Claim: In one of the American Civil War battles, Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside swung around 40 miles to the south of the Confederate position, over rugged mountain roads toward Knoxville, instead of flanking the division commanded by Col. John F. DeCourcy who was positioned at the Cumberland Gap.
Evidence: Burnside had been delayed in earlier attempts to move out against Knoxville and thus chose not to spend the time to force a passage of the gap. Instead he detached one brigade under Colonel John F. DeCourcy to pose a threat to Brigadier General John W. Frazer's 2,300 man garrison, while the rest of the army bypassed to the south over 40 miles in rugged mountainous terrain.