, 1862-03-09
TIE COLUMBUS MYSTERY.
Explanation Of the Truce FLAGS,
How 10000 Rebels were Permit
ted to Escape.

teEo1h tile Cincinnati Gazette. Saturiay.1
Inc public arc rather curious about the ne
EQUATIONS which preceded the evacuation of
SoluMnns. 1t Will be remembered that an
sAPealaon OF gunboat5 and troops went
Gown 1or reconnaissance in force. As It
came nearly IN range with Columbus. far of
truce came ont, and the expedition returned.
1en Gays after, an imposing force Of gunboats,
mortar boats and transports went down to
attack The place, and after considerable ma
neuveriDg, finally asccrtained that the birds
had flown. 'AAo "A'u7
Inc letter OF our correspondent at that
place shows that they were ready to take n
panic If our gunboats opened fire. It eecms
nat 8. our Generals were regularly sold, and
t tnat 'as e. MConteoerates we're negotiating to gain
camping The reply of Gen. Grant to Buck
ners proposition to negotiate is better.
Correspondence OF tle Cincinnati Gazctte.1
cA1Eo. H., March 6, 1872.
Inc l9Eal people q, the North are so much
ga1iacd OVER the news OF the evacuation Of
Solunlnus by the rebels, and its occupation
.nto the Character Of the generaIship that per
united 2t:o00 men to make good their escape.
anu to effect the removal Of all their stores.
ammunition and arms
a handIcd different circumstances combine
20 prove that tic military authorities Of this
at the "Gibraltar Of America Tie qua
noa1s reconnoitered the place six or seven
tunes, yet at the last Reconnaissance Comn1o-
core toote was scarcely able to determine the
position OF tile water battery, even after four
shots lad been fired from it. The only ssinior-
nation" with respect 10 the strength OF tic
enemy vas brought here by set Of law1ess
!snoWsoa disgrace to the arnly-styled the
Ias=ie Scouts I think T can safely assert
tha, nos one Of the Scouts was ever
within i've miles Of Columbus, consequently
tncy brought to headquarters nothing hut The
kcn at PAR. AS an Illustration Of tic reiiabiI-
11y ct the scouts They returned from m cx-
pcGlt1on Gown the river about four weeks AFRO
and reported through their captain that they
Fad lad conference with JEFF. Thompson, IN
ne camp at Columbus, and that he had given
on to detail to the commanding officer here.
we have since learned from the records
at Columbus that JET. Thompson had rot
neen in Columbus for four weeks prc-
xIous to the date Of the pretended visit Of
nc IL Jessie scouts The department &C.
Pal'es, ard read blatant articles about the
nonderous earthworks and heavy cannon, IN
III tue GencrIls in command actually became
EeiieFers III the lmpregnability Of Columbus.
Tic fortlheations were strong perhaps
stronger than any others in the South-bnt
EIISLTuELGu.
seu!d not have stood an hours bombarimeat
ol tho gun boats and mortar feet. The water
battery stood out il such relief from The bluff
that wef-directed mortar shell would have
buried it under hundred tons of Garth from
anovc. IIcIc WcTc no easements to protect
[ne aI11ieI9 from the Calling ire Of seven gun
boaf=: and how long could 1nen uu:hcltcTed.
have stood :. continuous !slii from tw1nty-oue
guns. throwing cight-incll Shell.
Tie truth of 1ae matter is, that tic rci,c1s
covered their retreat by the flag Of truce which
they first presented to Commodore Foote on
forcc-@o, GOO. On The following Tuesday they
commenced the work Of evacuation, wllici,
the continued Culin. the wcvk, while thu
lae::otiations were still pending. On Sunday.
March 2, tic white flag treaty was con.
of the rebels left the camp. HaI f,1cr
been attacked two weeks ago, they
would have surrendered, or, il not, would
lf.vc beat = h:ss1y rctrc;:t, leaving eyeryth thing
behind tEtn.. This have from III intelligent
with their cycry movement. rs it is, they
carried OIL all their stores, ammunition and
small AIMS. The few heavy guns .ilcy left be-
lllnd them are spiked, and not WORTH st drill
rs ior tuiure use. bei;'g made OF cast IRON
Memphis and New Orleans snanufactuEe
se@ooo1s Eeess y aS 3susa 4pGSlIsa Is t. gviH
wanted to shell them into surrender. and fe
ieit confident Of bis abiilty to do SO, with the
Snnheats {; and eight 1norta1s. He gave way,
however, to the aamoliitions' Of Gen. Cui-
lu1n and etlc7s, ami the result has been what
may he called Strategic triumph sort,.c rebel
cause. Gen Polk Knew full well that tue
Southern Coliederacy's downfall would follow
hard upon Tie i. Gu: oi TIE SoutAern arms ut
Colnnions, hence t:1e e:::'ningly devised cyac-
Eation. carried OIL while our Generals were
soberly n,siug over the 1'ag Of truce. Tic
Tvbcls Know that they had to fill at Columbus
and it was u,eir policy to fill as easily as nos,
Eible-