a. the morning wore on from
ola ! -
seen, and men moving to and fro Float
ing still further, another battery lower
down the river, and about half way up the
iron banks, named 50 from the color Of
the bluff being similar 10 iron ore, could
be seen with similar movements Soon
on the top of the iron banks flag could
be seen floating, aud large bodies Of men
passing backward and forward We had
now tioated down to within one mile and
half of Columbus. Speculations about
the character of the flag had directed all
the glasses to IT, and ii proved to be- the
stars and stripes. i tug boat had been
hailed by man on the Missouri shore,
who stated that the rebels bad all left
As soon as this news few through the
fleet, the man on the bluff commenced
waving the fag and cheering. \ splendid
new Union flag was hoisted on the Louis
As it hosted out 10 the fresh breeze. all
hands being piped or deck, three hearty
cheers were given for the ships com pauv,
as well as guests. Cheers from the other
boats were also given with will Capt
Dove very generously sent small boat
ashore with his guests, who were soon up
the bluff and into the renowned fortified
tIons at Columbus.
On getting inside learned from Lieut.
Col Hog., of the Second Illinois Cavalry.
that he left PaIucah on Sunday with two
hundred and fifty mer for Colu bus, and,
long before reaching it, learned OF the
evacuation, but that n force of cavalry
remained to report what action was taken
by our forces. He pushed forward at
gallop, reaching Columbus at haIfp five
yesterday, but found no enemy there
tie Immediately sent messenger TO Gen.
Sherman at Cairo 10 inform him where he
was, and supposed his courier had reached
his destination in time, and that was the
reason he did not make an effort TO inform
us while we were feeling our way down.
The most sorry spectacle | ever expect
to behold was presented to view in every
direction. The Notifications are between
four and five mules in circumference, and
a river front Extending down to the town
half There are no Notifications in front
of the town. Every rise Of ground where
position of advantage could be had, and
every ravine inside Of this whole space,
were fortified Every possible foot of
ground had been occupied by barracks,
tents, commissary and quartermaster
storehouses hospitals, officers quarters,
etc, and they all a conn lete mass of ruins
What would not readily burn was smashed
and rendered utterly useless To make
an average, | should judge half the pro
perty had been burned and the other half
destroyed by the axe and sledge hammer
Buildings containing hardware, such as
axes, spades, horse shoes, nails, etc, etc
were plenty, and all destroyed, Comlnissary
stores in protusion We're strewn in every
direction. Barrels of -four, with the bar |
rels smashed, meats, both salt and fresh |
had passed through the destroyers hands |
and been rendered warthless. Over 5000 !
bushels of corn in one pile are still on fire |
Indeed, the whole mass is yet smoking !
All descriptions ofprovisions, clothing, etc, |
are destroid and strewn through the diff /
ferent camps 1t is said that some bacon /
was poisoned by the rebels before they left |
] saw tive I've pieces of heavy cannon |
which had been thrown over the bluff, |
which did not reach the river When the |
river falls, probably valuable pieces of |
artillery, and other troublesom articles to
move, will be found. On the upper water !
battery the guns had been removed and |
gun carriages turned upside down, and are |
most all useless.
The evacuation commenced on Wednes-
day night and continued four days, the |
last getting away yesterday forenoon
There were at the time of leavsug 10000 |
men, three Generals. Palll, Cheatilam and |
Miller, and they had from one hundred
and fifty to two hundred cannon When
they commenced moving they had twenty !,
steamers, large and small The most of