Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-04-02

Character Of hasisrs Ksshcky--L LOcqliass--
IAs Rost Of DE Rsbsla on ths 1874.

which have met us at every step since we
left the Ohio river, and which have grown
mere and more serious to the very end.
But these obstacles have been overcome,
one after another, by our energetic General
and bis command, eliminating, ss you have
already learned on the lsth instant, in cross
ing the Cumberland mountains, and COM
pletely routing the last remnant Of rebel
forces 10 be found in ell this region. It may
be said in truth, as It has been already said
in poetry, that here "hilla peep DER hills,
and Alps Ger Alps arise" hills 80 steep and
mountains SO rugged as to challenge the en-.
ergy of the Yankee while they have utterly
de6sd that of the natives, to make over or
around them roads over which it Is psssible
to pass, save BY the fOOtmAn or the trusty
mule.
Humphrey Marshall doubtless thought
himself secure from the uneEring aim Of our
brave boys with their long range guns, when
terrOr-stricksn he fed from thhe taste there
Of which they gave him at Middle Greek, and
had placed between them and him, as a COW
ert, these hills and mountains, and these
rushing streams; but alas for his mistake,
for General Garfield was after him, with or
ders in his pocket TO clear the rebels ont Of
Eastern Kentucky, and as the Kentuckisns
cay, be was "boune to do Il"
Before giving an account of the affair at
Pound Gap, on the 18th inst, It will be nee
essary to give your readers an item or two as
to localities:
PiksviIle is about 12O miles up the Sandy
river, and south from the Ohio river, while
Pound Gap is in the Cumberland mountains,
some 40 miles to the southwest Of this place.
The Pound, as It is called, Is quite an area Of
tclersbly level land lying in circular form,
skirted around with a stream Of water AID
high hills, but connected BY pass to gap
called Pound Gap, through the Cumberland
mountains, and Is one OF the passes from
Kentucky into Virginia.
To guard this gap, Major J.. B. Thompson,
of Humphrey MarshAlis brigade, had been
stationed with q force Of about 500 men,
while Marshall himself, to be entirely out Of
harms way, has gone to near Abingdon,
Virginia.
Scouts and reconnoisances had shown the
locality of the enemy, leaving nothing to do
but to meet and Rght him-t0 do which, a
force numbering 600 infantry, cavalry, and
mounted rihemsn, under command Of Gen.
Garfield, left camp on Friday the l4th.
A provision train Of pack mules followed
behind, with bacon, cofse and hard bread
enough for three days rstions, while other
trains followed with afurther supply. Thus
appointed, the gallant little band sailed forth
upon their toilsome journey, cage for the
fray, and glad to exchange inactive suffering
in the camp for active exercise in the field.
The rain poured down in torrents at inter-
walls through the i4th and 18Th, and the only
line Of travel possible lay along tOrtuous
creeks and deep ravines. The creeks, sWol-
len BY rains, had to be forded by the men on
horseback, and waded by the footmen.
More than 40 times in the march Of these
two days did Gen. Garfield ford these streams
to find the best route for the men, and more
than 30 times did the infantry wade those
streams often waist deep, that they might
faithfully fulfil their mission. ID
Saturday night brought the whole force,
divided into two eeaPsI four niles apart
to the foot Of the Cumberland Mountains,
upon the Elk Horn Fork, which, for miles,
cuts its way along the base end underneath
the cliffs Of this high range.
Here the night was spent by the men in
such quarters IS they could obtain, and here
they slept; but the Wskeful and Vigilant
General kept his saddle until both camps had
been visited BY him, and the plan Of attack
upon the enemy 8 camp, lying just over the
mountain, had bean completely settled.
Morning came soon enough to the weary
soldiers, and with it breakfast By no means
equal, however, to the meals which "mine
hosts' Of the Wsddell or Angler have 30
often fed our brave boys upon; but it was
all the sooner dispatched, and the ascent Of
the mountain began, to describe which prop.
erly without q map is task too difficult for
my clumsy pen; but if you could zee it with
your own eyes you would say that it could |
never be accomplished by battalion Of in |
fantry, already worn with two days of severe |
marching.
But, even the mountain Businesses, envi- |
roned as they are by the defences which !
nature has so abundantly and 90 Sc
eurely laid, proved not inaccessible TO our |
determined soldiers. Before noon, and while /
the rebels were rejoicing over what they sup
posed was 6 repulse Of our cavalry, who pro- |
ceeded through the gap, and with whom they |
had been skirmishing, our infantry had Cross
ed over the main ridge and had ascended q
still higher and more difficult peak, and when |
first discovered by the enemy were pouncing |
down upon them from quarter from which |
they had never thought approach possible 1
Their shouts of victory were speedily turned
into fear, and from fear to panic.
A line Of battle was Immediately formed
by the frightened rebels, and for moment
our boys were eheeFed by the hope that for
once a good fight could be got ont of them.
But alas one round from or side was
enough to satisfy the cOWards-they broke
and ran in every direction, tower the hills
and far away" and for aught that can be
learned Of them they are moving still.
The cavalry pursued them for Eve miles
but not 8 trace Of their footsteps could be
found in any road. Our men took immediate
possession Of the evacuated camps, and found
all things as the rebels had left them when
they had been sWsked from their faRcied Sc
curity by the attack Of the cavalry from the
Gap, and the ''eagls sWooPp Of the infantry
from the mountain top above. Their camp
equipage, their clothing, commissary stores,
means Of transportation, were left behind,
and all fell into our hands.
All of their valuable documents, muster
rolls and correspondence, besides number
Of guns and swords, were secured by our men,
and are now in our hands. Having no means
Of transportation but pack mules, and they
being left on the north side OF the noun
tains, it was found impossible to bring much
of the plunder away, and it became necessary
to apply the torch to the huts and stores,
and they were soon transformed by Ere into
more original and better elements, as hope
soon to see rebellion and its wicked cause
transformed.
Among the officers accompanying the ex-
pedition were Col. CranOr, Of the 4Oth, Maj.