Columbus Occupied By Our Troops

öf. Louis, Maroh 4. General Halleck has telegraphed the folloviog to Major-General McGlsllao: Our cavalry froin Paducali marclicd into Columbus yesterday at 6 F. M , driviug bofuro tliom tlie eneni's rear guord. Tlic flag of tlie Union is now flying over the boastfid Gibraltar of the West. Finding hiinsclf con:plctely turncd on both sides of the Mississippi, the eneniy was obliged to evacúate or surrender. Largo quantities of artiüery aud stores were captnred. (Signed) II. VV, HALLKOK, Major-Gcueral. Tbc following is from tlic official report of Geu. Gullum: Columbus, Ky., Feb. 4. Major-Generul Hullcck : Columbus, thu Gibraltar of the West, is ours, and Küntucky is free. At ! o'clock this morning, the flotilla mitkr Com. Fuote, consistiog of six gunboats and four mortar boats and transporta eonveyed tho Xwcnty-seveiith Illinois Regiment, a battalion of tlieFifty fourtb, the Seventy-fourth Oliio and Fifty fiflh Illinois, under comuiand of GenerafSherman procceded to ttiia placo. On arriving here it was diffioult to say whether the fortifications were oceupied by our own cavalry on escort from Paducah, or by the enemy. Every preparation was made for opening lire and landing the infantry, wfaen Gen. Sherman and Captain Phelps, with tbirty suldiers, made a reconnoisanco with a tug, steaining directly under the water batteries. Satisfied that our troops had been in possession, they landcd and ascended to the sunimit, and togethcr pjantcd the stars and stripes, amid the oheera of our brave tara and soldiers. Though rising from a sick bed to go upon the expedition, I could not resist landing to cxainicc the works, whicb are of immense strength, consistiug of tiers upon tiers of batteries upon the river front, and a strong parapet and ditch covered by a thick abattis on the land sido. The fortifications appear to have been evacuated hastily. A considerable quantity of ordnanee and ordnance stores, a number of auehors, and the remaiudor of the chain once stretched ovor the river, and a large quantity or torpedoes. The desolation was visible everywhere - huts, teuts and barracks presented nothing but their blackeued reniains, though the town was sp-ired. A garrison was left in the work, eonaisting of nearly 2,000 infautry, and 400 cavalry. (Signed) G. W. CüLLÜM, Brig.-General. n . in Proclamation of Gen Burnside and Commodore Goldsborough. A procïamation dated the 18th inst., and signed jointly by Commodore Goldsborough and General Burnside, to the people of North Carolina, says : "Roanoke Island, N. C , Feb. 3, 1802. "The mission of the joint espedition is not to invade any of their rights, but to assert the authority of tho United States, and to close with. them the desolating war brought upon the State bv compar:tively a few men iu their midst. "Jnflueccd iuünitely more by the worst passions af human nature than by any show of elevated reason, they are still urging you astray to gratify th'jir unholy purposes. "Thoy impose upon vour credulity by telling you of wicked and even diaboücal intentions on our part ; of our desire to destroy your freedom, demolish your property, libérate your slaves, injurc vour women, and such like cnorwities - all of which, we assure you, is not only ridiculous, but utterly and willfully false. "We are Christiang as well as your selves, and wo profess to know full weil, and to feel prafoundly, the sacred obligations of the charo eter. "No apprehensionsneod be entertained that the demauds of humanity orjustice will be disregarded. We shall iuflict no injury uuless foreed to do so by your own acts, and upon this you may coniidently rely. "Thoso men are your worst cneniies. - They, in truth, Lavo drawn you into your present condition, and are the real disturbers of your peace and the happiness of your liresides. "We invite you, in tho Dame of the constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty and civilization, to separate yourselves at once from their malign iufluence, to return to your allcgiance, and not compel s to resorfc furtlier to the force under our oontrol. The goverument asks only that its authority may be recognized, and wo repeat that in no raanner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws constitutionally establisbed, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or your usages in any respect. "L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH, "FJag Officer Coinmanding North Carolina Blocknding Squadron '■E. A. BURNSIDE, "Brig -Gen. Cjtninaading D.-pariment ;of North Carolina."