The New York herald., 1862-03-02

the Boston Mountains. Here for the present, We will
loave thcm, as the troops close ON ther track.
On tho right hand eide of the map start from St.
Louis the north and pursue the course OF the Msss
spp until we reach the well known points Of Cape Gil
rardcau, Cairo, Belmont Columbus and Hickman. Cape
Grardeau has often been described and repetition here
would be useless Belmont has been noted for the brave
conduct of troops too fresh in tho memory Of our
readers make needful that should bo brought bo
fore them in review at the present tme We will next
glance at the other points.
COLUMBUS, CAIRO AND HICKMAN.
We have already published full sketches Of these inn
portant points, moro particularly that Of Columbus,
which gave the 9th OF February, with map and
description Of the fortilcaons and other matters Of
equal interest at the time Columbus being evacuated
loses its interest as military point Of strategy except
in the event of its being made base Of operations for
our troops In the manner that Cairo has been so
long held What may be the plans Of generals we do
deem IL prudent TO speculate upon or when known
to dvulgc. Time, the great dsposer Of events, will tell
the tae Tho rebels from Columbus reported to have
taken up position Of the islands in the centre Of
the Mississippi river We therefore givsa
SKETCH OF ISLAND NO. 10.
This island situated in the Of that bend OF the
Mississippi river which touches the border Of Tennessee
few miles farther up the river than New Madrid, al
about two hundred and forty miles from st. Louis and
nine hundred and nfty miles from New Orleans. Tho ole
walton of the river at this point about two hundredre feet
above the level OF the delta at its mouth Tho average
depth the water a this point from ninety to one
hundred and twenty feet and the breadth Of the stream
from mainland TO mainland about nine hundred yards
The current runs by the island at moderately fast rate
and with the power of the three erivers-Missssipp Mis-
souri, and Oho-combined. The island is near
the southern what might be termed the EASTERN bank
OF the river but that at this point the stream varies
from It's southern and turns abruptly to the north
west leaving this island in the southern angle Of the
bend II is about fortyve miles, by the course Of tho
river, south OF Columbus, and about twenyslx miles
from Hickman. 1t Ia near 0bionvlle.
SKETCH OF oBIoNvILLE.
obionvie is not very important point yet in geogra
ply further than that It is located in obon county,
which Is situated in the northwest extremity Of Tcnnes
see where IL borders on Kentucky and Missouri. Tho
Mississippi river passes TO the north and TO the south Of
obionvilc, leaving a land distance between the two
waters very nconsderablc and oasy walked across by
n healthy person in less than hour, although the
voyage by water between the same points, owing 10 the
bends In the river, is about twenty miles Tho surface
of the surrounding country is nearly evel obonville
connected by turnpike road with Columbus, in Ken
tuckv via Hickman and with Troy tho capital Of th,
county. et raNt|
Passing southwnrd, next come TO the forts bordc,
ing on ard threatening the passage Of the river. Oni
former occasion gave drawings aud fun description
or al these forts and therefore do not at the present
doom Il necessary 20 rcrcat that information. We wi
pss on, therefore, 20 Mcnphis tho point TO which ta
rebe Govofnor Of Tomeasoc ana his Legislature cl w
The orri,tl Of the Union troops at Nashville
rRfrr sNEgcH or NfrPnis.
Thc fccen5 Increment vr Governor iicrris and III
fcrrltiino To- th.s pGca lrrfs % croo n'fc iitro