Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-11
The nsp'i.' Gap A~su.s.ar.

from iAs knoxville EtgiEeri
We had the pleasure Of meeting yesterday
Colonei Alst0n, commanding 81 brigade Ten
nessee cavalry, who was TeeeEhy captured By
regiment Of smbuscaded Yankees, near Bspiis
Gap, and exchanged under the existing cartel
From friend belonging to Colonel Ashby
cavalry regiment, we have received the partieu
lars Of the ambuscade, which resulted ia tht
death Of two Of the most gallant members O.
Captain Smiths cavalry company. Their name:
were Galbrsith and Pesrcer Three others o
Captain Smiths men were captured.
1t appears that three regiments Of Yankees
and renegade Tennesseans had been sent oui
to capture Colonel Ashby's pickets, who were
posted at Baptist Gap. Colonel Alston and cur
whilon correspondent Bird Manard, were on a
high point overlooking Cumberland Gap when
Captain Smith, who had Just started down the
north side Of the mountain, met Yankee regi-
ment. Captain Smith, with his company, with
stood the whole regiment, instantly killing
seven. The Federal commander rallied his
men, and ordered them TO charge On the rebels,
/ when Captain Smiths company fell back 10
their horses, and were ordered by Colonel Ais
| ton to retire down the mountain and hold the
Gap as infantry, and he IN the meantime dis
| patched courer for Teinf0Tcements. Colonel
| AllstOn at this time supposed the force of the
enemy to be merely small scouting or bush
| whacking party, and ne and Lieutenant 1Ianerd
4 proceeded down the mountain at their leisure
1 The rest of the story may be better givenin the
words of Lieutenant Manard, from private
letter, from which we are permitted to make the
following extract:
Coming down to the raYine a. the base Of the
mountain where we had to pass out into the
valley, to my sstoni5hmant l saw three Yankees
step behind tree by the roadside, some forty
yards before rs, which information I gave the
col)nel, who was riding just bai0re me (sinple
a str . ,s1 sa-a
told him that they were not our infantry-that
they were Yankees. They then halted us. and
ordered us to come forward and surrender. OF
they would shoot" / asked the colonel TO turn
his horse and make his escspe-in the mean
ii ne Teignlng back my horse several. PAGES
They renewed their demand for a surrender.
when / spurTed my horse aud started back
whilst their bullets whissled fast over my head.
Had | not moved when [ did I would certainly
have been killed The colonel surrendered
though much against his will, as be always has
had a great horror at the idea Of being taken
prisoner. The courier sent forward after rein
forcements was captR,e1 by the same men. A
regiment was drawn upin line just behind them
two huge mountains on each side, hence the
chance for escape was indeed limited
After crawling through the anrei up tao
mountain for half mile, could go no further,
and waited until dark, concealed under d large
lOg. OoN5ial AduAoco ptAo564 near luc-OAe
stepped on the log under which was lyiug
Under cover Of night, returned saf5 to camp,
somewhat fstigued with my forced march
minus my hat, which, by the way, is consider
able trophy ts the Yankees, as they carried it of
with them. Also horse, saddle and bride,
worth i've hundred dollars.
On returning for the young men who were
killed, one- was found where he first fell--Mr.
Galbraith, who fought the sccur5ed vandaIs until
Al. A.. ! L l.
to IRn when he was shot ia the back three
times When his comrades left him he could
speak, aud they hoped that he would recover.
But some demOn-hearted wretch on coming
and seeing HIN lying there ia the agonjes Of
death, thrust his bsyOnet into has tender and
feminine throat. Marks were near the wound
where five different attempts were made before
the foul deed was cOusumated. Thy then.
rifled his pockets Of thsir contents tie was
nothing but mere boy-a soldier OF much
merit and courage for his years. He seemed to
have struggled with the assassin who bayoneted
him, as his hands were all bloody. Vengeance
is mine and I'll repay saith the God Of battles.
Glorious consolation. Thank God the day Of
retTibution is not far distant. Already they
feel the sting Of famine.
Soon the glorious news of Z" Cumberland Gap
has fallen, 1t shah 60 with electric speed to
every proud State OF our young republic Soon
oAIbdtiIt6E stiati1 wave IN tIluulpu l.0E4 rae
nights where now floats the sccurssd emblem
of oppression, whilst a shout will be raised by
Southern boys that shall strike terror to every
Yankee this side Of the Ohio.
Tennesseeans are deserting daiiy-coming in
and taking the oath, saying that they have just
found ont that General 6IOrgans army Is fight
ing for the purpose Of freeing the negroes, and |
that they viii not fight for such a cause.
These regiments are allowed no association
whatever with each other. Their rslions are
short Let me say in conelusion-rest easy,
everything is working right. All the enemy's
wagon trains, dispatches, couriers, etc, have
been intercepted. Their only hope is for Buell
TO confront General Smith before he shall gain
the railroad at Lexington. This information is
gained from a letter written by Col. DeCourcy,
an Englishman commanding a brigade at Cum
berisnd Gap, which was intercepted by our
scouts. This was the chap who won such glo-
rious laurels at Walden's ridge, near Tazswel,
when he commanded four regiments, and run
from Col Vaughan's Sd East Tennessee.
The health of our troops is good. All quiet
in the Valley. BIRD,