The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-04-03
Gen. GarRelds Victory at Scum
ding Gap.
He Routes the Rebels and Destroys their
camp.
Especial Dl.patsA,O the Cincinnati e''ot's.l

ISpeeiei Dlspatch 70 tho OiheihhAu NN1'
PEYroN. March 13.
For some time it has been known TO
Gen Garfield that au irrtgularIy organ
ized body Of rebels, amounting TO some
four or i've hundred. were holding the
pass through the Cumberland Mountains
known as the Pound or Sounding Gap.
Though. mi,tarily speaking. they were
of little account, owing 10 their loose. I'M
perfect organization, and their harum'
ecarum guerrilla character; yetlhis' under
the circumstances, rendered them even
more troublesome so that q perfect reign
Of terror prevailed throughout large area
of which their rendezvous was the center.
Some fifteen days ago small scouting
parry OF our troops was sent out, whlrh
penetrated to the waters Of ElkhoIn creek,
encountered their pickeIs. Dispersed them
with a loss of one man on each side. and
af'er making some valuable observations
returned to camp.
party was Immediately detailed from
the 22d Kentucky regiment, the 4othsnd
AID Ohio, besides one hundr d cavalry.
under command of Major Mclaughlin,
amounting in al 10 about seven hundred
to u.aks an assault upon the main body
at the Gap, and WIPE out The foul DIN OF
miscreants vt blow. Sounding Gap is
situated about forty miles sonth-' ast
from Piketon, and is connected by a
good turnpike road with Gadesvile and
Abingdon. Virginia
A road has been cut through the Gap
which is now entirely obstruct on the
western slope by large trees fallen across
il by the rebels. Being the only channel
of Communication for wagons between
south -asteru Kentucky and southwestern
Virginia. it WAS Of course an important
poiot in the strategic policy OF General
Marshal.
Our march occupied two entire days,
ana was attended with tho everest labor
The nature OF the roads, being merely
paths. following the creeks aud rivulets
The constant rain aud snow. soaking bo Il
officers and men 10 the skin, and the ia
lhulnless, endless mud, formed a combi
nalion Of uutoward circ umstances difficult
10 overcome.
Nevertheless, after two days Of wading
and spl.shing the whole expedition ar
ivrd sa ely al Z kborn Creek, two miles
below the gap. about 10 o'clock on Satur
day night Several circumstances nov
modified Gen. GsIfeld's prc.conceivec
plan Of attack. but without hetilation Ii
sent the cavalry up the road to appear i
front OF the enemy's position, and by skir
mishing. attract their attention. Will
himself, with the infantry should elm
tho mountains at point q mile and
half heow the gap, and thence film
along the summit Of the range, attack th
: rebel camp bv the flank.
Az ten on the morning Of Sunday, tn
, ascent commenced, aud by IL O'clock W
had Ipa he'd the summit. two thousan
fro, sbou, the valley. Turning 90 tn
sight, our guide led tho column along th
soaring cregs until, when within a quar-
tor Of a mile from their camp, q rcb'
picket was discovered only q few rod
ahead of our van. He started TO rul
when several Of our boys flied upon lin
but with no other effect than 10 add ne
inpr,us to his fight
The column WAS now pressed rapid
forward until, emerging from the wood
he rebels were observed forming on III
opposite hill. between which and the on
We occupied lay the camp Of lhs rebel
in deep gorge or ravine, though whic
he road is built.
Conceivng the rebels about to make
permanent stand, Gen. Garfield crew u
his line in front Of ,h,m with his rigl
resting on the summit Of the mountain
and the left. stretched away down Il
eastern slope. About this time. howe
er, tho rsbel lines seemed TO be meltir
away, as though they were gradually ia
ing back into tha woods. Fearing the I
suits OF loss Of time, Gen. Garfield il
medatcly ordered his men toward TO sea
tLe hill. ahd. II necessary, carry it at q
point Of the bayonet.
A loud echoing shout burst from d
long line as with fixed bayouets it sAe
y, down through the ravine and up the hi
There was no backbone for US 10 conter
:" with however. for as our bayonels appea
ie ed over the hill scarce an enemy was
'g eight A few stragglmg ones could
10 seen tearing through the laurel unde
hrush, aud we sent ringing vOley all
I" them, killing one and woundmg several
70 We were now ordered back to camp,
the nature Of the country precluded a
le possibility OF onr ever ovcrtaking the
=, Il being suspected, however. that lar
proportion had rereatod before our ar
v, val by the road toward Abingdon. O
ID cavalry was brought up the hill aud Sc
Q, In pursuit. We now turned In TO ransa
D. th-ir camp. 1t comprised sixty log h,
or barracks capable OF accommodating a
out dozen men each, besides ten CO.
- mssary buildings and one large hou
~ occupied as headquarters by the comma
IN dan, Of tho post, The huts were W
y provided with bedding, blankets, cook
n utensils and rude furniture, aud contain
n bssideS large quantity OF clothing, arl
II and promiscuous articles Of personal pre-
p. c'ty. There being no means at Gene
Gar6eld'S disposal by which any pa,t
To- this vast quantity Of efscts could
to transported to camp the men we're allo
isI ed to take whatever they chose. aud