The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-10
THE CUMBERLAND GAP EXPEDITION.
OUR CAMP CALVERT (KY.) CORREspON.
DENCE

DENCE.
LONDON, laurel County. Ky, Nov, l, 1851.
Review q The OperatiNs Of General O. IT. IN maS-7h'
lfeod Repulse At Wildcat Accidcnt-D.fci nciss Of
tie Army at LowdOss--No Cavalry, no 7tanS ovtdiQs
Short Rasions de-
Dresry November 10 upon IN. Cold blasts from the
North sweep hoarsey through tho eaness forests and
chill rains beat merccssy upon shivering sentinels
splashng faithfully on their lonely rounds through the
desolas night All around thers Is boundless CONT
guilty OF mre There 10 discomfort under foot and
Tort denied to the shudderng groups budding about
our feeble camp hres. Heaps upon hesps II logs
heaved upon the smoking pile but every aspiring fame
pershes under tho pitiless storm. And yet Ia old
song, we are told, that says 60 solders life always
gay"
Beautiful Indian summer vanished with October No.
vember ushered In with lowering skies and cold
winds, which pierced 70 the worry Of bones
Before high noon the ood gate Of opened and rain
has fAlon without intermissou to this moment This
storm Is premonon Of winter. Our soldiers have
observed it's approach. Cold, frosty nights, when
water CONCEALED TO the solid thickness of an inch,
warned US OF coming inclemency but those who
msruls the destnies Of this nation have seemed
nsensble to the signs Of the season Why in the
Of suffering humanity brave soldiers detained in
this unriendly cline inactive unprcpared resist
the assaults Of stern winerS Why should they DO ad
vanced beyond the limo OF easy and halted
Ia tho mountains where Subsistence never superfuous
and whore it Is dicut to carry II from abundant
ketsS God knows the soldier 10 required TO mako sacri
ices enough under the most favorable but
ordinary understanding comprehend the policy
which pushes them into the mountains Of Kentucky and
has them In the opening Of winter unprepaed TO resist
s rsors And when you consider that this brave little
column which q n 20 ~ onthu
sas ia halted In mid career with orders but TO STOP
and without subsistence TO carry them forward back
ward two days without reducing them to half ratos
you will appreciate and sympathize with indignation
at authority which abuses the soldiers Of the republic
"Cumberlsnd Gap expedition" am fain to believe, is
misnomer, judging from observation Of operations upon
this line. reorats my opinion that II was nevcr de-
signed to accomplish anything but prevent the entrance
Of rebel column into the Blue Grass regions Of Kentucky
And It has been so feebly managed that nothing but
fortunate accident obstucted the advance Of zocoer
Tho story Of tho gallant fight Wildcat you have heard
Had that depended upon the energy Of General
Thomas 1t would have been achieved. The history
OF IL Is BRIEF Let me relate IT,
Col. Garrard, 70 accordance with instructions from
Con. Thomas occupied position on Rockcastle Hills with
600 raw KentuckiAns Tho post required force Of
mon to hold II against we'll directed attack Garrard
remained thoro three weeks subject constant danger
and alarm. Three days before zolicoer attacked the
place Garrard advised Cen Thomas definitely Of his ap
proach and Of the strength Of the rebel army The Sc
ventonth Ohio ordered the usual mode Of
marching down tho Richmond roat to obstruct the enc
my IN that direction. The Fourteenth Ohio afterwards
moved forward from Camp Dick Robinson towards Wild
cat, with battery. Its energetic Colonel desired TO
him no. He marched eighteen miles the FIRST day On
the second he marched twelve miles and wont into camp
but shortly afterwards he received urgent message
from Garrard TO reinforce him 1T once.
Without waiting for orders from General Thomas Colonel
Steedman pushed onward and by forced marching
reached tho foot OF Wildcat hills BY two O'Clock next
mornng-tho day OF the batte--havng marched thirty
six miles Meantime Colonel Garrard sent for Colonel
Coburn and his Thirty third Indiana, At Crab Orchard
nell urging him TO hasten from the Richmond road to his
assistance The latter with great energy and spirit
ticable hills, and arrived the day before tho battle The
rebel had been heard the night before the
the hills below Wildcat Colonel Ioburn arrived Sunday
night and Colonel Seedman, with tho Fourteenth Ohio,
and Standards battery reached the top Of tho hill In tho
midst Of the light, and few shells from tho field pieces
settled It. During this exciting period General Thomas
Camp Dick Robinson, profoundly unconscious, to
all Appearances Of the dire extremity to which his little
vanguard reduced; and II is an ncontessablc fact
that but for the energy and Independent spirit OF the
volunteer Colonies OF his column, Garrards command
would have been captured, dispersed, cut 20 pieces.
Even General Schoep most merorous officer, was not
forward to command until the Of the bat
ts and he not qualified to direct the troops because
hc was totally ignorant Of the position.
Before leaving this subject may be we'll 10 correct
other msapprehenslons respecting tho Wildcat affair.
The Kentucky papers have given Colonel Garrard credit
TO which he 10 not entitled No one resumes that he
claims any besides that due him for taking the advance
according 10 orders, and remaining IN hazardous posi-
ton. He not only not under Are bat he not in
Seventeenth Ohio, ranking Colonel. commsnder OF
the post after his arrival until General Schoepf arrived
and the latter with magnamity and wisdom confessed his
went Of qualification to command IN the fight and request
ell the COlonels 10 make such dispositions seemed TO
them advisable Previous 10 the very hour OF battle there
troops enough the ground spare for the
clpation Of anseF hill whore the first attack made
Colonel Conne Suggested that Colonel Coburn might spare
Them and General Schoepl Immediately ordered him 70
cupy the hill with four companies OF the Thrty-thrd In
diana. This gallant little band afterwards joined by
$50 mounted Kentucky infantry under Colonel Wocord
and oy -FOUR companies OF me seventeenth OHIO, under
Major Durbin Ward. The Cclones 10 whom the entire
credit u the fight belongs Connel Coburn and
Wooford There is no doubt that Colonel Garrard
gallant man but he is not entitled TO the Wildcat res
part Of his who brayely defended the right wing
in The second attack under the command Of Lieu
4 tenant Colonel Ridgcl
But to statement OF facts concerning the
ayement of this column After the Wildcat affair the mai
division ordered TO Pitman's, three miles north
London General Schospf meantime provided Will
only part Of hs stan Neither Brigade Quzrtermaste
Commisssry aned 10 him and the brigade wa
not provided with brigade transportation train. The
Ohio and Indiana regiments have thing they needed
but the kentuckians and Tennesseeas deficient il
everything but arms. day or two after arrived
London the regiment trafs which essential 10 an,
movement forward the rear we're necessarily Sent
back or subsistence leaving the army without power e
move At the sa,c time Il was desirable 10 detail ia
tguc parties 10 fortiy hut General Schoepr declined
! work thc hard unit, they received supplies. II wa
officially stated Tuesday that IL supply trains did MOI
with half rstions next day The Thirty eighth Ohio had
none and tho Seventeenth Ohio which had been provi
dent d., desi liz remaining day ration with them
/ Fortunately few wagons did arrive and enough have
continued 10 arrive o. enable the 1.-Two from
DAY 10 day. but what condition s this foy the vanguart
OF the army Of kentucky-the army Of the United Sistcs
ndeedfor We are further sou,h than ANY other din F
/ excepting the great sea and land expedition?
Again, are without effective svalry. We hAi nom
until day before yesterday, when Major Heiveti arrive,
WITH Two hundred mounted infantry, without sshrcs,
armed with ordinary muskets. General sbocpf there
fore has rot been able to seud scouting expeditions
10 drive back ar rebel maragdrg tsnds wh have beer
sweeping ss Sence iron, tbe cpunsry 20 yer,
OuiIoste. One 0, these tSpds approached within 81,
mikes - ne yesterday. nni beer ~ them constantly IL
the valley d. Tie Cumberland Our artillery s-p d.
hcient 81 the right sort of ammunition for bsh fighting
Oar pieces are all rihrd, and throw grape u
will oct'g % ypu here tha, the government runRluI
Wild or The subject a rifod guns Our artillery
pe cned for the usual complement ~ hJsityeys. bt
we41 denied.
This co'uu,n msfcbsd ifou wkt4. 70 Pi'nlsiis--I-.
niLegast Saturday, tiInaH L 81 the Junction Of tw,
reads which fok ron the main road from Knoxville
| Tenn, via Cumberland Gap, 10 Lexington, Ky. Boil
forks cad ts Lexington, tho sht VIA kchnand the lei
VA Wfcat, tran Orchard ard Lancaster There IL bu
ttr difference IN Tire Gstanes 70 Lexington, but tn
Rs'luond road 10 tho best. The commanding General
howey- chose tho Crab Orchard read rs his hsse Ia
OPERATIVES Monday nigh Ast thu rebels were rcpoe,
adNaucnk oR lonscn 70 attack Jolcn Gafrard who
been agBn mi N the van The Seventeenth Ohio wa.
sent IA shc ghi Ia reinforce hm aud throw Up n,anch
meh' IN the highest icin IN The vicinity. The rera II
der of The advance column has since arrived and y.