Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-20
FRoM CUTREELANp CAP.
Great Peril 10 she Federal .Erply fss EasE
E'elsEessees


Great Peril 10 she Federal .Ernly ia EasE
TeIsHessee.
The Northern papers publish the following as
an extract Of letter from distinguished officer
serving with the Federal forces under General
Morgan st Cumberland Gap
CUMBERLAND GAP, Tennessee August . -
We are surrounded, and our supplies are cut of
The rebels have tweaty thousand meB, Just out
OF caanOn shot incur front, and their picksts
rrrs 7cross the mountains from valley to valley
up t5,Withiu two miles Of this Gap. More or
the enemy's troops are now on their way from
Knoxville, and two rebel columns have also
gained our rear, one OF which crossed over by
Rogers and the other by Big Creek Gap. One
is, it is said, about 70 push its way up 70 North
ern Kentucky, 70 attempt to cross the Ohio
river, and by the time this reaches you IF it
ever does, the whole of Eastern Kentucky viii,
I fear have fallen into the hands Of the rsbeis,
and we may be isolated by 3 distance Of hun
dreds of miles from the only region from which
we can hope for succOr We have begged for
reinfo1csments and support for two months past,
50 that We might penetrate into East Tsnnss-
see, where both friends and supplies await US.
but the authorities at Washington have turned
Z a desf ear to our entreaties.
Though the rebel force is great on al sides Of
US 90 not believe they viii dare attack u.s. They
evacuated this stronghold with force 600
strong, and with a reinforcement Of - 600
within three hours march This was more than
twice the number of the national force with
wasch General Morgan captured the Gap, and
which had no reinf0rcsmsnts within a distance
of one hundred miles. But the enemy Is una
/ bic 80 come with such determined men as CON
pose this little army,
l am assured by the highest authority here.
that in no event viii Cumberland Gap be SUI
rendered or evacuated. The cnly means the
rebels have Of destroying us Is 10 starvs US 20
I death and I own that in ;his respect the pros
! pect looks somewhat gloomy. If the rebels
/ now moving northward reach the Ohio river, No
/ shall then despair Of relief; and by the eud Of
/ September or October, our bones bleaching on
/ the mountains may be all that can be found OF
/ Cen Morgan's army
If 1t De the programme of the government to
relieve US, column of 10000 men must be i'm
me1ately sent frOm Lexington. II can BE- done
Ohio Indiana and Kentucky can furnish The
troops; aud If they are not hampered by absurd
orders, the column might yet reach Us in time.
Gen. Morgan says that, if spprised Of the ap-
prosch Of relieving force, he himself would
advance 20 meet it with portion Of bis army.
and cut his way through the bsleaguering rebels
OF perish In the attempt
/ The euemy's trUops are like fsmished wolves.
/ Hunger has made them desperate. Eook out
for rayages, if they get up into the blue grass
region Of Kentucky.
( Daily and hourly We look snxiously for relief
I We listen with sharp ears for the drumtsp Of
/ Gen. Buell in the Southwest, or the bugles Of 8
/ Union column advancing over the hills from the
/ North. High on the mountain peaks this lttle
/ army defantly upholds the flaming emblem Of
! the republic. God forbid that our government
should leave Us to be starved out or slaughtered
/ piecsmesl uncarad for, in these solitudes
I l. 80 tba fEsf I
Morgan has issued the following insuirting al.
dress to his army, which has been read at the
head of every corps and regiment In the yicin-
ity Of Cumberland Gap
HEADQUARrERs SEvEyrB DIVISION ARaY5
OF THE OHIO, CUHBERLASD Gar
General Order No. 7al
officers and soldiers ef tie 7Lh Di5iSi0u The
opportunity you have so long desired has 81
length arrived, and you viii now prove 10 your
lrieads, the country and the world, that you are
soldiers in fact and deed, as well as In name.
The famished enemy is in despair. Driven
from Chattanooga, and Richmond escaping from
his grasp, he is forced to occupy Kentucky, In
diana or Ohio, or give up the contest
Two months ago to-day he ingl0rousiy absu-
doned this formidable stronghold although his
force was then greater than yours If it was
thsn strong, tits infinitely stronger now ronger
IN f0rtihcanons, stronger IN artillery and above
al, stronger in the brave hearts and rolg arms
which defend this mountain fastness, destined 90
become immortal from your glorious deeds
They talk Of the enemys numbers. Believe
me soldiers, his very strength is his gTes.sst
weakness, for the more men be has the sooner
/ they viii starve.
/ One word to you, and regard that word ss
/ fixed as fste You can hold this position against
any odds, and you have but to determine 70
conquer, and victory is yours
I Comrades, I greet and salute you
GEORGE W. MORGAN,
Brigadier-General commanding the