The New York herald., 1862-02-09

reached by shot without any greater difficulty than
was experienced at Hilton Head and Hatteras but the
latter will certainly be senced with the greates d
Guilty and only at great distance.
ON the northern slope Of the buf two light bate
ries and rife pt mile in length, which designed
specially to protect the place against land attack from
the north while the summit Of the hill is a strongly
intrenched work commanding all directions and manned
by eight cannon. --
attack is small battery Of -four guns and in the river
the north OF the town is the celebrated submarine bat
terry which Is to explode and destroy 1eet, We lake
the word of that veracious Individual Commodore lo-
ns submarine batteries never have been effective
means Of warfare and IL is doubtful IL they ever VIII.
The time and money expended upon them have always
been thrown away
The fiosiing battery Of twenty guns is stationed
nssr the southern extremity Of the river but viii pro-
baby be moved to the exposed points. II is doubt
less very formidable engine Of warfare. nl
church the centre OF the city is used for
sazias but why 50 exposed position should be chosen
wc are unable 90 conjecture. When Commodore fcote
made bis reconnaissance, he could distinctly the
and out Of the reach Of the shells Whether il has or
has not been replaced We are unable to say.
THE VAN IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.
From the St. Louis Republican, Feb. 3.
The rebels attach great importance to their situation
At Columbus Tho report 6rst circulated several days
ago of the removal Of General Beauregard from the Po
to that quarter comes to US reiterated by Sonb
ern journals. That immediate attack upon Columbus
IL generally spprehsnded by the rebel officers, seems
quite evident, and iat the place daily being strength
ened and prepared to withstand siege admits
OF a. little doubt. The New Orleans Delta shows
that the safety Of the South, and the enectual re
ssancs Of the rebels to the Union armies, depend upon
The holding Of Columbus and its supporting military
posts white 10 southern Kentucky all eyes are turned ss
the ss, o. II STToS nsrcs ana
the rebels driven from valued position, the
nrst note Of his great contention BY that signal action
JohnsOnS forces, and very materially advanced to the
assistance u The troops Green river, who but
Mating cS%s .ospss.ses %oys%saIs to IN march upon
cation between Bowliug treep and Columbus be
OF, the Uu.on forces win have it in their power to
achieve xuch victory will make tho Confederates
remble from Nashville TO rsusscols.
The rebel srmes IN Southern Kentucky represent two
wngs-Counbns at the west, and Bowling Green al the
ssst-wth totally Inadequate centre. Here is line
running ussfly one hundred snd fifty nilss which 1t
would require two hundred thousand trooos to cover,
while the Cofsdsrses 10 not muster the half OF that
number 30 many The centre is bed by brigade at
Hopkinsvic, aud by Fort Henry tho Tennessee aud
Fort Doncson (twelvs miles distsnD on tho Cumberland
These points occupied by The federal forces posi-
tion taken the state linesy al 1fadensy lesnd
the wings of the rebel army would be completely isolated
while both would be threatened in the rear aud supplies
for both measursby cul or. To such result the nger
Of events now points. We interpret The noyemenis
going on at Cairo paiIesh and Sinithapd to mssn IN
important expedition NJ u. Cumberland Tennessee
rivers n successful, General Buell. will hayo conpa-
ratively easy task IN dxodgns the Confederstos from
Bowling Green for with Clafks, lie serious enaced
and railroad connections thereby broken, they must fall
back fight under almost NIcming disad gpxes
Nashville, too, Is location The rebels canno, afford to
lose without a desperate struggle
Looking al the expedition hitting at paducsh
and Smithsnd as probably designed FOR he capture Of
Fort Henry may state that this post "a will be re.
collected, was aioy rcconnoerei by the gnnboat Iox.
ingtcn. Up TO about tho 18th Of January
BY some Two thousand secession troops but after Gene
rel Smiths column had moved from Padncsh il was ~.
norccd by two thousand mon from Camp Beaure.
gard and ibis force may have been souswha Increased
since Fort Henry IL situstod IN the east bend OF the
Tennessee rivor, fvs or six miles below the Kentucky
line II was built in August; intended in conjunc
ton with Fort Dopeson FOR the defence of the Cumbcr
land and Tennessee valleys. but occupied moro
than nominslly until Columbus was seized by General
Polk in september. n lies quite low, being overlooked
the west by buns, which, we believe, have
been mounted by cannon The armament Of the
fort according % tho best Information, consists of six
six twelve and thirtytwo poundors but tho fort
being designed 10 ropel attack from the river ia not
calculated TO resist lana forces approaching the rsar
General smith might easily have taken II, but was not
prepared 10 hold II with tho forces he had after General
Grant had returned from his isnt upon Columbus We
shall bs surprsedto hear OF General T1hmln who
commands nj Fort Henry. evacnatng the place upon the
second approach Of orr uOors
Notwithstanding the apprehonsons Of the rebels we
do now think hat the cabo ate fortihcaons al Co.
umbus will hc soon assaulted. Measures will bo tsken
10 compel the secession soldiers come out of their in
renchmcnts prevent siege Tlrs they must do N the
military Gordon continues TO wind around them as present
Appearances promise Perhaps u s the anaconda gradual
" dragging its slow length along, aud spreading s coils
to stranpe General Poks magnificent array which has
brought Beauregnrd from Manassas give the benefit OF
his skill and experience TO sinking prospect.