The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-05-03

Cumberland Gap, at the meeting place
OF the Kentucky, Tennessee and Vir-
ginia lines to the Mississippi River at
Memphis. At no point in the long 500
miles was there a sufficient concentra-
tion of forces to successfully resist any
mass Of troops brought against 1t. Gems
Van Dorne and Price had been brought
across the Mississippi to aid Beaure-
gard. In addition to these troops, Van
Dorne was put in command Of all the
others in the Mississippi country clear
to New Orleans and was fully expected
TO recapture Corinth. and drive what
might be left of Grants army back 10
the Ohio River, from which il had start
ed for Fort Donelson.
Gen. Braxton Bragg. who had sue
ceeded to the command Of the Confed-
crate Army Of the Tennessee, had taken
up position to defend Chattanooga,
while Kirby Smith, chafing over the
easy capture OF Cumberland Gap from
him. was eager to retrieve his reputa-
ton BY Its recapture. The CONSUMPTION
faw Of the Confederacy was put into re-
lentless operation to bring every man I'm
Alabama, mississippi. Tennessee. Louis
lana and Texas. capable OF bearing
arms into the camps Of it's command
ers for grand forward rush that would
end the war. Az usual. no hint Of this
seems TO have reached the Union COM
manders, and especially Halleck There
had quite as much as his mind would
carry in the withdrawal of Mcclellan
from the Peninsula, and in saving
Washington from the savage attacks Of
Lee, Jackson and Longstreet. who had
been relieved Of all fear Of danger to
the Confederate Capital.
The Confederate Raldepss
The movement was heralded and pre-
pared for by u wonderful activity which
at once manifested itself among the
Confederate cavalry and the guerrilla
bands. strong impression had domi-
mated the War Department at the be-
ginning OF the war that cavalry was to
pay but little part in the struggle Men
VINO raised or sought TO raise mounted
commands were discouraged, and but
Few cavalry regiments were accepted
These were generally done SO over and
above the protests of the influential Of
tcers al army headquarters, and only
secured by the influence OF Governors
and Senators. Consequently, OF the
34,iS3 men in the Army Of the Ohio
with which Buell. had opened the cam
paign, there were only 9231 caua,rv
ar exceedingly small proportion To hold
territory which spread over much the
Digger part OF two great States The
worst or Ii was that the cavalry was not
massed, but scattered throughout the
army as headQuarter guards. orderlies,
escorts and couriers, SO that II lacked
the effectiveness given by concentration
and the welding Of a great mass. The
Confederates were much wiser. They
had undoubtedly q much larger proper
ton OF men who were natural horse
men. needing but little instruction to
become frst-class cavalrymen. These
were kept together under such leaders
as Forrest, Morgan, Wheeler and other
1esS well-knOwn commanders, and soon
demonstrated the results Of their: sys-
tenn by the ease with with they swept
around bodies Of Infantry too large to
be successfully attacked. and over
whelmed those which were small
enough to give Q certainty Of successful
attack
roughly handled by Col. -Dumont at
Lebanon, May 8, ne gathered the frag-
mtnt Of his command at Chattanooga,