The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-01
The Union Column at CumbsrIand Gap

The Union Column at Cumberland Gap
From the New York Times of Thursday.
Probably the few people who ever knew
the fact, have quite forgotten it, that We
have pretty large column of National
troope in East Tennessee--at Cumberland
Gap. When, in the early part of this year,
the rebels evacuated Bowling Green, and
the various divisions of our troops in Ken.
lucky followed them southwark, this column
was left in south eastern Kentucky, for the
purpose of capturing the rebel stronghold
at Cumberland Gap--which had been re.
garded as probably the most formidable and
strategic position in the Southland after
ward penetrating into Fast Tennessee. The
column remained, doing various work and
with varied fortune, 10 the billy and DESC
lated regions OF Eastern Kentucky during
the whole of the Spring, and till we'll on in
the present Summer. At the beginning of
last month it was still on the Northern side
OF the Cumberland Mountains. At length
on the 18th of June, Gen. Morgan, its com
mander, and very able and gallant officer,
obtained possession of the long.coveted
Cumberland Gap, by one of the most diff
cult and scientific operations of the war,
but which, on account OF the more imme.
diate!y important news we were at that
time receiving from Virginia, was al
most entirely overlooked by the
Press. He, for time, so unanswered
his troops, that the enemy at the Gap
could get no clue whatever to his purposes;
and when, finally, having made terrible
march OF a hundred miles, over mountains
heretofore considered impossible, be fell
upon their rear, they fled in confusion, and
the Southern Thermopyl@, which thouss
and men might have successfully defended,
fell into his hands. 1t was universally sup
posed by those who had followed up Gen.
Morgan's movements, and understood the
military and political situation in that Sec
ton of country, that he would at once push
on to Knoxville, the capture of which would
have been equivalent to the possession of
nearly the whole of East Tennessee. The
retention Of the Gap was of vast impor-
lance to the rebels, as the means OF keeping
Us out of tast Tennessee but the position
once in our hands, it was Of value only as
the gateway to further conquests. General
Morgan, however, with his whole force,
still remans at Cumberland Gap-a force
which, though the rebels overestimate it
when they state it to be 10000 strong, is
yet Ct very cons deraple numbers, and is
amply able, with little of the assistance
near at hand, to take military possession OF
all of East Tennessee. He remains there
in obedience to orders.
We call attention to his situationa at
present, because, being forbidden to move
from Cumberland Gap, General Morgan's
command is placed in imminent danger by
the man9uvres of bis Damesake, the que
rilla Morgan. All the supplies of our
troops at the Gap are drawn through
Eastern Kentucky upon OK teams, over a
hundred miles of hills, rocks and ruts, such
as cannot be found on the continent outside
of that region. Yesterday it was annouu-
ced by telegraph that the guerilla chief had
attacked enc of these supply trains, destroy
ed the wagons, and, We suppose, consumed
the victuals. 1t is in bis power, with
small force to cut of entirely the supplies !;
and. as he seems to be now retiring in
souther!y direction, there is nothing more
likely than that this is really the work be
has set out to do. We have had so many
military surprises of late months that it is
we'll to be warned wherever there is
the least danger and if, by Gen.
BaelPS moving a force forward to and
reducing Chattanooga, he were able to form
Junction at or near Knoxville with Gen.
Morgan, not only would the latter be put
out of peril, but East Tennessee, go long
neglected, would be restored to the protec-
ton of the stars aud stripes. If there is
any one thing the nation desires, next to
the capture Of Richmond, it is the liberia
ton of East Tennessee. II there is any
one thing which would infict severer blow
than another upon the almost broken for~
tunes of the rebels in the Southwest, and in
the far South, and aid in stopping at once
the ravages OF guerilas, it would be the
occupation of the points indicated--Chat.
tanooga and Knoxville. The other and in.
Vulnerable advantages of obtaining East
Tennessee are now every day more apparent,
as each movement of the rebels, whether in
the East or West, makes it more imperative.
General Morgan is now in position of
difficulty and danger; but properly sup.
ported, be has the skill, the valor and the
men to push forward and capture Knoxville,
az SOON "a he ia ordered