Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-03-05
EuacuntIon of CoInmbuc.

CHICAGO, March A special to the Times
from Columbus, via Cairo, says. The evacua.
tion of Columbus commenced on Thursday, The
last OF the rebels not leaving nntil yesterday af-
tornoon. The burning was commenced Friday
and was continued until Sunday morning. Por.
tions of their barracks and quarters are e,ill on
FIRE; the Notifications were not molested. Ev-
erythiug that could not be carried off was fred
or thrown into the river. A large number Of
cannon were thrown into the river.
Lieut.. Col. Hogg, of the Second Illinois cav
airy, with two hundred and fifty men, went into
the works at five o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Our transport gunboats reached there at eighI
o'clock to-day, not knowing the place was evac
uated. -
Aman representing himself Unionist sayl
the rebels have mined portions Of the works
and thinks they may be blown up. ..,
But few people remained in Columbus. Al
the time of the evacuation there were nineteen
thousand troops. They left on transports anC
by railroad. Track and bridges are torn ur
and burned for six miles What further de.
struction is not yet known.
1t is reported that Polk and his officers had
become unpopular, because they had done moth
ing but fortify the town. The men became de-
morallzed and reckless, and feared that they
would be surrounded and shelled out. The
mayor of Columbus was suspected OF treason
to the Confederate government and carried
away by the rebels.
The works are very extensive, probably four
miles In extent. Every prominent bluff on the
river and around the town Is fortified.
ST. LOUIS, March 4.-The following is from
the official report of Gen. Oullum:
COLUMBUS, KY, March d.
Major. General HALLEcK:
Columbus, the Gibraltar Of the W est, is ours
and Kentucky is free. At four O'Clock thil
morning the fotlla under Com Foote, consist
ing of six gunboats, four mortar boats and
Transports, conveyed the Twenty. seventh Illi-
nois Regiment, a battalion of the Fifty-f fourth,
the Seventy. fourth Ohio and Thirty-ffth IIli-
nois, under command of Gen. Sherman, pro.
ceeded to this place. On arriving here, it was
difficult to say whether the forti6cations were
occupied by our own cavalry, on scout from
Paducab, or by the enemy.
Every preparation was made for opening FIRE
and landing infantry, when General Sherman
and Captain Phelps, with thirty soldiers, made
reconnaissance with tug, steaming directlp
under their water batteries. Satisfied that our
troops had possession, they landed, ascended to
the summit, and, together planted the stars and
stripes amid the cheers of our brave tars and
soldiers.
Though rising from siCkbed to 60 upon the
expedition, could not resist landing to examine
the works, which are of immense strength, con-
sisting of tiers upon tiers of batteries upon the
river front, and strong parapet and ditch,
covered by thick abattis, on the land side.
The Notifications appear to have been evacu-
sted hastily, a considerable number Of ordnance
and ordnance stores, number of anchors, and
the remainder OF the chain once stretched over
the river, and large supply Of tcrpedoes hav-
ing been left.
The desolation was visible everywhere. Huts,
tents and barracks presented nothing but their
biackened ruins, though tho town was spared
A garrison was left In the work, consisting Of
nearly two regiments Of infantry and four hun
dred of cava Try.
(Signed) CULLUM,
Brigadler. General.