Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-07-10
Letter from Gen. Morsan's Army.
eusslkLaAsp GAP, june 20, 1862.

Letter from Gen. Morgan's Army
CuMDnRLAND' Gar, June 20. 1862
EDrroR ChRoNIcLE Alter long time,
/ venture again TO trouble you with fsw
lines from the 42d. |
Leaving Big Sandy the last Of March, we
seen.rspchsd the Ohio, and were rapidly
carried on II beautiful waters to Louisville,
where We sjcamped for fsw.days; thence
onward H3as nv rail to Lexington, passing
through The richest aud most delightful part
Of Kentucky. Now our pleasure riding
ceased, and we took up. the weary line Of
march toward Cumberland Gap. Fourteen
days on the road brought us to Cumberland
Ford, where our army under Gen. Morgan
was encamped and fortified Here we re-
manned in camp, fifteen miles from the
enemy, doing nothing for six weeks, except
soaring tberebels once in a while by pre-
tended monments. At last the time TO
strike arrived, aud the blow fell where least
expected. = ..,......f,.s
4 Onthe 7th Of June our forces left the
Ford, and, instead Of going to the Gap,
took of tothe right, a.d after a circuitous
march Of four days reached the foot Of the
mountain, eighteen miles to the Southeast
ofthf Gag, and crossed at place called
Wilson's Gap, which the enemy thought to
be inIpaAsbE 'In that they had mistaken
Yankee ese1fy for notwithstanding the
J seepncs6oe The hill and the many obstruc-
tions placedln Che way, the road was soon
: cleared andspr trains and artillery passed
over a mousSain where y train had never
before gone. So utterly inlyassable was
: this road considered that the enemy had nc
/ guards here, and were not aware Of oui
D doings until " were IN the valley. Here
some skirmiaing took place between par
!. Of the AID saA some rebel cavalry in which
: the latter lostthree or four killed and severa
n wounded. While all this was going on
h other forces attacked the rebels at the BIZ
. Greek Gap, eighteen miles still farthe
. Southwest. The cowardly scamps fed II
: confusion, andlelt our men in full possession
At this place WAS found: a large number 0
e tents and varioss other articles. Thus ",
> gained full possession Of rich and beauti
e fol country, knSwn az Powell's Valley. =
= Our forces were soon concentrated, and oI
% the morningof The 18th Of june we tool
D. mp the line of march for Cumberland Gap
;. But the eneTy had anticipated the move
" ment and retieated. In the evening Of tha
% day we reached the Gap, and the 42d ds
l. 6fst floated MN It's ranjparts The i'm
ri pregusble Cumberland Gap, with all its ex
O. tensive fortiflAti9ns and defenses, Is ouys
10 without Che ltks Of man. Where for NOR
ir than year fsated the kissing rattlesnaks
. now tne giorlaus stars ana stripes are ur
iqried 70 the nfeezs, ana down-tro1der
"A Onon;iovinf people re)oice 9eneath II
~ protecting folds This Is wonderful plac'
- and possesses the strongest possible defense
!; both natural end artificial
~ " The vast amount OF work done here
). ~ itself wonde! There are seven fortine
m -. points for artillery ON the peaks OF a. mar
W W mountains, and the extensive lines OF breas
:" works, found III every dlreotion, must
NJ " several miles 10 extent. Every possible a.
nv proaoh is thoroughly defended. 10 hay
W W taken 1t by storm weuld have been lmpo
~ ~ slbe, or at lcast resulted In fearful loss
uo life. A small force might hold the positl!
y against the world; But our General !
-, stead OF hghti9g them IN this stronghold
700 'out on the't Haysrsacks, as the boys q
,a,II or intarespssa e .esr n 2. rupgncs ,and sne
NJ iacking pravsssyor Iorce sunc,Sns Ni, " nsm.
v;l III the open aeid, were oolnpeneu 70 evac
nd ate we m ,,mA n oai uuno. sas ma' .,,J ,aas
.vc tnlngs we',' a.a on,y rcgre. we yoa,u
as rescn ia ners W .,'he 70 pte'eni ue ,e.,a ~
)e. Iney appelsr " nsse ,e,i ~ na nI @
we're unaDie W IHn.ovo .he.. ''I.es, ".I =
vat nve pieces o' a...'ety' .n'es a nua'Iu s'
oce e,gnsy'tnLce 'eh.s, ~. VI noul .,; Sau;
in. drieo spp'es, o.a"ho.s 90, ooS,ue: ns.,
nd destroyed Irse a.iouh: VI ~ piOv;I'ons
in. great nuhoer Vi SooA'ns utensils, ms
ooAes, aun.s' @e.' ao' ss,y .n'ns ny i
in. compe.e run nheep' rhu n"noer ... .. simn' m
INV ploes ano Wagons, r.. iao i;a.S VIII IT,. ="
md 70 p.1ces, anu 'ea. e"uE, 10 uad; insy ~,
~ mostly wan .eh.s, an9 W aua.i'oh an.i' 20 .n
,,s there are one nuuolso anu MY 'os oar'Ie y
he Y all were oceup'vu .ney nIus. nave y ,
"o about three tnousanu strong, sno
I. estimate 1, u connr,nea py .ne repor.s p g.
III Gems. Inc sesnery s9ou' Inis p'ace y
@ s"n turesque ana peau1hu,. from tne top
.;u ] the mountain sn alnos. uniin,.eu h.n vIev
il" the snrt9up9t eo4n.Iy ,,,'' ~ ooSs.nou, auu
Wv" beauuiui says9g u rowe,l ,I NiveI Is SPt
DHl out before tne ks.s, whi,e Ial ,; 70 .ne oS'
anu east aPpeals 'no !uui Dius Sus,no
ms Stone Mounta.ns, m Nor,h OatoIas. n
IN way y now open 20 aaa sas ~