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ones。 It has always been a land of conflict。 In 1540339 years ago
De Soto； in that energetic but fruitless search for gold which occupied
his later years； penetrated to this region； and found it the fastness of
the Xualans； a bold； aggressive race； continually warring with its
neighbors。 When next the white man reached the countrya century and a
half laterhe found the Xualans had been swept away by the conquering
Cherokees； and he witnessed there the most sanguinary contest between
Indians of which our annals give any accounta pitched battle two days
in duration； between the invading Shawnees； who lorded it over what is
now Kentucky； Ohio and Indianaand the Cherokees； who dominated the
country the southeast of the Cumberland range。 Again the Cherokees were
victorious； and the discomfited Shawnees retired north of the Gap。
Then the white man delivered battle for the possession the land； and
bought it with the lives of many gallant adventurers。 Half a century
later Boone and his hardy companion followed； and forced their way into
Kentucky。
Another half century saw the Gap the favorite haunt of the greatest of
American banditsthe noted John A。 Murrelland his gang。 They
infested the country for years； now waylaying the trader or drover
threading his toilsome way over the lone＇ mountains； now descending upon
some little town； to plunder its stores and houses。
At length Murrell and his band were driven out； and sought a new field of
operations on the Lower Mississippi。 They left germs behind them；
however； that developed into horse thieve counterfeiters； and later into
guerrillas and bushwhackers。
When the Rebellion broke out the region at once became th theater of
military operations。 Twice Cumberland Gap was seized by the Rebels； and
twice was it wrested away from them。 In 1861 it was the point whence
Zollicoffer launched out with his legions to 〃liberate Kentucky；〃 and it
was whither they fled； beaten and shattered； after the disasters of Wild
Cat and Mill Springs。 In 1862 Kirby Smith led his army through the Gap
on his way to overrun Kentucky and invade the North。 Three months later
his beaten forces sought refuge from their pursuers behind its
impregnable fortifications。 Another year saw Burnside burst through the
Gap with a conquering force and redeem loyal East Tennessee from its
Rebel oppressors。
Had the South ever been able to separate from the North the boundary
would have been established along this line。
Between the main ridge upon which Cumberland Gap is situated； and the
next range on the southeast which runs parallel with it； is a narrow；
long； very fruitful valley； walled in on either side for a hundred miles
by tall mountains as a City street is by high buildings。 It is called
Powell's Valley。 In it dwell a simple； primitive people； shut out from
the world almost as much as if they lived in New Zealand； and with the
speech； manners and ideas that their fathers brought into the Valley when
they settled it a century ago。 There has been but little change since
then。 The young men who have annually driven cattle to the distant
markets in Kentucky； Tennessee and Virginia； have brought back occasional
stray bits of finery for the 〃women folks；〃 and the latest improved fire…
arms for themselves； but this is about all the innovations the progress
of the world has been allowed to make。 Wheeled vehicles are almost
unknown； men and women travel on horseback as they did a century ago；
the clothing is the product of the farm and the busy looms of the women；
and life is as rural and Arcadian as any ever described in a pastoral。
The people are rich in cattle； hogs； horses； sheep and the products of
the field。 The fat soil brings forth the substantials of life in opulent
plenty。 Having this there seems to be little care for more。 Ambition
nor avarice； nor yet craving after luxury； disturb their contented souls
or drag them away from the non…progressive round of simple life
bequeathed them by their fathers。
CHAPTER II。
SCARCITY OF FOOD FOR THE ARMYRAID FOR FORAGEENCOUNTER WIT THE REBELS
SHARP CAVALRY FIGHTDEFEAT OF THE 〃JOHNNIES〃POWELL'S VALLEY OPENED
UP。
As the Autumn of 1863 advanced towards Winter the difficulty of supplying
the forces concentrated around Cumberland Gapas well as the rest of
Burnside's army in East Tennesseebecame greater and greater。 The base
of supplies was at Camp Nelson； near Lexington； Ky。； one hundred and
eighty miles from the Gap； and all that the Army used had to be hauled
that distance by mule teams over roads that； in their best state were
wretched； and which the copious rains and heavy traffic had rendered
well…nigh impassable。 All the country to our possession had been drained
of its stock of whatever would contribute to the support of man or beast。
That portion of Powell's Valley extending from the Gap into Virginia was
still in the hands of the Rebels； its stock of products was as yet almost
exempt from military contributions。 Consequently a raid was projected to
reduce the Valley to our possession； and secure its much needed stores。
It was guarded by the Sixty…fourth Virginia； a mounted regiment； made up
of the young men of the locality； who had then been in the service about
two years。
Maj。 C。 H。 Beer's third Battalion； Sixteenth Illinois Cavalryfour
companies； each about 75 strongwas sent on the errand of driving out
the Rebels and opening up the Valley for our foraging teams。 The writer
was invited to attend the excursion。 As he held the honorable； but not
very lucrative position of 〃high； private〃 in Company L； of the
Battalion； and the invitation came from his Captain； he did not feel at
liberty to decline。 He went； as private soldiers have been in the habit
of doing ever since the days of the old Centurion； who said with the
characteristic boastfulness of one of the lower grades of commissioned
officers when he happens to be a snob：
For I am also a man set under authority； having under me soldiers；
and I say unto one； Go； and he goeth； and to another； Come； and he
cometh； and to my servant； Do this； and he doeth it。
Rather 〃airy〃 talk that for a man who nowadays would take rank with
Captains of infantry。
Three hundred of us responded to the signal of 〃boots and saddles；〃
buckled on three hundred more or less trusty sabers and revolvers；
saddled three hundred more or less gallant steeds； came into line 〃as
companies〃 with the automatic listlessness of the old soldiers； 〃counted
off by fours〃 in that queer gamut…running style that makes a company of
men 〃counting off〃each shouting a number in a different voice from his
neighborsound like running the scales on some great organ badly out of
tune； something like this：
One。 Two。 Three。 Four。 One。 Two。 Three。 Four。 One。 Two。 Three。
Four。
Then； as the bugle sounded 〃Right forward！ fours right！〃 we moved off at
a walk through the melancholy mist that soaked through the very fiber of
man and horse； and reduced the minds of both to a condition of limp
indifference as to things past； present and future。
Whither we were going we knew not； nor cared。 Such matters h