The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-09

very soon assigned to Col. T. H.. Taylor's s prIeade. and ordered to Biain's Cross noaoS The Brigade at this time consist ed of tho 2Sd Alabama, eth Alabama, 3d tennessee, Slst Tennessee, Seth Tennes- see and the Rhett Artillery. The 18th participated in the movements in that iocanty 70 hold the enemy in check and prevent depredations by them. Gen. Geo. ". Morgan. whose command held Cum perIand Gap, having cent De Courcy's Brigade to Taxeweli to reeonnoiter and get forage. our forces under Gen. Carter August 6. 1ss2, attacked them. Colonel Taylor's brigade was actively engaged. It was the first fight in which the 18th took part. After brisk encounter last ing several hours. our troops charged fusion mile or tw, upon the town, and the Confederstes, just before night, fell back to the point from which they sta, ted in the morning. The conduct of the 18th in this. its first engagement, smith, in a letter to General Stevenson. dated August g, 1872. "congratuiates him and his command upon the good conduct displayed in the engagement" tWar heccrds. Series 1. Vol. XVI. part 2, page
 The movements of the armies of Gen. eral Bragg and General Smith in CO., operation. began shortly subsequent te this date. General Smith,. leaving the larger portion of General Stevenson's division behind. C mmenced the passage 16. and, marching sixty miles In fifty hours. crossing two ranges of mountains over q most difficult route. surprised and took possession of Barboursville the nSrnins sen .or.t Of the w isss mors inst ,. in n.and of the Federal force at Cumbcr- land Gap. His large force was strongly entre nched there. General Stevenson moved his remaining forces close around |, the , Gap; The tsts ". v.s in line .Imcs. ,sS; easy range of the enemies mounted gu.s, where 1t remained almost contiri- uously until the evacuation of the Gap, being almost daily reminded of the pres % his large @ s"e guns. un.y The S situation at this time. as viewed by the enemy. may be Tn some manner learned from the fol- lowing official dispatch from Gen. Geo. W. Morgan, dated Heaacuarters. Port
 "On night of the 16th of August last the army of Stevenson, claimed to be 2U0o0 strong. arrived in trent of Cum herland Gap, and immediately ordered Captain Martin, of Mundleys Cavalry, Gap and Big Creek Gap. When within eighteen miles of Rogers Gap he en- countered the advance Guard of Mai. Gen. E. Kirby Smiths army. then in- vading Kentucky. Martins company was the enemy. General smith. with ,5.cos men. afterwards increased to 5000. Csc tahlished his quarters at Barboursville, and sent two divisions, under Maj. Gen. MeCewn, to occupy. Cumberland Ford. armies. numbering l5.ooo men. and our supplies were entirely cut eff." (War Records, Series I. 'vel. XVI. part 1. Also the following dated Hesdqysrters, aus.
 "on the night of 17th of September. with army of Stevenson three miles in my front, with Bragg and Marshall on my Hanks aud Kirby Smith in my rear. my command marched from Cumberland magazines, and lighted by the blaze of the storehouses of the eommisssry and ouartermaster. The sight was grand. Stevenson was taken completely by sur prise. At D. m. on the 1Tth inst. sent him three official letters. The ofi- cers of our respective flags remained in friendly chat for an hour.' (War Re- cords. Series 1. Vol. XVI. part l. page 9s1.)
 General Stevenson was not taken com thirty days and, although the number of his force was nearer 20oo than 200oo, It being intended merely to hold the enemy in observation, he was expecting the evacuation. He immediately pursued General Morgan's forces. passing through Cumberland Gap and hurrying forward to rejoin General Smiths army. then Tn Kentucky as spe ,dily as possible, at the same time harrassing the enemy in every direction possible. a.,. A
 paisn are told by General Bragg. in his report of 1t. May 20, 1s6S from which 1 quote in part as follows:
 Having crossed the river at chatta- nooga the column took up its march on August @, over Walden's Ridge. and
 ne Cumberland Mountains for Middle Tennessee. Maj. Gen. Smith had already successfully passed through Northeast ern Tennessee and gained the rear of Cumberland's Gap, held by the enemy in sufficient force to hold the enemy in os- stlvation, he moved, as authorized, with the balance of his command on I,exing- ten. Ky. Ths rich country, full of sup plies SC necessary to us. was represented to be occupied by force which could make feeble resistance. How we'll and successfully that duty was performed has already been reported by General Smith,
 His complete victory over the enemy at Richmond, Ky. and his occupation of Lexington rendered 1t necessary for me to intercept General Buell.. now rapidly moving toward Nashville, or to move to- ward the right. so as to secure june ton with General Smith when neees- sary.
 "on reaching Middle Tennessee 1t was found that the enemy's main force. by use of railroads and good turnpikes, had concentrated in Nashville, and was strongly fortified. With a heavy demon was thr own rapidly to Glasgow, Ky. and | omy great satisfaction reached that point September IS. before any portion of the enemy passed Bowling Green.
 "1n four weeks after passing cumber- land Mountain, on this memorable and arduous campaign, jaded, hungry and ragged Gas necessarily incident to that service), this noble army was found with serried ranks in front of the enemy at lined and better clothed and fed. in bet ter health and tone, and in larger num- bers than when 1t entered on the cam paign. though 1t had made march of the enemy in reaching the same point. and was moreover entirely self-sustained. Too high an estimate cannot be placed upon officers and men capable of such fortitude, resolution. courage and self denial. Nothing short of the patriotism which pervaded our ranks, and the in- teligence, zeal and gallantry displayed on all occasions, and by all grades, can account for such results" CWar Re- cords. Series 1, Vol. XVI. part l. page l0ss-s4.)
 The army passed out of Kentucky through Cumberland Gap between the 18th and 24th of October. 1882, inclusive. Taylor's Brigade was not actively in either of the large battles ef the cam paign, only in the edges of them, but 1t was in constant and active service, performing well every duty to which 1t was assigned by it's superior officers. Owing to the great activities of the cam paign and the alertness required of our force to meet and thwsrt the rapid move nents of an aggressive, vi1tlant and