Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-11-04
History Of the Surrender Of Cumberland GAP
by one who was inside.

History Of tho Surrender OF Cumberland Gap
BY ono who was inside.
Major G. B. Mcdowell of the SD N c. Regiment,
which was surrendered at Cumberland Gap by Gen.
Frazer publishes letter which is the first reliable
account of that affair 1t appears that on Monday,
the 9Th ult, about o'clock A. NJ, the Yankee Gem
eral Shackleford, appeared about two miles from the
Gap and demanded its surrender, which was refused
by Gen. Frazer, ard on Tuesday again made, and
again refused. The Majors statement continues
On Tuesday evening Col. DeCosey's command
made their appearance on the north side of the
mountain. A portion of his command approached on
the Harlin county road, and portion on the main
Kentucky road A heavy skirmish soon began be-
tween Captain Turpins company, Of my regiment,
and the advance of the Abolitionists Capt Turpin.
with his gallant boys, efectuslly checked the ad.
vance of the enemy until late in the evening, when
the Yankees disappeared, Captain Turpin holding
his ground, which was something near one mile in
advance Of our line.
About o'clock, Tuesday evening, COL DeCosey
demanded the unconditional surrender of Gen. Fra
zier and command. General Frazier replied under
flag of truce asking of De Cosey the number of
forces to which he was ordered to surrender. De
Cosey replied near - o'clock refusing to give the
number of forces under his command, stating that
it was from motives entirely disconnected with the
attack upon the gap that be did 80. Gen. Frazier
then refused to surrender, and it was understood
that the fight would open at IL o'clock on Monday.
will state in this connection that on Tuesday even
ing council Of the commanding officers of the regi.
ments was called which resulted in the refusal Of
all to be surrendered will state further that .
majority preferred the risk Of cuttings their way
through the Yankee lines than to be surrendered on
any terms.
fight was therefore confidently expected. Near
IL o'clock on Wednesday the 9th, when all was in
anxious expectation for the fight to open, Gen.
Frazier received from Burnside, under flag of truce,
demand for the unconditional surrender of himself
and command. Very soon after its reception, one
of Gen. Frazier's aid de camps came in great haste
down the mountain and ordered me to take down
my battle flag and hoist white one instead thereof
Although many Of Us were of opinion that We would
be surrendered sooner later, you can imagine the
astonishmenkwith which this struck the brave bows
that were so anxiously expecting an engagement.
Various statements have been made in regard to
thec0nduct of the troops composing the. command
At Cumberland Gap. l assert most positively that
have yet to see troops in finer spirits more deter
mined to hold their ground thaR the troops in the
Gap have learned that an attempt is being made
to justify the surrender Of the gap upon the ground
that the troops in the gap would not fight and thai
some of them shouted when the flag was ordered
down. The last charge was made against the 62t
North Carolina regiment The first is false, and th,
second not only false but is base and cowardly eff
lori 70 pfotect those that may De guilty at the ex
pense of the innocent brave, patriotic and true.
We were surrendered, then, to Gen. Burnside OF
Wednesday, the 9Th, at o'clock, p m. Many
made their escape after the surrender, and among
them was your unworthy correspondent Wehad
when we were surrendered, provisions upon which
we could have subsisted 80 days We had all the
ammunition on hand that we had when the gap was
first invested. Ny regiment had $50 rounds to tn,
man, and presume other regiments had the same
As to the spiking and throwing over the cliffs thu
artillery mentioned in your issue Of the 7th, taker
from the Knoxville Register; know nothing, save
one piece that two men Of my command wsre pick
citing, which they spiked and threw over the cliff
near it on their own responsibility.
This / witnessed and know to be true. The
number Of forces investing the gap am not by any
means prepared to state. It was represented to bs
near 10 600 on each side of the gap. II the surren
. der was matter Of necessity, it was from cause.
other than willingness on the part of the men to
! do their duty. -.