...Cullum, his chief of staff, talking of things generally, and the subject then was of the much-talked — of advance, as soon as the season would permit. Most people urged the movement down the Mississippi River ; but Generals Polk and Pillow had a large rebel force with heavy guns in a very strong position at Columbus, Ky., about eighteen miles below Cairo; Commodore Foote had his gun-boat fleet at Cairo; an...