The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05

two million wounded men in the war of the
rebellion, the losses Of both sides and the cas-
ualties of all battles and siege5 of all the armies
engaged being included, half of this enormous
number belongs to the Army of the Potomac
and its adversary, the Army of Northern Sir-
ginia.
"Our Grant" did not succeed in showing us
chow the thing was done" until II months
had elapsed. and the Army of Northern Nir-
ginia-that army OF Incompatible infantry: that
army of 'tattered uniforms and bright mus
kets - that army which for four years carried
the revolt upon its bayonets opposing a CON
slant front to the mighty concentration OF
power brought against it: which receiving ter
rible blows did not fail TO give the like, and
which, vital in ali its parts" was well nigh
apnihilated.
Grand old Army of the Potomac! How
it fought on from beginning to end under
discouragimg circumstances,
Its marches of many thousands of miles, its
botly-contestcd battles its stubborness, and its
powers of endurance through heat and dust,
rain and mud. through filthy swamps and tan
gled wilderness; its unshrinking patriotism and
IFS tenacity OF purpose-all these are the admit
ration and the wonder of the world.
Grand old Army of the Potomac! your ser
vices to the country may never be fully appre-
ciated by all its citizens yet you will go down
10 the end OF time, in the history OF armies as
enemy; grander far, from your spirit of 10y
atty and patriotic devotion to the American
Republic than any monarchcal army that ever
existed; for each soldier was fighting his own
battle instead OF fighting for emperor or king.
The Army of the Cumberland was just as grand
and patriotic, but not grander nor more patrl-
otic.-E. $. COAN, Signal Corps, Army of the
Potomac, Garland, Me.
A Fight at Cumberland Gap.
To THE EDITOR: | vii! give you an account
of battle of the rebellion which l have never
yet seen in print. In the Winter of '63 and 81
the 91st Ind. was doing garrison duty at Cum
herand Gap. Co. A was detached from the
regiment and sent seven miles up the Powell
Valley TO guard some mills known rs the Wire
mans Mills. We found there 40 men of the I'd
\. {. Union troops, and 2i0 men OF the 1lth
Tenn. Cav. under command of Col. Davis, OF
the 18th. There were % men in Co. A, all told,
commanded by Capt. Kenneth ID. Wise. Early
in the morning of the 22d Of February parts of
two brigadcs of rebel mounted infantry. under
the command of Gems. Vaughn and Jones'
1900 strong-attacked the camp of the North
Carolinians and TeDnessceanS while they were
yet asleep, and captured them after slight re-
sistance. The rebels left 2G0 men in charge of
the prisoners and with the rest of their forces
surrounded Co. 4 while they were getting in
line. Then commenced one of the most des-
perate struggles for life and liberty that ever
participated in during my three years service.
The rebels charged down on US in our rear,
eight and ten deep, and tried to saber and ride
over us with double line on both TANKS and
in front. They kept us busy to keep their
hands Off us, until we got to the base of Cum
berland Mountains. There they got enough of
us and let us 60 The rebels lost in killed and
wounded over 100 men, while our loss was but
three-one killed, one wounded, and another
captured. The reason our casualties was SO
light, was because the rebels used nothing but
Co. A, 9lst Ind, Epson. Ind.