Year: 1863

The annexed notes. which have been kindly obtained for
by the Hon Horace Maynard containing topographi
cal and geographical description Of the district of country
embracing and bordering the central range of the great
Appalachian chain of mountains present in striking light
the military value of the region of East Tennessee and the
great Importance of holding military possession of it.
Extracts from the notes of Prof H. Guyot of Princeton
the Mountain District Of WestTn North Carolina.


From what has been said it is obvious that the advan
tages which the possession If that high mountainous
try of the neghboring valley Of Tennessee offer in mill
taTy point of view very great


1t rises Ike citadel from the surrounding platform
which constitutes the larger portion Of the States of North
Carolina South Carolina, Georgia. Alabama Tennessee,
aud Kentucky.


An army settled in the large and fertile valley of East
Tennessee where it be abundanty provided easily
occupy by very moderate forces all the mountainous
gon and all its available passes the Blue Ridge and
thus keep, it wee the keys of the doors to each of all
the Southern States just mentioned


1t can thus threaten from within every of those
States and their capitals keep at bay any opposing forces
in the low country and prevea their being concentrated
1t cuts in two the Confederacy from east to west


1t easily become master of all great railroad
ncaons between the southeast and southwest Southern
States The possession Of the central artery of the Vr-
gna and Tennessee Railroad had to be completed by that





tesecton Of h railroad from Charleston and Savannah to
Chattanooga Tennessee, and Montgomery, Alabama. This
occupation would be all the easy from the fact that
though Atlanta es beyond the last spurs and outside of
the Blue Ridge and the mountain region the way it is
entirely open from the Great Valley of East Tennessee
The Frog Mountain aud tbs Blue Ridge connected
with the Lookout and Raccoon Mountains which the
southern end OF the western abeands by any mountain
ridge The Great Valley continues between the two noun
tain without obstruction into the unduatng plains
sopng to the Gulf (or such cannot be called light swell
and bills dividing the waters between Cleaveand Tennes
see and Dalton Georgia, and through which the Georgia
and Tennessee Railroad passes. This s therefore, the
broad and natural exit of the Great Valley much than
the comparatively narrow valley through which the Ten
nessee river escapes.


From Dalton to Atlanta there along the railroad line
serious obstr ructions.


At the time the great central artery, the Tennessee
and Virginia Railroad is cutting its way the very heart
OF Virginia itself he way is entirely open along the Great
Valley, which continues without the slightest Interruption
into the basin of the New river far Chrsansburg


The occupation Of that long and open valley from Abpg
don Newbern and the New river could be secured by
keeping the defes of the Aeghanies Chrstansburg
This, with the occupation of its parallel valley of the
Cnch river would secure the entire of southwest Virginia
and the Cumberland Mountain Gaps


The only thing requisite for the efficiency and safety Of
army thus located in East Tennessee would be keep
open the line of railroad between Nashville and Chatta
nOoga to Central Tennessee and that of the Cumberland
Gap any Of the Gaps south Of it. the neigbbor-
hood communicating the Northwest with Kentucky and
Ohio


For this purpose the immediate construction of good
military road leading from Central Kentucky with branch
road from Ohio, through of the Cumberland Mountain
Gaps should be considered matter of first Importance if
not absolute necessity.


It's no mean part of the Importance of that elevated
region for military purposes that the climate s such to
allow army to remain throughout the year without fear
Of a sickly season.


The army that will possess and safely keep that central
stronghold must keep at bay the forces of the surrounding
States


In fine, should the rebellion be overcome in the
low county, the occupation Of that mountain region WILL
- 80.
Of taking refuge in it, and from these indefinitely proopg
ing defensive if not offensive