The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-18
The Southern Kentucky Railroad
IFrom The Lexington (Ky.J Observer.

ing iAHVau lrOm OumDerlanu Tap to
some point in the interior of Kentucky
or on the Ohio river--or rather, from some
point on the Ohio river 70 some point In
East Tennessec-was discussed in the
public prints. This was a civil project.
The President Of the United States. in
bis last annual message, recommended 10
Congress the building Of such a road as a
military road. Congress failed TO en-
dorse his recommendation, and thus the
matter dropped. By dispatch from
Washington Of October 31st, we think il
probable that Mr.. Lincoln will again ask
Congress TO make such a road. We feel
satisfied that portion of our Represen-
tatiyes and Senators in Congress were
ignorant of the importance of that road,
or that il would have been built. We
feel it TO be our duty 10 suggest some
facts with reference TO said road, show
ing the necessity for the Government 10
take hold of IL Immediately and build it.
When the Confederate army took pos
session of Lexington, they got, we should
think, at least 81 100000 worth OF stores,
besides arms sufficient TO arm $4,000 or
10000 men. They also got immense
quantities of ammunition aud clothing.
During last winter, spring and summer
our army at Boudon, Barbourville, and
Cumberland Gap an army of about 49,
600 men, had to be supplied with provi-
sions, arms, and everything by wagon
trains, and it is difficult TO imagine the
immense number of wagons, mules,
horses and teamsters required to supply
such an army, and that, too, over a road
of one hundred and thirty milestone
hundred miles of which was almost i'm
passable. We have been informed by
men who travelled along the road, that it
was rare thing TO travel over three con-
secutive miles of the road without finding
a dead mule or the remains of a wagon.
After time, too, it was difficult to get
forage in the mountains (for that cannot
be called an agricultural country, and
hundreds OF government mules were
permitted to stray off and die. The
amount thus lost by the Government, or
the extra amount thus paid out to pro-
vision the Cumberland Gap army, and
supply it with ammunition and clothing,
would, we hazard nothing in saying, have
DAllb hhN AdiiiVdA 90 ANNOlhAliinMtND Nv Nnt
President.
Besides, had the road been finished
last August-and it could have been done
this last rebel raid never would have
been made into Kentucky. The Govern
ment could and would have sent troops
and supplies along the road to umberland
Gap and hence into East Tennessee, tax :
en- possession of the East Tennessee and
Virginia Railroad, cut off the supplies OF
the rebel army in Virginia, destroyed the
principal means of communication be-
tween the Confederate army in Virginia
and that in the South, and thus have Civ
en- the rebels all they could attend to at
home.
We are satisfied that until possession
is taken of the East Tennessee and Vir-
gina. Railroad by the Government, this
rebellion will not be crushed out. When
ever that is done, the rebel army will be
compelled TO evacuate Virginia II is
emphatically the backbone of the rebel
lion. How is the Government to get
possession of that road? Either by keep
ing bodies of troops all along the Louis
vile and Nashville, Nashville and Chat
tanooga, and East Tennessee and Georgia
Railroads, or by making aroad from Par
is, Lexington or Nicholasville via Cum
berland Gap TO Morristown or Knoxville
Tennessee.
We have done without the last at q
considerable loss to the Government and
partially tried the other at great cost
and failed in holding it. II is for Con.
gress TO determine which is the mos
economical of the two. If it should bt
determined TO bnild the road, then q
question will arise as to what route shall
be adopted-several having been sug'
gested
1st 1t has been suggested that th,
route adopted should be from Lebanon
Ky, via Columbia and Burksyille, TO tn,
Tennessee line, and one route goinl
thence TO MsMinnVille and the other e
Kingston, Tennessee.
! I'd. From Lebanon via DanviIIe (,
McMinnville, Tennessee.
3D.. From Danyille via Mt Vernon
London and Williamsburg, Ky, BIZ
Creek Gap 10 Clinton, Tennessee.
4th. From Nicholasville 10 Danyille
Ky, thence to Mt. Vernon, London an,
Barboursyille to Cumberland Gap.
9th. From Paris, Lexington or Nicho
lasville TO Cumberland Gap, on or nea
the route surveyed by Mckee.
Without desiring 10 destract from III
merits of any of the above proposed
routes, we win give briefly our opiH 10
Of them all. Before doing that, however
we will suggest that the line Of the pro
posed railroad ought 10 be selecte
with view TO its present military ad
vantages, and TO its future usefulness al
ter this damnable rebellion shall hay
been crushed out.
The first route goes from Lebanon
McMinnyille, TO which point there Is al
ready road via Nashville, and runnin
almost PARALLEL with the proposed rout
But, say its advocates, we propose ais
TO run from the Kentucky State line
Kinosfou Vennpsgpe WhV the necessit