New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-09

auxiliarics to and not main dependencies Oh suo-
cessfn defense.
Next TO lie Columbus Publications, there are on
tho Mississippi River:
I. A battery at Hickman, Ky, said to mount ten
81 ard 42-pcunders-
3 fort, rapidly aprrcaehirg completion, near 'te
Sac line. Five hundred negroes are sa'd TO oe con-
sructng H. under the supeintendence OF an engineer
officer.
/ 3. Fort Pillow short distance below; described
40 strong earthwork, with walls, dcbes, and bee
items; capabs of mounting G. guns en- barbette, OF
which only about one-third sre reported to 10 10
, position.
| 4. FoSt Randolph, near Eemphis-a strong ee'-
| tery, said 80 mount Is guns.
The rebel army a; Columbia, 40 well as the FORTH
ca ions ct and between that point and Memphis, are
simply intended for the protection Of the Mississippi
River The geographical position of Columbus IS
such, and the forces under Polk comparatively 40
small. as 10 render it mpraccabe to extend the OF
erations of tie latter beyond the above and to tie
defense of the Tennessee and Cumberland Valleys.
For ills purpose Forts Henry sld Doueson, alluded
TO in former part of this letter, were erected Ibe
former located the east bank Of the Tennessee,
few miles south Of the State lire, at the point oil an
angle formed by the river, only one side OF which II
commando. Its petition is low, and entirely COM
manaed by lLe bluffs on tie Yves. bank. 10 Is armed
with l6 guns Ct light calibe: only, II, ind
G-pounders. Some coumbiads are, however, now
said TO be OH tho way there, and the opposite hills
are also TO be fortified, according to report. Fort
Donelson, near Dover, on the Cumberiand-only
about twelve niles from Fort Henry-s situated on
the west bank OF the river. 1t ia simple earthwok
mounting only twelve "a and 32podndere. Both
forts or rather batteries, are intended only for the
control of the navigation Of the river and are made
quate for defense against an attack by land.
Forts Henry ard Donelson were constructed dur
ing the Sdmmer, but only properly manned and armed
slnce the occupation of Southern Kentucky by the
Confederates. For some weeks, worhs OF an exten-
Give character have been constructing at Clarks-
vile for the protection of the important railroad
crossing Should the railroad bridge at this point be
5esroyed, the communication With Memphis would
be lost to the rebel army at Bowling Green aud the
possibility of retreat in that direction and junction
with Folks forces cut of. To prevent this fatality,
very large force Of whites and negroes are now ELI
gagged throwing up defensive works with all possible
dispatch. Some iirty-odd guns were lately reported
to have arrived at GAINESVILLE, and some Of these are
probably mounted ere this. The Clsrksyile works
will in II MEASURE render Fort Doneson useless.
Beside the Notifications the sinking Of s'one-laden
canal the respective channels eose TO the State
ne has also been esored to by the rebels'o obstruct
the appearance Of Union gun.boats in tie Upper Ten
nossee and Cumberland Valley. But these obstruc-
tions will only prove effective at low water Botn
the Cumberland and Tennessee frequently rise from
ten to fifteen feet which will prove more than fufli-
oielt TO carry tie gun.boats uuharmed over tie
former.
Two old ricke,y boats, owned in Il city, were
a.ely proposed Tor conversion into men-of-war for
tue further defense Of the Cumberland But these
ancient river cruisers will not answer for the pur-
pose mentioned and will furnish bu, sport to the in
vadeIs.
The subject Of terrifying THE city has been almost
daily dscussed by the secession prints, and 1t wns
positively stated few days ago, that the rebel au-
thories bad determined TO do something III that d.
recrion. But all attempts TO ave the capital oil Ten
nessee by Notifications will turn out dead failures.
II would take the labor Of years 10 overcome the TO-
biographical difficulties Of the site of Nashville IN tue
way II a uccossful defense. All that can be done
now will only result in averiing destructive bonn
barjmeni upon the city. understand that the two
bridges over the Cumberland are TO be protected by
tetes-de-pont the right bank Of the river. But,
unfortunately for tho rebels, the ground Is soping
toward the river ard hence they can DO easily sheed
out Of any position by an army advancing upon the
city from the north. There il range Of bluffs few
miles north Of the city that could be made All excel
lent base Of defense aud enable the rebel forces at
Bowling Green, in they should be forced into
retreat 70 make a second stand. Nothing in the way
Of in;renchlnents, however has as yet been com.
msneed upon theIn.
Much ignorant Wanting has been INDUCED in by
the papers Of tile city, and especially by the monde
script Bowling. Green. Nashville Louisville Courier,
in r,ference TO the artificial strength given to Bowling
Green sisce September, by for.ifcations. Happening
" be perfectly well informed npon their character,
can safely pronounce this boasng this subject alb
soue bo-h. The reputed stronghold is not half go
well fortified as Columbus. Ii il protected By works
Oh one eide only and that is the one from which the
Union foycee are expected 10 make attack on the
place. The town is approached from the norb-eat,
Grst by tie railroad from Louisve, and secondly,
by turnpike running almost parallel to, and short
distance from, the former They both cross Barren
River, which skirts the town in the form OF borfe-
shoe, at points about bali mile east Of the place, by
means of bridges. A few hundred yards from the
west end of these two batteries, of four aud six guns
respectively. have been constructed, on an elevated
roint commanding both the rnilroad track and pike.
About quarter Of mile nearer the town, likewise
covering tie approaches over the railroad and pike,