below Cairo; while, directly across the river, lie two or three
houses which are designated by the name of Belmont.

The hardships of Fort Wright were here renewed; that is, hard work
and harder drill. At one time we worked twelve hours out of every
thirty-six, so that every other work-turn came at night. Generals
Polk, Pillow, Cheatham, and McGown were present day and night,
encouraging the men with words of cheer. General Pillow at one time
dismounted and worked in the trenches himself, to quiet some
dissatisfaction which had arisen. The night was dark and stormy, the
men were worn out, and many gave utterance to their dissatisfaction
at having to work on such a night. General Pillow was sitting on his
horse near by, and occasionally urging on the men the necessity of
pressing on with the work; when an old Mexican war veteran, named
W.H. Thomas, who was allowed some little latitude by his general
called out, "Old Gid, if you think there is so much hurry for this
work, suppose you get down and help us a while." The general, seeing
that he had an opportunity to gain popularity with the men,
dismounted, and laying aside his sword and cloak, worked for several
hours. This was a feather in his cap, in the eyes of the poor
fellows, for many a day.

An immense amount of work was performed here, and Columbus was often
called the "Gibraltar of the Mississippi river," and the Confederate
generals fancied that it could not be taken. The town itself is
built on a level plain scarcely above high-water mark, as it has
been submerged by some of the great floods of former years. A range
of hills running parallel to the river, rises directly north of the
town. On these hills most of the batteries were erected, and
extensive breastworks were also thrown up, since this was the