The New York herald., 1862-03-09
Our CORRESPONDENT IN COLUMBUS.
THE EVACUATION OF aTlIE GIBRALTAR"
Appearance Of the Place on the Entrance
Of the Union Troops.
INTERESTING INCIDENTS,
Our CoIumbu. (Ky.) Correspondence.


Our Columbus (Ky.) Correspondence.
COLUMBUS, KY, March A, 1862.
How DO you like the heading of this episs-"Our Co
lumbus (Ky) Correspondencef" Does it not seem ode
enough after so much has said by tho rebel jour
pals and generals Of its "mpregnabilty" &cf Never
theless the stronghold has alen the Stars and Stripes
float the ex-rebel town and fort the blue uniforms
OF Western troops fringe the high bluffs around thu
city large transports line the levses tho cat
lie lazly at anchor upon the face Of the
yestc "Father Of wsters bands awake the dorman
echoes with their inspiring rendition Of national airs
ths long suppressed Unionists are coming int
town with their gifts to sacrifice upon the alta
Of their country, and everything and everybody
3oln in the eneral rejoicing. Yes, thank God
we have got Columbus and all honor to tho army
and navy that 1t is soa praise to him who conceived
ffas "anaconda" that the achievement perfected
without tho firing Of gun the loss Of single life
Cut OF from communication with the rebel stronghold
3lsxassas, and the rebel capital at Richmond, by the
capture OF Forts Henry and Donsson separated from the
isnan rebel army by the fall OF Bowling Green Carks
vile and Nashvie-except communication was had
by the ccutous route via Charleston New Orleans and
Msmpbis-snd threatened by our advance across from
ths Cumberland toward the Mississippi at Randolph and
Hickman there alternative left the rebels but
evacuae surrender. They have chosen the rst and
single glance at the extensive works around the city
that the destruction Of life must have been terrible in
deed bad its garrison remained defend against Tia
attacks planned against 1t.
As wrote you in my last letter, .sthe next i'm.
portant move would be down tho river" SO it has
movement would bs b!oodess. / had expected it
would be my painful duty to chronicle a strife
and tragedy second indeed that upon thehsdes
at Donelson. But to the details.
For several days past vague had been aaoat in
Cairo that columbus had been evacuated" and many
thore were who believed them; but most Of US, who
knew OF the strength Of the rebel works. dscredted the
story land so on Sunday last roconno ssance was made
by Commodore Toote and General Culom, which resulto
in the discovery that there still strong rebel force
posted there. Then 1t was concluded to take down
strong force Of gunboats and mortar ras try tho Of
feet Of satpetre in hurryng their preparations 10
day, tho 4th Of pfarch, the anniversary OF the hau
yatiome Presidentiale, we came. Commodore Foots
had prepared hve Of the iron clads" and OF the old
wooden craft, besides six mortar RATS, while General
Cullom despatched upon tho steamers Aeck Scott T. L.
sherman of Paducah Colonel Berford Of tho Twenty
seventh Illinois Volume being second In command
Of the infantry We started from Cairo at four O'Clock
this morning and steamed eisursy down the river,
irving at Lucas Bond four miles above Columbus at
sunrise Though the morning clear and beautiful
still tho wind was In such direction to watt the
smoke and steam from our fleet directly between US
and the rownng bluffs that have been wont to salute
with tho booming Of heavy artillery whenever we have
made appearance here before hiding, or at least
greatly obstructng our Wow Of the batteries, and
Aering US unable even with the aid Of powerful field
all. Occasionally, however, as the wind would
discover mon upon the brow Of the bluffs, but owing to
the unsteadiness Of the ships motion, jong both look
ers and giasses u was impossible TO determine what We
did but as the batteries silent, fastened the
mortar RATS to the Missouri shore and dropped down
the river in line Of battle order. When had arrived
at point about two miles above the works, squad Of
men discovered standing the o the breast
works, and flag was hosted there We wore still
TOO far or distinguish whether was Union or rebel
on1iRn ayorrinR IL the
other; but acting upon the hypothesis that II tho
ia.sr Fiss oS:, foS.s gave .h. order 80 omaoas on
trying hour of the whole trip. Here were, within
point blank range Of the of tho batteries floating
and perfectly at the mercy Of the foe should this BE-
sass OF theirs 10 nvesle US INTO their trap. We knew
not whether approaching friend or foe whether
the dag was ours theirs, whether the silence would
continue whether at moments notice the whole Of
that red bank would belch forth in ono deafsning
deathly roar. We dared not hre gun, lest its
charge should fall among friends, and dared
too close lest the enemys guns should open upon
10 from such height as to render ours Ineffective
against hem and there safe way Of solving tho
problsm Something must be done, however, General
Cullom despatched officer the shore 10 learn If
possible the status Of the camp. The officer found q
single individual shore but he knew professed TO
know as little of affairs in town as though ho had
heard Of the rebellion, and SO the officer came back
ignorant he went. What to be doneS Just then
Captain Phelps OF the Conestoga and General sherman
ascertain position OF affairs. With many msgivings
the Flag Officer and General Cullom consented tho
raugement, aud soon the little Fire Fly her
TO fulfil her bold and dangerous mission. For few
mens after she left the side Of the flagship the most
painful suspense felt and evidenced by all board
FOR almost expected each moment that tho next
would that mountain open upon her its mighty bat
terss and knew that single shot would rend her
{, into thousand fragments. Eu down. down down the
river she went until she had made moro than half the
, distance, when she halted for reconnaissance. Then
after amomsnt's delay, we saw her turn her prov to.
wards tho Kentucky shore and on direction
OF the batteries Wo watched her she crossed the
river and approached the shore tho base OF the h
saw her land at the lower fort, heard her signal
to "Come On " her leap ashore and hurry up
the steep ascent and finally when thoy had attained the
summit and hostod of the ships 1ags gave
ccsson Of cheers and shouts and huzzas, which wero
echoed aud repeated from boat boat and from shore
70 shore until seemoa that the whoe earth had sud
denly become gifted with the power OF yocazaon, and
niuging In one thundering YELL Then we all
dropped down to the tho transports rounded 10 and
discharged their troops, which were marched directly
into the robel fortacatons aud we all set about making
The st place visited was the immense earthworks OH
the hill 10 the north Of the townwoks covering in all
their ramincatons nearly two hundred acres Here We
found part OF the Second Illinois cavalry under Colonel
Hogg, who had come into town tho day before from Pa
ducah and justly cntcd 10 the credit Of pioneering
the Union army into Columbus 1t was thoy whom
had upon the carhworks they who hoised the flag
which hard to be made out, and came SO de-
ccivng and well we might have been excused we
had fred upon II, for more outlandsh thing never
saw Lot describe II. II about ten feet long by
six wide, with alternating palo blnea kght red
and dirty white stripes, Of about thu or four
inches in width, with red, blue and white field
upon which sewed blue white and red stars to the
number Of twenty or more. one could scarcely tell by
inspection of II whether originally intended for
American banner, Niger blanket the winding sheet
for n deunct Son OF Malta: but tile woman who
brought forth and presented to the boys they rode
into said II ag IL taken and accepted
and such hung out gaze show that tho
possession Of the Unionists To describe the bat
tories aud forts would be useless, inasmuch the
HERALD published elaborate Illustrated description
about the middle OF December last, and little, II any
change has taken place since that tne except in the
work u destruction incident 20 sudden evacuation Tho
river batteries have been almost entirely demolished
three ticrs of themtheir guns dsmounted and thrown
into the river tho gun carriages muated and magazines
demolished leaving nothing TO mark their former pre-
ruined breastwors and huge piles Of
balls and shells. Just below the upper river battery
hugo ch in which has been christoncd Pillows Folyu
emorgos from tho water extends up the almost pcrpc
dicuar bank hundred feot moro, and disappears
undcr the SOIL where II extends tothe Lord only knows
where This Is the Kentucky end Of tho chain which the
valiant inside ditch digger had stretched across the
river TO obstruct the passage Of our gunboats. A