The National tribune., 1906-04-19
OF THE
CUMBERLAND
Continued from page l.,

which did not tend to assuage the rela-
tions between him and Gen. Buell.. The
War Department took care of this how.
ever. by constituting his command an
independent corps. and ordered him to
report directly TO Washington. In do
ing this the War Department failed -
do what IL should have done, sent him
reinforcements which his advanced po-
sition urgently required. He was stretch
ell out too far. and his enemies were
concentrated on his front and TANKS.
A strong force collected on his left at
Chattanooga threatened TO cut him off
from Nashville. and he found his sit
uation SO precarious that Arril "a he
began his retreat from TuScumbia,
burning the bridge at Decatur. and con-
centrating at Huntsville with reference
to moving against Chattanooga. He had
far-reaching plans which he would haze
carried out had the force been given
him. He contemplated crossing tie
Tennessee River at its extreme south
ern point, reaching Cunter's Landing
and then striking directly for Rome,
Ca. so miles distant. where he would
destroy the Confederates' principal
foundries and arsenal The War De-
partment. however, was too deeply en-
gagged with the Mcclellan operations n
the Peninsula and Halleck's concentra-
ton Of forces against Corinth 10 spare
any troops for him. He was forced t.
confine himself to demonstrations
against Chattanooga, and Gen. Negley
reached the bank OF the river opposite
that city. and opened fire with artillery
across the stream.
Gen. Morgan Takes Cumberland Gap.
The Brigadier- General to whom Gen.
Buell. assigned the command of the d.
vision to advance toward East Ten
nessee upon the line formerly occupied
Morgan, a Democratic politician of
prominence. He was born in Wash
ington. Pa, and was a desf endant on
both sides of Revolutionary ancestry.
He showed military tendencies at an
early age, and when only Is enlisted in
a company commanded by his brother
for the Texan war for independence.
He showed such courage and zeal that
he rose to the rank of Captain. After
the war he came back to the United
States, studied law and began prac-
ticing at Mount Vernon, o., in 1S43.
At the outbreak of the Mexican war
he raised a company and was elected
Colonel of the I'd Ohio. He served un-
der Gen. Taylor until the clio Of the
regiments term, and President Polk
then appointed him Colonel Of the 18th
u. S., new regiment, which he COM
manded until the close Of the war, and
was severely wounded at the battle of
d
dier-General in the Regular Army.
President Polk appointed him Consul
to Marseilles, and in 1853 he became
Minister-R Resident at Lisbon. He re-
turned to the United States shortly be-
fore the outbreak Of the war, took
decided stand with the War wing of
the Democrats. and President Lincoln
General of Volunteers, to date from
Nov. IL, 1861. After his operations in
eastern Kentucky he was transferred
to the Army of the Tennessee, assigned
to the Thirteenth Corps, and was with
Gen. Sherman at Vicksburg and at the
taking Of Arkansas Post. after which
he resigned and returned to Ohio to
enter politics He was defeated for
Governor in 1865, ran for Congress re-
peatedly and was elected to the 41st
and AID Congresses. He was Dele
gate-at-large to the National Demo-
cratic Convention at st. Louis in 1876,
and died July &c. 1893.
The movement to East Tennessee,
upon which President Lincoln's heart
was set and for which there was SO
much pressure from the East Tennes-
seeans and others, Gen. Buell. persisted
in considering as eccentric and subsidi-
airy. 1t was necessary to do something
out
Buell. felt that he had need of Gen.
Thomas's well-disciplined command and
that officers abilities in the great Op-
erations which he was to personally
lead against Albert Sidney Johnston
at Bowling Green and Nashville. There
fore, Gen. Thomas was removed from
the field with which he had become
we'll acquainted and in which he had
gained his brilliant little victory at Mill
Springs.
The selection Of Gen. Morgan proved
to be wise one, and early in April
he pushed forward from the Rock Cas-
strong position Of Cumberland Ford,
which Zollicoffer had held for SO many
weeks. 1t was expected that the first
battle would be there. At that point
the Cumberland River. turning sharply
to the west, breaks gorge through
the high Pine Mountains, leaving a
narrow gateway with perpendicular
resistance there. and his fianking par
ties compelled the retreat of the Con-
federates to Cumberland Gap.
Cumberland Gap is the main gate
way for hundreds of miles through the
Cumberland range of mountains which
form the boundary line between Ken
lucky, Virginia and Tennessee. 1t is
a deep depression in the lofty escarp-
ment. and all the roads from Ken
lucky into Virginia and Tennessee, and
vice versa. center at it. 1t was popu-
larly believed to be second only to
Quebec as the naturally strongest place
in America. The mountains rise in
rugged palisades, impossible to scale.
and there are waves of other only less
formidable mountains lying parallel to
the main central ridge.
Gen. Morgan's force, which he con-
centrated at Cumberland Ford, consist
ed of four brigades-Twenty-fo
Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty
seventh-commanded respectively by
Gems. S. p. Carter and j. G. Spears.
Coils. John F. De Courcey and John
Coburn. Later Gen. Absalom Baird,
young officer of the Regular Army, SUI
perseded Col. Coburn in command of
the Twenty-seventh Brigade, and be-
gan his distinguished career in the
Army Of the Cumberland.
With the command were % field
pieces. Cumberland Ford is distant
only IL miles from Cumberland Gap,
but the country between is of the most
rugged and difficult character. Three
ranges Of mountains have to be crossed
before Cumberland Gap is reached.
In the course of "Reminiscences a
fight was unintentionally brought about
which revealed equally the extreme
hazard of an attempt to carry the place
nv storm, or even nv raepuIar Sfapa on