Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-28
Letter from CumberIana Gap.
Col. NEwMAx's REGIMENT.
CUMBERLAND GAP. AUG. 20, 1861.


COL NEwMAN's REGIMENT.
CUMBERLAND GAP, AUG. 20, 1861.
For four or five weeks after 1 saw you we
remained at Camp Trousdaie, in kind of
IistIess state, save the excitement of drilling,
washing and cooking which was then all new
to us. At length, one evening when we were
all lolling about at our leisure, uncer-
tain as to our future destination, orders came
to cook so many day g rations and hold our
selves in readiness to march at moments
warning. Then low, significant murmur
ran throughout the encampment, increasing
until it burst into one deafenlng shout, show
ing how welcome the tidings to u.s. All was
excitement and esgerness to depart; the
hours wore YEARLY on until orders came to
strike our tents, when we fastened to bid
farewell to Trousdale, though not without
feelings of regret, when we thought of the
fat forms, who had encouraged US by their
occasional presence. But do not intend to
tax your patience with detail of our march.
Let it suffice to state that after being slowed
away safely in the cars, we were whistled
away at so rapid a rate as to lead some soT
der to exclaim, in a humorous way, he was
afraid we might get there a little too soon.
We stopped long enough in Nashville to take
breath and eat some of the luxuries prepared
by the beautiful ladies of Nashville. May
they ever look as fair and as beautiful as then,
and may the day soon arrive, when the young
men who have gone out to defend and protect
such innocence. shall return to lay those arms
at their feet. They never will surrender to
| an enemy. After being slowed away again
| in the cars we commenced our eastward
course, passing through our native counties,
where we were met by our assembled friends
| at the depots, only exchanging shouts as we
rushed past, recognizing one here and one
| there. 1t looked as if the whole country had
come out to cheer US on our way, from the
| little school-boy to the old veteran, whose
| gray locks streamed in the wind as be raised
his hat to bid US God speed, and utter a
| fathers blessing. Finally, after few days
we landed at Cumberland Gap, not "Kanas-
| sas," and after marching several days over
| some tall and rough mountains, giving US a
pretty fair conception as to what marching
was in days gone by, when it was fashionable
for armies to walk. Since we have been at
the Gap rumors of the enemy have been rife
that they were collecting here and there; but
| wherever we have gone, we have found none;
| in fact from what have seen of the changes,
| that are daily and hourly taking place, there
are but few enemies to the South in East Ten
nessee to collect, save in few places noted for
their stolid ignorance where the tory leader can
| retail his ISLANDERS without fear of REPUTATION.
As to the prospects of a fight up here, they
are not very flattering; without Lincoln
should invade Kentucky. 1t is true, we hear
of few Union men drilling in Kentucky; but
not enough to do any damage. If they should
cross over the mountains from Kentucky, we
will give them a warm reception. We feel as
| secure here as at TrOusdale, and l believe we
| would, if the enemy were drawn up before
| US in order of battle. The fact is, we do not
| intend to get whipped; we do not believe
| that Tennesseans intend our military pres
| tige shall be lowered from the proud posi-
lion where Old Hickory and his veterans
leftit The most trying ordeal through which
| the soldier has to pass is the duties connected
with the camp, yet even in this we seldom
hear the slightest murmur. We were all no.
vices when we commenced and were unac-
customed to the restrictions of military dis
| cipline, and had formed no adequate idea as
to the duties of a soldier, yet we all work in
| the traces, with willingness that would
have been done only by those who nad gUne
out to defend all that is dear to them on earth.
| A young man who was ordered to perform
| some duty, remarked to one standing by that
his labor was too great. The other replied
| by saying, "your grandfather served his
country eight years in the Revolution of &c;
your father three years under Jackson in the
war of 10 and '13, and you murmur at this p
That boy was never heard to murmur again.
If we do not get chance to try our metal
it will be worth the time we have spent to
learn to appreciate the services of veterans
whose hardships and valor has left us the
richest legacy left to the human family, free
government. The conduct of our soldiers in
health and sickness is an evidence of the de
termined spirit in which they have entered
into this fight Go to the hospitalIand you
hear scarcely groan, but you see an exam
pie of patience and fortitude, rarely surpass
ed l happened at the hospital few days
ago and witnessed an incident that would
have melted heart of adamant. a fine
looking young man, in the delirium of hi:
fever, was conyersing as if with his absent
parents, with such words as 'fear not mother
have strong arm and l will protect your
home and old age against those who seek to
render you miserable" No enc could have
heard it, and not feel the fountain of his heart
yelling over with sympathy. Such feeling
as this poor young man gave, when under
the rayages of disease, is the sentiment up
permost in the minds of all. Can We be con.
quered Never. As Tennesseans we are
aware of the fearful responsibility resting up
on US, the safety of the State, and its past
well-earned name of heroic actions must come
back as pure as when we carried it out.
God grant that we may prove ourselves
worthy to stand in the shoes of those who
have gone before US, and whose self-denial
and courage has added so much to the honor
of the State.
Yours, Respectfully,
| A PRIVATE.