SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                 SCHEDULE 14D-9

                SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO
             SECTION 14(d)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                               (AMENDMENT NO. 28)

                              COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP
                            (NAME OF SUBJECT COMPANY)


                              COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP
                      (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT)

                          COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01
                         (TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)

                                    197648108
                      (CUSIP NUMBER OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)

                              MICHAEL W. O'DONNELL
                SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                              COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP
                            13880 DULLES CORNER LANE
                             HERNDON, VIRGINIA 20171
                                 (703) 561-6000
           (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO
               RECEIVE NOTICE AND COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE
                           PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT)

                                    COPY TO:

                             NEIL T. ANDERSON, ESQ.
                               SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
                                125 BROAD STREET
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
                                 (212) 558-4000















         This Amendment No. 28 amends and supplements the
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 1999, and as subsequently amended
July 6, 1999, July 9, 1999, July 12, 1999, July 15, 1999, July 16, 1999, July
20, 1999, July 22, 1999, July 30, 1999, August 3, 1999, August 4, 1999, August
5, 1999, August 6, 1999, August 9, 1999, August 11, 1999, August 12, 1999,
August 13, 1999, August 16, 1999, August 17, 1999, August 19, 1999, August 31,
1999, September 2, 1999, September 3, 1999, September 7, 1999, September 9,
1999, September 10, 1999 and September 13, 1999 (as so amended, the "Schedule
14D-9"), by Columbia Energy Group, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
relating to the tender offer by NiSource Inc., an Indiana corporation, to
purchase for cash through its wholly-owned subsidiary, CEG Acquisition Corp., a
Delaware corporation, all of the outstanding common shares, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company (the "Offer"). Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Schedule 14D-9.

ITEM 6.  RECENT TRANSACTIONS AND INTENT WITH RESPECT TO SECURITIES.

         Item 6 is hereby supplemented and amended by adding the following:

         On September 13, 1999, pursuant to its previously announced repurchase
program, the Company purchased 1,200 Shares on the open market at a weighted
average price per share of $58.0000.








                                    SIGNATURE

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.



                                            COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP




                                            By: /s/ Michael W. O'Donnell
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            Name: Michael W. O'Donnell
                                            Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer


Dated: September 14, 1999