The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-10-04
SNATCHES OF
SOUTHERN HISTORY

by L. L. Parsons, OF Pen
nington Gap, and Publish
ed in Appalachia Indepen-
dent
| The shortest railroad tunnel in the
United States if not in the world, is
in Wise County. Virginia. II is
known as Bedrock tunnel and is
located between Big Stone Gap. and
Appalachia, Virginia. on the Cum
bertrand Division of the Louisville e.
Nashville Railroad This arm or
branch of railroad was constructed
some thirty odd years ago through
the very heart OF the Cumberland
Mountains, and extends from Cor
bin, Kentucky, to Norton, Virginia, "a
distance of more than one hundred
miles. The entire distance between
These two points is marked by many
cuts and underground passages vary.
| ing from a few feet TO several miles
| in length. The longest of these un-
foreground passages is ut Cumber-
land Gap. Tennessee, where black
yawning cavern II little more than
sevcn-eigths Of mile in length
delves beneath the mountain Mt a
point almost exactly where the state
lines of the three states, Kentucky,
Virginia, and Tennessee intersect AT
a massive gray stone on top of the
mountain. The natural scenery nj
this point is unsurpassed for its
grandeur. The south flank of the
mountain is almost solid mass Of
gray stone with giant cliff, called
the "l.innacle' rising abruptly to a
height Of several hundred feet.
Along the crest of this mountain and
overlooking the sleepy little town OF
Cumberland Gap. lofty peaks mount
into the blue haze above like senti-
nels keeping guard. On the oppo-
site side Of the mountain and high
above the thriving town of Middles-
boro, lies the beautiful Fern Lake,
an immense body OF spring clear wa
ter more than three miles in length.
Reports are current that Uncle Sam
is interested in establishing IA
National Park at this place. and that
negotiations are now under way to
carry out that project.
Since the days OF Boone Cumbcr-
land Gap has occupied a conspicuous
place in the annals of American his.
tory. Across the Cumberlands here
that pioneer first blazed his trail into
the wilderness of the Ozark and
Bloody Ground and the christening
Of which belongs to that distinguish
ed hunter and warrior. The old trail
where thousands have since followed
in the footsteps of civilization, can
yet be plainly seen at many places
as it traverscs the rocky pass. And,
IN recent years that memorable
event was ittingly commemorated
by the unveiling of monument on
the crest of the mountain to the
memory of that famous pioneer.
Running parallel and in many places
intcrsecting with the old trail, gray
stone pike, called Boonway, now
links the three great states. From
its natural position Cumberland
Gap, was the gateway from the
south to neutral Kentucky during
the Civil war and the North lost no
time in fortifying this atraegic posi-
ton which proved to be bone of
contention between the opposing
forces throughout the entire strug-
gle. And when Colonel Slemp with
flying colors and flashing arms un-
dertook to force the pass, the ia
nous battle of Cumberland Gap"
ensued in which the confederate
were completely routed.
The Confederates planned to take
the position by strategy. but the ruse
failed to work and Wolfe's trained
rihemen made it so hot for them
from the batteries that they broke
and fled plunging down the noun
tain in utter panic. A good view OF
the retreat could be had from the
Notifications and the firing was kept
up until many of the flying forces
abandoned their horses to seek shell
ter under cover of the forest OF