The national Republican., 1862-03-05
BY TELEGRAPH.
coLUMBUS, TNE ol8kAlrAR
OF THE wEsT, ts oUNsl 4

|COlUM6Uo, TNE 0l0NM TAH
OF THE Waits oU6s.
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Utter 06nfhsion |!
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The following dispatch ~ last night receives
at the headquarters Of the army:
CoLuxsus, March I.
Columbus, the Gibraltar OF the West, is ours
and Kentucky 10 frse-thanks to the brilliant
strategy Of the campaign. BY which the enemy,
centre was pierced II Forts Henry and Donel
son bis wings isolated from each other and
turned. compelling thus the evacuation Of bis
stronghold OF Bowling Green nrst, and now
Columbus at I O'Clock this morning. - ~
The hotiila, under Flag Odioer Foote, con.
sisting oi his gunbosts commanded by Captains
Dove, Walk, Stembell, fAulding, Thompson.
and Bhirk, and four mortar boats In charge Of
Capt. Phelps, U. 8. nsvy, assisted BY Lieut..
Ford, Ordnance Corps q. 8. A., and three
transports conveying Col. Buford's Twenty.
seventh Illinois regiment, and battalion Of
the Fifty. fourth and Seventy fourth Ohio, and
Fifty .hhh Illinois, commanded BY Majors An.
drsws and Sawyer; the whole brigade being
under Brig. Gen. Sherman, who rendered the
most valuable and eilcient assistance.
On arriving at Columbus, II WAS difaoult to
say whether the fortinoations we're occupied
BY our own cavalry on a scout from Paducah,
or BY the enemy. Every preparation was
made for opening are and landing the infant.
ry, when General Sherman and Captain Phelps,
with thirty soldiers, made dsshing recon.
noissance with tug, steaming directly under
the water batteries, satisfied that our own
troops had possession. They landed, ascend.
cd TO the summit of the bluff, and together
planted the stars and stripes, amid the hearti.
est cheers Of our brave tars and soldiers.
Though rising from sick bed TO 60 upon the
expedition, could not resist landing to exam.
inc the works, which are Of immense strength,
consisting Of tiers upon tiers Of batteries on
the river front, and a strong psrapet and
| ditch covered BY thick abatts on the land
side.
The fortincations appear to have been evac.
uated hastily. considering the quantity Of ord.
| nance and ordnance stores, and number OF
anchors, and the remnant Of the chain which
was once stretched over the river, and large
supply of tOrpedoes remaining. Desolation
was visible every where; huts, fonts and bar.
racks presenting but their blackened remains,
though the town was spared. discovered
what appeared to be . large maga zine, smok
| ing from both extremities, and ordered the
train to be Immediately cut. garrison was
left In the work, Of nearly two thousand infant.
~ and four hundred cavalry, which I will
strengthen immediately. -
Gro. W. CULLux,
Brig. Genn and Chief Of staf.
CON. FOOTE'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following dispatch was also last night
received By Secretary wellss:
CoLuxsUs. KY, March !, 1861.
SIR: Columbus 10 In our possession. Ny
armed Reconnaissance, on the I'd inst. caused
| a hasty evacustion-the rebels leaving quite .
number Of guns and carriages, ammunition.
and n large quantity Of shot and shell, q oor-
siderable number of anchors. and the remnant
| Of the chain lately stretched across the river,
with large number Of torpedoes. Most Of the
huts, tents. and quarters are destroyed. The
work Is Of very great strength. consisting Of
formidable tiers Of batteries on the water side,
and on the land side surrounded by ditch and
sbattis. Gen. Sherman, with Lieut.. CONG
Phelps, not knowing that tho works were last
evening occupied by 400 cavalry Of the Second
Illinois, on a scouting party sent by Gen. Sher.
| man from Paduoah, made u bold dash to the
shore under the batteries, hoisting tho Ameri.
can flag on the summit Of the bluff, greeted by
the hearty cheers of our brave tars and col.
diers.
| The force consisted Of six gunbosts, four
mortar boats, and thrco trsnspors, having on
board two regiments and two bsttalions Of in
fantry, under command Of Col. Buford, Gen.
Cullum and Gen. Sherman being in command
of the troops. The formor leaving sick bed to
go ashore, discovered what Was evidently q
magazine on IRE at both extremitiss, and i'm
medistely ordered the train to be out, and thus
saved the lives ofthe garrison. While cannot
express too strongly my admiration of the gal.
lsntry and wise oounsels Of this distinguished
aid and engineer of Gen. Halleck and Con. Cul.
lum, must add that Commanders Dove, Walk,
and Stemble, and Lieutsnants Commanding
Paulding, Thompson, Shirk, and Phelps, the
latter being in command Of the mortar division,
assisted by Lieut.. Luford, of tho ordnance de-
partment of the United States army, nobly per.
| formed their duties. | have my nag aboard
the Cincinnati, commanded by ths gallant Com.
| Stembel Geu. Sherman remains Temporarily
i in command at Columbus. A. H. FOofE,
From Gen. B0nks's Command.