Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-07-11
THE CAPTURE OF CUMBERLAND
GAP.
From tho Correspondent Of the Cincinnati Con
mercial.

I From tho Correspondent Of the Cincinnati Com
mercial.
: HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH DIV, L. ). y,
CUNBERLAND Gar, june 70.
The deed is done, and Cumberland Gap Is
wrcnched from rebel hands and thus the
most direct and available way to Eastern
Tennessee is thrown wide open, and free
access to and from the loyal people Of that
re- ion is permanently secured. Viewing the
event in all its aspects and bearings, It rises
70 the Importance ola great, political, nil
itary and moral triumph, and none the less
so from having been achieved from strategic
operations, involving neither carnage, blood
shed nor loss Of life. On the evening Of the
l7th notice was given to have tents struck
and two days rati0ns in hayersacks, and be
prepared to march promptly at ! % O'cljck on
the morning Of the 18th.
At the appointed hour we were Undcr
way, and by sunrise had made, with all our
trains distance Of six miles. Two miles
further on We expected to meet the reb-l in
hutrv AMI cavalry at point where they had
established q camp on our advent INTO Pow
eli is Valley, and here, for the first time, We
l1arHel o. tie probable abandonment Of the
Gap. Is we progressed in our march, the
rumols became more thick and fast Of hasty
leaye-akin-, and the brigade were quicken
ed into increased speed, with the hope OF at
least arresting the rear guarI, but without
results The entire division, with the entire
ammunition train, made the distancs-tweu-
ty miles-bctore sunset, and formally, amid
the cheering Of assembled hosts. and % the
roar Of artillery, raised the r I1nal emblem
% power and glory. The rczimental flags
Of the Sixteenth Ohio and IwentY-sec9nt
Kentucky, were each RAISED, and there
may they ever remain as symbols u! union
and fraternity. The Cumberland range ex-
tends from northeast 20 southwest, and pre-
serves a mean ELEVATION above the valleys 1n
either side. / suppose some two thousand
feet, The Gap Is a cleft in the range Of
some five hundred feet in depth, and cJnycr-
gcs 10 a width barely suficieu. for road
way. Fora year the rebels have been en-
tranchmg and lortiiyirS with all the mill
tary kill and science of which they are mas
tors. and to-day the Gap and lis surround
Iuss may safely be pronounced the Gibraltar
0i America. lfitwere sufficiently provision
e.. adequately manned and armed. and gal
.l1tlv defended, it could succlssluliy.wi
stand the world in arms. All honor % those
whose strategy has compelled b.OJdless
surrender Of such a stronghold The waste
and destruction has been immense. Ilrc1 hun
irei tents. at least, were left standing, Tut
they were slitntJ ribbons. tons Of Ir1icctiic, F.
were thrown oyc1 the cliffs into the ravIues. |
Their long sixty-i9ur p1un1ers We're Urecipi- .
"a, over prccipice Of Two hundred feet, /
aut without any materisl damage their /
mortar guns were spiked, and the carriages I
cut down. The whole surface lf the cn- /
,4mrment was str9wn with -four. beans, I
rice, corn AMI oats They have lived fast 1
and we'll. and cost them nothing but Sd .
much trash as YOU or I would not stop % /
rlcG up. The great defect OF the T bel ar.
uv organization has been lbs clmmislry De
rartments Th1y have sub5isteI by piilaSe
and robbery, as their forced circulation of
.aa issues % rotten shinplastcrs, banks aul
im-. can DE characterized by no miljer /
terms. The capture of the Gap Will have
important results on the future operations Of
.ls war. as 10 can safely De made the base
1r future operations against the further
south r.hais.
The situation may thus il summed UP. /.
lcIah.l- under Gems. Smith, Stevenson and
Barton. the number ll l5 600 thousand,
nave rs.roated % Biushamton, Virginia.
I.u. Morgan. with bis main column, uccu-
ss Cumberland Glp. Gen. Carter, with
Dds Hrcc, occupies IJzewcl. When the
*. move occurs Will advise YOU.