Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-11


The march Of General George W. Nor
gan with his entire army, from the fast
nesses of Cumberland Gap, to the Ohio,
will live in history as one of the most re-
markable and skillful on record. And we
are glad to see that the signal military
ability of the distinguished leader of that
army which has proved its right to the IT,
tie of veterans, is recognized throughout
the land. The following, from the New
York Post, is only deserved tribute to a
true hero;
"During the Mexican war Colonel Don
iphan made himself famous for marching
| a thousand men more than a thousand
miles, defeating the enemy in several
pitched battles, and subsisting himself
wholly at its own expense while passing
through its territory. Thus he became
| XenOphon Doniphan, having initiated with
| success the conduct Of the Athenian Gene
raj, who after the fall of Cyrus, brought
back his Greeks in safety through hosts
| of Persians, and amidst difficulties and
dangers that, with most commanders,
would have been insurmountable.
But we think we have found our true
Xenophon in General Morgan, the hero of
Cumberland Gap.
After holding that position against all
opposition for many months, and com
pletely shutting out the rebels from ia
vorite route of attack, he was at last aban-
doned to his own resources in consequence
of the unaccountable management of the
war on our part in the West. The enemy
| gradually closed about him with an
Immensely superior force. Before him,
| behind him, on both hanks, they
massed superior numbers with their
! usual skill. No relief was afforded, no
one seemed to think of relieving him
| General Morgan at least began to think
he must relieve himself, and so by a hap
DIV application of his own great mental
resources to the urgency of the case, he
| took counsel of himself, blew down the
mountain cliffs into the ravine which he
! held, and made his rear secure and unap-
proachable. He then gathered together his
| trains, bis munitions of war; and his sub
sistence, and started to join those who had
neglected to Join him. One Of his brilliant
| thoughts was to attack the enemy as he
went along. He had no idea of waiting
| for them to do So Massing his columns as
ne moved along, and with resistless courage
against every portion of the enemy he
found in his way, he kept them continually
on the defensive, beat up their quarters,
dashed at their positions, and for sixteen
days fought them every step as he advanc-
ed, sometimes marching twenty-four hours
without stopping. He came out of the
struggle victorious and unharmed, bring
| ing off his ten thousand men almost with
out scratch, with all his war material
undiminished. With the skill of the Greek
| he crossed the streams, mountains and al
most deserts, surrounded by superior
force and came off unharmed.
This retreat of General Morgan will be-
come famous, and we are pleased, on
| searching into his antecedents to find his
recent achievements are in perfect accord
with his previous though unheralded ca
reer. Like the author Of the Anabasis, he
| is a thoroughly educated man; like him, a
| great traveller and observer Of men and
things; visitor of foreign countries for
improvement in his profession; an honest
representative of his country at foreign
courts, and a student in foreign camps; q
ripe scholar and soldier, and good one
Though the opportunity Of Distinguishing
! himself was forced upon him, it was just
what he was able to turn to advantage, and
/ he has covered himself with glory. All
honor to our American XenOphon.
We have found a great general in the
nick of time, We expect to hear from him
again"