The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-10

west OF the Gap, on the mountain sioe,
500 feet above the Gap, mounting four
24-pounder brass guns and two IL
FOUNDER brass guns; fort one-half
mile north of the Gap on the Manches-
ter road, mounting four 12-pounder
brass guns, and one on the top OF the
mountain east of the Gap, mounting one
32-pounder Parrott.
These forts were so situated that IA
of the 1 5 guns could be brought to bear
upon the Manchester road. Besides,
there were
BREAsTwoRKs GALORE.
The garrison consisted of 5000 men,
under Gen. Frazier, we'll supplied with
arms and ammunition also, an abund-
ant supply of provisions. Our regiment
had been selected as forlorn hope to
capture, if possible, two of four forts and
about mile of breastworks and rifle
pits.
Gen. DeCourcey had told some of our
regimental officers We should have to
go through those Notifications that
afternoon or go to @. This was cir
culated through the regiment, and,
while the boys laughed at the idea, we
knew that he meant business. He was
noted fighter. He had been starved
out of the Gap a year before to a day,
and he meant to go in again, if some
body did get hurt. 1t was also the
writer's 18th birthday. He did not
like the idea of celebrating his birthday
with such pyrotechnic display as was
promised by the general appearance OF
things
We were ordered to lie down and
keep as close to the ground as possible,
but there were adventurous spirits who
persisted In moving about and peeping
over the ridge. Billy Welsh and his
mule were detailed to go somewhere and
get water, which We did not get until
afternoon. Gen. Shackelford's orders
were to remain in this position; De-
Courcey's orders were to charge the
works at 8 p. m. When a messenger
brought Shackelford's orders DeCourcey
told him to tell Gen. Shackelford he
had been in the service long enough to
know his business, and did not need
orders $50 reports had it,.
DeCourcey demanded the surrender
of the Gap. and received the reply that
somebody on the south side had made
the same kind of demand. The rebels
were then given until 3 p. m. to make
up their minds. The messengers passed
close to the right of our company, and
we had a chance to see some OF the
prominent rebel officers in command Of
the Gap.
In the meanwhile we were waiting
with anxiety, and the time passed
slowly away to us, hungry as we were
1t seemed a very long time, but 2:4e
o'clock came, and every man neryed
himself for the fray. Orders we're on
their way from DeCourcey to charge
Another messenger was announced. Al
he passed us, blindfolded, we knew that
the package he held in his hand CON
tanned the
| FATE OF MANY OF Us.
What was it? All waited with bated
breath. / think more anxious lot oi
bows was never seen.
The suspense was broken in short
time by the announcement that the rebels
had made up their minds to surrender
With 4 cheer we were ordered into line
and started for the Gap, leaving prison.
ers, breastworks, and everything else
We were hurried along, and our regi
mental colors were soon floating from the
fort in the Gap. We had won an almost
bloodless victory. Only few had beer
wounded in the skirmishing. OF our owl
regiment no one was hurt. The prize
were Is pieces of artillery, 5000 stant
of small-arms $4,000 of which were new
Enfield rifles from England), larg'
amount of ammunition, clothing ant
hospital supplies, $500 prisoners-50'
had escaped because of DeCourcey's dis
obedience of orders. He was places
under arrest, as We all understood at tn
time. He was a brave, skillful leader
and did much good service for the caus
of the Union, but his overbearing di:
position won for him the disgust of th
men of the command.
But not least among the fruits of th
victory was the opening up of shorte
and safer line by which the army {
Burnside in East Tennessee was supple.
We spent the balance of the afternoo
: and following day in satisfying our hun
ger from the rebel stores collected thel
for the supply of the rebel army op
rating in Middle and East Tennessee, /
which there was an abundant suppl,
consisting of -four, meat, etc.
We rested one day, and started I;
> Lexington, KY, as guard for the pr
, oners captured which consisted of thr'
companies of our own regiment, thr'
= from the 10th ILL.,, four companies fro
r the 9Th East Tenn. Cav, under col
!, : mand of Lieut-Col. Parsons. This toe
! us nearly a month. On our return
the Gap we repaired the road to Gun
: berland Ford, a distance Of IA mils
: We suffered much during the siege
= Knoxville, and many died.
= Thus was the object Of the campai,
ACCOMPLISHED. We tramped nearly 1 .O(