Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-08-10
NUMBER 36.

southwest. But was ordered not to as
sumo the offensive. ''i '''' -'li'ih ~
Had not these plans been interfered with, o
the Invasion Of Kentucky would not have
taken place, and East Tennessee and Cum
6erland Gap would be in our possession to-
day. ''" ~. e'Dq 9.l9Ui''qss
Gen. Halleck complains thatI was @al-
most boastful" In my "confldence that he
% could hold his (my) position against any
number OF troops the enemy could bring
against him (nie)! 3ao ga .rJii99rgY noq@I
There was stern necessity for, o tone of r
confidence on my part, for had reason to
know that there was panic from Washiho-i
ton to louisville. And although cut off,
from supplies; without single soldier M
wearing the Union uniform, within two
hundred miles OF my post; threatened by
a force vastly greater than MY own, my
command maintained !" a. boastfilli conf
dence'" and sought to inspire at least mod
crate degree elsewhere.
In answer to an official telegram, re-
piled :: saH -u5-at s3 OfnfiO5 Hood 9Yel
81 am surprised to hear that Their, ia =,
CONSERVATION at Louisville, or else,chere.
Here Cumberland Gap) all is quiet and or
derly. We are prepared for the enemy
!, whenever he may show himsefn > yGoj'1'B
The enemy did show himself and the re- Fl,
suit proved that we We're ready to receive
him. During the thirty-two days that we
were invested we captured over five hum
dred officers and soldiers, making an equiv
. alent of five hundred and forty-two pri- .s
Yates, and killed and wounded one hundred
and seventy, making an aggregate loss Of
over seven hundred of the enemy, against
loss of less than forty on our part. g'alg,
i These facts were duly reported.
Qn the 18th OF August, 1862, telegraphed
= to General Halleck, "This position shall not
be yieldeu while we have an ounce of DOW q
der; but trust the road will soon be OPEN
ed by column from Lexington" ..'
General Halleck answered, Il will see that
you are very soon reinforced.'' 'piso3l5 Hif'r
His promises only resulted in defeat and
disaster to our arms. On the 10th of August
his reinforcements were driven back at Big
Hill; OH the Both of that month they were
y outed at Richmond, and on the I'd Of Sep
tember, in hot haste, he abandoned Iexing-f 4
ton and Frankfort and retreated to Coying- O.
ton and Louisville. And Bragg maintained
his position in the Blue Grass region, more
than one hundred miles this side of Cum
berland Cap for more than two months
after General Halleck promised his speedy
reinforcements! .-,
lnasmuch as my advance against Cun1ber-
land Gap has been made subject of discus b
sion before the Buell. Commission, and as T.,
have not been summoned as witness, it is
proper that l should here state few facts,
some OF which were unknown to me when
my official report of the capture of that
stronghold was written. .,.,,i...q..,ft =,
! My camp at Cumberland Ford was four
teen miles north of the Gap, and to reach it
in front was a six hours march. But to
turn that position by a flank movement re-
| quired, from the Ford, an almost impracti-
cable march of ten or twelve days, over
distance of ninety-five miles. 10 deceive
| the enemy as to my intention, 1 advanced
in two columns-one passing the mountains
at Rogers and the other at Big Creek Gap;
thus threatening, at the same time, Cum 2
berland Gap nineteen miles east of Rogers
Gap; Knoxville, forty-five miles due south
OF that Gap, and Clinton, about twenty
miles south of Big Creek Gap. Clinton
was the enemy's base for supplies. ,j-
Before advancing from the Ford. / in
formed General Buell. that Kirby Smiths 9
force was nearly three times greater than d
mine, and requested that a diversion should
be made in my favor against Chattanooga.
My request was compiled With, and Smith 8
believed the feint to be a real attack, and 8
recalled Barton from the front of Big Creek !
Gap, and with twelve thousand men start
ed for, the relief of Chattanooga. But on +,
reaching Loudon, on the Tennessee river
he received a telegram stating that East
Tennessee was being invaded by two COL
umns. This recalled to him ruse rumori
which l had, several weeks previously
caused to be circulated, of my intention to
attack the Gap In front, with twelve thous-
and men, while, at the same time, / would
advance in two columns, by flank move
ment, into East Tennessee. 'g p.8 ''Ii2
On the 18th of June, learned that Smith
and Barton were on their return, and were
advancing to attack Exhibit NJ; but it was
not until week or ten days after our occll-
patton of the Gap that / learned fully Of
the disposition of Smiths forces. He left
Stephenson with six thousand men to de-
tend Cumberland Gap; sent Barton with
four thousand men to the Big Valley, to
cover the approach to Knoxville, while
with eight thousand troopshe took position
at Clinton. l 'I7'V
Smiths disposition Of his troops indicates
his belief that intended to advance upon
Knoxville, and he hoped to meet me with
his forces concentrated. My order of march
(Exhibit % shows that anticipated his
plan, and was prepared tor it.aiMy rapid
advance upon Stephenson toiled theo
execution of his design, and Cumberland
Gap was thus captured without the loss of,
q man. ' l' ilII7N' '- -h '9hie p ''Hs NJ i2Il
Gen. Buell. knew that I was maneuyerinri
against force nearly three times greater
than my own, and this explains hisanxiety,
for the safety of my command.
Upon assuming command at Cumberland
Gap, | adopted a conciliatory policy (ES-0
hibit n q %, and the citizeps of the adjoin-r
ing counties of Virginia, and Tennessee,
ilocked In to resume their allegiance to the
United States. D's7''o sHNoi I'J9l sIonald
lam, sir, very respectfully, ~ Of d9dw
Jbitgtg1a Your obedient servant, ia, ,novro0
. a. GEORGE w. MORaAN