Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-03-12

tA4N AftttS Ait4if t-4H- built. W Z learn
from the same source that cVerrthin : j. e,
he got in readiness by the rebels To hUrn
Norfolk the moment it becomes evident
u them that they cannot hold it. The
letter from Prcsidens Davis to the rebel
flag odhcer goes on and ure.-s .fhe inpor-
lance OF suppresSlns the Union sentiment
existing among the people on the Sounds
without a mumeuts DELAY: CROWN
danger Sprin4in1 up in different sections
OF the Con -edecacy. which viii soon. II
not pat down, gi,e Us more trouble than
the Northern foe.
Columbus. XIV. via Cairo, March I. CO
a special to the Chicago Tribune saws
At 10 o clock this morning the 27th, sd
and 18th Illinois reGim nts hoisted the
stars and stripes over the rebel fortified
tions at Columbus
The gunbolts Cincinnati. alag ship. J
CaroHdoiet, st Louis and Leriagton !:
four mortar boats in tow OF the steamer
Lake Erie, and the 18th Illinois. Col. Blu
ford 52d Illinois. Col. Roberts. and 18th
/ Illinois, Maj. Sanger, acting Colonel upon
the transports -Itech Scott, IUiacis M
gil and Ike HommW, left Cairo this
morning, at clock for Columbus. The
fleet arrived at Lucas Bend, ahout two
miles above Columbus, at q o'clock. and
WAS drawn up in line Of battle The
drums beat To quarters and the runs were
manned ready for action. Two tugs were
, sent IN advance accommodating. but failed
to provoke Il shot from the enemy. Ey-
erythins about the works was quiet
Glasses revealed stragglers on the bluff
and about the water batteries. and in a
few moments hag was raised, bat its
character could not be made out The
Hpar l., ll,- / RI l., I
in the stream off the Belmont battle field,
While scouts were sent out upon tugs to
wards the rebel works
The tugs app. cached cautiously until
within i quarter OF a mile OF the batter
les, found the WORKS deserted. and both
set off at the top OF their speed for she
honor Of landing first.
The scouts rushed on the douhle-auick
to the top of the bluff and unlurled the
Stars and stripes, sal.ted by the crews of
the GunboLts, as they steamed up to the
town
The TT lnsports landed their roops, and
Columbus was in our possession
The works wer' entirely deserted and
the barracks, or rather rh boards and
io1 cabins, were burned
An immense amount of stores, coal and
ordnance fell INTO our hands Many OF
their cannon were thrown into the river
six thirtv-tw Founders, some how tiers,
aud an almost innumerabie quantity OF
grape, canister, shell and round shots
were found in the batteries.
The iurtitications are vurv extensive
AMI its natural position almost :mpresna-
b e.
Columbus is completely deserted. e..
cry building WAS thoroughly rams ,cked
md contents destroyed by the rebels
l he re e.s comm need leaving on Thurs
day last, ana finished yester law The
largest number ever there numbured but
thirty-seyen thousand Beauresari wu>
not there.
1t IS believed when the river falls all
their guns will be found. The lani Tor
ce5. mortar boats and gunboat ST Louis
remain IN possession OF the town
The balance Of til. boats returned to
Cairo in the afternoon
THE OFFICIAL 1NNOUNCEHENT
Washington, March I = Secretary
Wellcs today received dispatch = ted
Columbus, March t, saying Columb, :
IN our POSSESSION. Since our reconno >
sanec OF the 81 inst, the enemy evacuated
IN haste, leaving quite number OF guns.
ammunition, &c, and large quantity Of
shot
Here was also found remnant Of the
cham cable lately stretched acrose the
river ut this point with quantity OF tor
pedUes. Most of the huts, tents, &c
were destroyed
The works were not of any great
strength
BRIG. GEE CCLLULrS REPORT
st Louis, March 4-'rhe following is
from he -.ciat report Of Gen. Cullum
Columbus, Ky. Feb (, 1862
70 WI. Gen- Htliecb, ComDstadiHg Western De.
pGrtmelt:
Columbus. the Gibralter Of the West,
is ours, and Kentucky is free.
At our 0 clock this morn NJ, the flotlla
under Commodore Eoote, cons sting Of
@unbOatS. mortar-boats and transports,
conveyed he 31th Illinois regiment
battalion Of the 80, the 18th Ohio, and
53th Illinois, under command of General
sherman, proceeded to this place
On arrieins here it was diiheult % say
wheth ar the fortifcations were occupied
by our .wn cavalry on scout from Pudu-
can or by the enemy.
Every prepar ton was made for open
inE IRE and landing infantry, when Gen
ohcrm IN and Capt. Phebes, wi.h thirty
soldiers, made reconnaissance with Il
tus, steering directly under the water
batteries.
Satisfied that troops had possession
they landed, assembled to the summit, and
together planted the stars and Stripes,
amid the cheers OF our brave tars and sol
dIerS.
Though rising from a sick bed to 30
upor the expedition, | could not resist
landing to examine the works, which are
OF immense siren 9Th consi, ting of IT, r.
upon tiers of batteries upor. the river
fro t, AMI Il strong parapet and ditch
covered by thick abattis ON the land side
The Qualifications appear to have been
evacuated hastily,
y considerable quantity of ordnance
and ordnance stores a number Of anchors
and the remain Ter IF the chain once
stretched over the river here and :, large
supply OF torpedocs are in our hands
Fac dcsolation OF hasty evacuation was
visible everywhere. Huts, tents and bar
racks presented nothing but their black
ened rem Iins thou cn the town was spared
garrison WIS lett in the works CON
sistins Of nearly 1000 infantry and 100
cavalry
signed. G. ". CULLUM,