The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-11-07

plain must mount her heights The
rugged ground, where I was initiated
into the soldier life rise up before me.
That which is unwritten of the war, as
relates TO the early campaign IN East
Tennessee, is the NEST interesting to the
old soldiery. whether of the blue or the
gray. In fact
HISTORY
Of the late war is get to be written. The
initial chapters are now appearing in the
Philadelphia Times mean that Of most
thrilling interest to the soldier. These
embrace the camp-experienee, the Incl
dents, the feats, the adventures, the es-l
capes-and are sought after with eager
ness. y
CUMBERLAND GAPi
Truly stand where historic reminis-
eences are not wanting where the his
torian might gather interesting pages as
yet unknown to the world <.sr
To walk over this old encampment, to
gaze upon its Notifications and camp-foot
prints-the indenturss in. the mountain
side, where
Once slept, sr
tie~ All obliYious to the world, s
The soldier-Boy, ~ e
awakens and calls up hosts OF memories
sad and pleasant, thrilling and tragic.
This place sustains an enviable rela-
ton in this regard. AS stood amid the
ruins OF this once American Gibraltar,
the tragic drama-the thrilling scenes
of 1861 and later days came trooping up
to almost bewflderment. Oppressive ST
lence reigned supreme where once the
merry laugh, the martial voice, made
vocal the hours. Frowning batteries.
earthen works, magazines of death, and
thousands of braves but yesterday were
here. Were they gones found my
self pausing as il to listen for the rattle,
The wonted rattle, - - ~,
<.<A OF the kettle drum,
or the bugle's blast, calling to horse. 1
seemed to hear the martial voices Of .
Zollicoffer, s eg..
First to obey his country's call,
First for her to shed his blood. ~
There-just right there--thought L,
walked the brave Col. Cummings, and
| just to his facing the chivalrons 18th.
And the little drummer boy and the old
ffeman of darker color (snd where are
| they p there they seem to stand in the
full glow of enthusiasm, discoursing
! martial notes to the marching boys.
And right there were eamped the Peck
Light Dragoons-there, on that dismal
mountain side, mid the rocks and BRAN
bles, they began their soldier life to
| take lessons in the wofui school of war
and consequent hard times. These,
from the home of plenty, the counting
| room, the office, the school-room, the
rural retreat, have come.
can see them merrily preparing the
soldiers meal, lounging in their tents,
casting the card, smoking the cigar,
writing to the loved ones at home.
Now, / hear the merry laugh and the
soldiers sweetest and saddest song
Home Sweet Home" And just lit
tie further down-there are Ashby's
boys But alas tits but dream. They
are not there The tragic drama OF
three succeeding years changed the
scenes, and many of these braves have
bivouacked on the eternal camping
grounds in the land beyond the shadows,
How changed the whole scene
Scarcely line of works are discerni-
BILE, where once thousands found pro,
| lection from the assailant All the forts
and defenses are hid behind aud be
meath the eternal oak, which has mat
ted this Gibraltar since 80.
While the footprints of the war may
be effaced and the time come when nc
trace of the soldiers walks be visible,
still, the site, the very name, of this,
one of the first places to enter into the
Confederate war annals, will be always
fresh to the American memory-aIways
prolific in "reminiscences thrilling and
interesting. The soldiers. their posteri-
ty and friends, viii always keep in re-
membrance the grand old Cumberland,
and will now and then come hither and
viii gaze with rapture and intense in
terest on her dismantled forts, her once
strong places and where they, as sol
diers, began to learn the unnatural art
/ of war, B. g. H.
HAMBLEN Co., TENN, Oct. 1877.
J puE EAeFEpW WAP pP0QpEr77