Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-27
Affairs At Cslumbus-Ths Rebel Fsrtiflea-
tions


The Chicago correspondent of the New York
world writes a. follows:
Columbus 10 situated on the east shore Of the
Mississippi, at point about 20 miles below here,
and IL the terminus OF the Ohio and Mobile Rail-
road. North Of the place the bluffs verv pre-
ciPitous, are some 90 feet IN hight, and just at
this point make q curve inward, leaving gently
ascending bottom, upon which the town Is built
In the center Of The town is a round fort, built
OF earth, with small ditch, mounting FIVE guns
and 10 Of no great strength. lust at the point
where the bluff commences 10 recede from the
river, and located near the bank are the head.
Snarter, OF Gen Polk aud battery Of three guns.
JUST opposite this, and moored to the bank, is a
noatng battery whose armament did not learn
Three fourths OF mile up the river, and located
between the foot Ct The bluff and the waters edge
Of rihed 22's and CPS
On he top Of the bluff, and commencing about
opposite this last battery, is the begiRni1g of a
battery or series Of batteries which srfend sIong
the edge OF tie bluff to the pol nj where the blnfY
curves In, containing In ali eig hty guns among
which, and Standing about half way are three
mortar guEs which bolt and dIsgorge pref ectile
weighing rs pounds. Commencing at the north
end Of this battery is a rife pit or trench which
extends across to the railroad, aud thence follows
down the inside Of the railroad trac till II reaches
TIE depot where It terminates Inside this space
enclosed by the ride pits are two forts one
mounting eighty heavy guns, surrounded by
dl'ch, and having stOckadss Cd the side nearest
tnS river the other is nearer the river and has
man forces of the Rebels a. Columbus. which
humber In all from 90 600 10 40, coo fsetive men
Al The floating bittery commences a road W hirh
runs past Gen. Folks heada uartsrs aseeuds the
blUh, proceeds over the open space where the
uosps are encamped, cross "a lrold track
Shd, az point sore miles eastward, reaches
Camp BeauregaEd.
Al tos place where the road resches the ton of
The blur thsrs Is a small ditch and embau kment
Wnlcn Is not mounted By any guns but IL intend
"a, ProodoIy, as shelter for rinemen. At the
S~Pot ana upon platform ave mounted tbrse
hesNy guns, which command the river straiy hit
acfoSs ana soGthwaEds AUOut a mile frem Gen
fniks quarters, up The river are several sub.
a. ftne OdueFieS. while four miles above Is Lucas
ps1o, Just below v hich our gunbO4ts gen, rally
oflng 10 when they 90 down To se.enade the Ga.
lombus Rebels
The timber within the Rebel trenches and for
II thoosano yards - the north Of II has been
tLeaito away, SO IS To Tel approach in that d..
IecHoA Impossible East Ct :b4 rsiltoad p
timber i'lihs
The gunbo>ts which the rebeIs have are tvo q,
nsm Der The smaller 10 the Grumpus a small
wooden stern wheeler, mounting a heavy pivot
gun, ana use d principally for towing AID recon
noiSSdneeS, fne other Is a much larger vessel
The Lady Polk-which carries sly onna mostly
Ined 52-pounders- The chain concerning which
80 mueh has been s1td is not at all myth There
an immense chain stretched across the river
ee point where the floating battery Is uoored,
ous IN a snort time II was broken by being rnn
plired. ''"0e "e0H IT,
The troops are conf dent that tbeycan rs.ist anv
force that can be brought against them aItbongb
aver witnessing the specimen Of cupnefv m ,rded
mem oy our boats last week, they are not 30 yery
80. ioI tne contest My informant corobo-
LOOK eneeti several men killed and wounded boyv
many ne does not know. One Of the shells how
eyer, passed entirely over the works and feIl in
Soe Town, put, fortunately for the rebels without
bursting They remain constantly in fear on An
Stsck nom our forces, and for the last two weeks
1re nept upon their arms at night
.ld,hs. men generally are pretty well fed and
80 NJ Two tennessee regiments are armed
VIE Enfield and one with Mirie rides. The
0aance have arms Of every description. from
20 iepeate's to the common shot gun. Drill
rag entirely disPensed with, except 10 the case
necessarily " eA i'"o'
The mos. formidable gun. are the three 12s-
PoGnoefss located on the bluffs, and whose range
IS almost Incredible. A short time since some ~
cur troops, while scouting four miles from Co.
LumooS, came upon peculiar looking hole
s..1. peY Investigated Ten feet below the
euLaee tney exhumed q monster percussion .heII
Wnlcn looked more like q -four barrel than n Re
any known prcjectile. IL is now on eYhIhitIon
mere, and was fred from the gun which lately
.ne so near ending the valuable life and Cbris
usn example Of the sanity Polk That gun WI.
OF precisely the same kind as the three mon.te,s
eoove spoken Of. They carry the same mon
tay ni proJectffe' and hufI II with the same
Wnen the gun that burst was Hrst mounted a,
found that the shell was a trifie too LARGE ana
e eeiore entering had to be filed down. After
ming lew rounds the gun became hot and
expanded 10 an extent that admitted tbs '.b s
WITHOUT dimculty. When the firing ceased tha
gun was len loaded with shell that had no, besn
ro uo"a some dsys after Polk directed the
Gunner 20 nfe the piece; he declined fearing the
consequences Somebody else yoiunteeredoo the
sunnef stepped behind tree and, with Rfsboo
s,,1 .i r , was the only man Of eleven who
stn we e1 p!osiOn Had IL pleased a beneA
cent Provfdens - on that occa lion ~ $1,000
negment Il tie Shattered monster as a veb}cIs
upsn which 10 convey the soul Of the rave,s, A
he S.nD,S - " annons prepared for the righteous,
ne wouIu nave been housed In a place IN nitsty
PIr,TIaoie, al The very hast In morals Dositio5
O.. iVSceY, 70 that afforded him in Coiumbu,
49,. =. ssst good men, In this life, do not
lays reap their reward
i think that these facts will .ho,r g.. r,
~ Iuss what the Rebels claim ~ to beNIbs NJ
=, :. on tne West. Better even, IL they dss,,a a
reheiiion "olaItar OF that sum Of all Yillainy-
r. :, an assault mig ht carry IT, but II yyo1Id
~ an "a Pense OF loyal blood and treasure thai
,h. oc1ah OF the rebelltous current dTawn froTn
DiIoos. , % AZ we chiyalrVsouth Of Mason and
hn, 80 :, souie not begin 70 atone for There are
Duttso ways In which Columbn. .bonia nc =.
- Sa-one - TO attack IL by regular snn~oschs..
~ 70 surround 10, cut n The nen ps N an ~
alfy. VIC staggering sons Of chiv-
nov or when this thing will be Gone no ons
. VIII venture the prophecy. howeyer thst
change IN rs a weeks Will witness no material
and tLe United sates forces This noint Tps
o0an boats rrqhife hide addiiionrprincipaiIy
ss. Inc % nortars-without, thei, eiacieney as
"a oHensive arm would be msteriallv Ias.Snsd
i. Benton, too, as usual, requires little more
laoof before she 10 ready for actions few more
49, s ,sqeited-mors transportation, Q gord
iand soses = nsfded--a h'f!ng addition 70 the
.ofee a. This poiat 10 Eeceesary. w hen fhess
sdaltoos 10 our present sniciency are
sons n nsn may an szpecisnt, valorous, Itsy-...
Til 49, &c sAPs1 70 hear Of demonstration.
lxl UEanH Al
$500 70 pieces, the navy TO- De demoli. he d.
.PJ ~ lssponse % the howl for blood whieh