Cumberland Gap Civil War Defenses Use the “First >>” button above to see these markers in sequence.| Kentucky (Bell County), Middlesboro — Invasion through the Gap | | | For the North, Cumberland Gap was a natural invasion route into the South - providing access to vulnerable railroads and valuable minerals and salt works in East Tennessee and southwest Virginia. For the South, the Gap was a gateway for an invasion of Kentucky to drive out the Federal foe. Cumberland Gap exchanged hands four times during the Civil War August 1861 Confederates fortify Cumberland Gap. June 18, 1862 Union forces under General Morgan occupy the Gap. September 17, 1862 . . . — Map (db m35703) HM | | Kentucky (Bell County), Middlesboro — Defense of the Gap | | | During the Civil War this earthwork - called Fort Rains by the Confederates and Fort McCook by the Federals - was one of many fortifications ringing Cumberland Gap. These defenses were considered too formidable to be taken by direct assault, which accounts for the small number of soldiers killed here. The poor roads and rough country of the Gap made it difficult to resupply the outposts. An attacker could simply cut off supply lines, leaving the forts with little tactical value. Later in the . . . — Map (db m35733) HM | | Kentucky (Bell County), Middlesboro — "This American Gibraltar" | | | "Cumberland Gap is the strongest position I have ever seen except Gibraltar." These were Union General George W. Morgan's words after viewing the fortification around the Gap. On June 19, 1862, he wrote to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, "The enemy evacuated this American Gibraltar this morning... and DeCourcy's brigade took possession...." In honor of the capture, the Stars and Stripes were raised from the pinnacle of this mountain in proud ceremony. Three months later it was the Union . . . — Map (db m35770) HM | | Kentucky (Bell County), Middlesboro — Waiting for the Battle that Never Came | | | A natural thoroughfare through the Appalachian Mountain barrier, Cumberland Gap assumed great strategic importance in the Civil War. Both sides sought to control the Gap. It changed hands three times, but no battles were fought. Troops garrisoned here, Union and Confederate alike, endured months of inaction and boredom. Confederate soldier Seth Hannibal Hyatt from Cherokee County, North Carolina, wrote home on April 28, 1863 - Dear Father and Mother -: As I can get no letters from home to . . . — Map (db m35745) HM |
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