Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-03-20
The Rebel Fortincations on the Mis-.
sissippi.

stssfppt.
The Cairo correspondent OF the Chicago
Post writes:
To understand the situation Of affairs at
New Madrid, IL should be borne in mind
that the rebel position st Island No. 10 il
abore New Madrid, some fifteen miles; 90
that our gunboats, in order 70 roach that
place, must first drive the rebels from their
island, the present occupation Of which en-
ables their gunboats TO cooperate With their
land forces against Gen. Pope. The rebel
gunboats are represented to be old New Or
leans tugboats which would be easily sunk
by single brosdside from one Of Ccmmc-
dore Foote's iron-clad classmates. rsFsc,
Whatever the rebels may intend or expect
10 accomplish by their present menscing oc-
cupation Of Island No. ~, there is little
doubt that they expect, sooner or later, to
withdraw to their fortress at Randolph, call
ed, in honor Of that tall walker" Fort
Pillow. This fertilization is near the town
OF Randolph, Upton county Tenn, about
GO miles above Memphis 100 below Colum-
bus, and lS0 below Cairo The position is
naturally strong one. The fort is q rough
and incomplete earthwork, constructed last
fall. 1t is built upon the second Chickasaw
Bluffs, (those at Columbus being known rs
the first, more than hundred feet above
the river, and Immediately south Of Island
No. "a, the lower part Of which commands
the three mouths Of the Hatchie river, a
stream (navigable at good stages) that emp
ties into the Mississippi, just above the town
OF Randolph, at the upper edge Of the bluffs.
Between the main bluff on the river side, is
q bench, or lower bluff, forming natural
parapet for water batteries, to which pur-
pose it has been devoted. Tho space be-
tween the front Of this natural parpet and
the main bluff Ia about one hundred yards,
and the ground sinks into hollow sufficient
TO protect q large number Of troops from any
fire from the river. The position commands
. view Of the river for five or six miles, both
above and. below. As at Columbus, the
river is here contracted into a very narrow
channel, and consequently presents the ad-
ditional difficulty, in q gunboat attack, of .
swift current. Our gunboats, however, by
Nlencing whatever guns may be placed on
lsland No. "a, might enter the northern
mouth of the Hatchie out of the range Of
Fort Randolph.
The town of Randolph, near which the
Fort stands, consists Of half dozen or 30
dilapidated frame houses, and is approached
in the rear by several good roads; but the
country behind it, being full Of ravines and
gorges, is capable Of being fortified to an al
most indefinite extent. 1t is probable that
Beauregard himself is on the ground, attend
ing to this work. The position, however,
is really Of no manner Of use or benefit, ex-
cept to dispute the navigation Of the river.
1t has no railroad Communications, and, II
an army stationed thsrs would have to Do
pend on the river exclusively for the trans
portation Of supplies, it would not require
long to cut it Of and starvs it out So, If
the rebels concentrate at Randolph, the CAP
ture Of Memphis will be 30 much ths
easier. .1- -.f. .--. sag--
Intelligence from the south is that the
rebels are terrifying the bluffs at Matches,
Mississippi. They are said to have twenty
large guns mounted there.
Beauregard was in Memphis four dayi
ago. t,,r.
1t is reported che rebels are placing
two chains across tho river at Fort Pill
low. --