From Cumberland Gap.
[special Correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Cumberland Gap, May 6, 1862.
The anxiety manifested by the enemy's forces at Cumberland Ford to storm the Gap is growing, and the often repeated demonstrations made to carry into execution this longing should are this have satisfied them of its utter-impracticability.
At one time they plant under cover of their sharp-shootars batteries at a distance of 1,800 yards, and thunder away with every conceivable missile of destruction, throwing the dirt all around about us, with no evil effects save the occasional breaking of a halter by some timid horse.
At another time, they will make furious attempts to carry our right, and would make a novice believe that this time they were bent on creating the mountain side into a huge slaughter pen. A few well-directed shots from a 24 pound howitzer, and a deathly stillness pervades through their entire line, and then again commences that incessant rattle of small arms, and you would think that surely they will come forth from behind their hiding places and take the Gap. No such thing.
One or two are wounded, are borne to the rear, and for fear of accident, they still lie close — They seem to have no fixed, settled purpose.
Letters found on the field indicate that in our fight of the 75th they did not intend to sterm us that time; but if it ‘"come in their way, they would certainly have no objection to walk in our trenches."’ They say they cannot draw us out. They are mistaken — they did draw us out yesterday, for we went in two miles of their camp, drove in their picke s, who run a la Bull Run full tilt to hum, captured one, a regular down Easter, broke up some of their wagons, and demolished their telegraph line for some distance.
They did not come out. Thus it seems that they are so sure of becoming shortly impossession of this stronghold of the three-cornering States, that they are erecting a telegraph line on the road leading to the gap. This is impudence, and is equal to the begus assumption of military governorship, by Andy Johnson, over Tennessee--only on a smaller scale.
So much has been said about the taking of Cumberland Gap, and the ruin that would follow such a catastrophe, that I deem it necessary to state that it will take more than the fifteen regiments the Yankees have in the vicinity to accomplish such a feat.
It can never be taken by cannon, for we have the elevation; whilst deep holes have to be dug for the trails of their pieces to rest in, in order to give them the desired elevation.
Accounts have been published of heavy losses on both sides in our last repulse to the enemy, all of which are more or less exaggerated.
We never lost a man, and only two wounded; the loss of the enemy not being known.
Bye the bye, why can't people speak and tell the truth occasionally?
It is more honorable to us to have it said that we repulsed the enemy without the loss of a man, than to say it cost valuable lives, and a core of them.
Fears also have been entertained that we would be flanked.
The good people so easily alarmed forget that our position is more easily defended in rear than in front.
We have a Virginian for our General.
We are proud of it — proud of the noble and patriotic qualities that he possess, constituting him enable and efficient officer; and think you that a Virginia General is to be caught asleep on his post?
He is always on the alert — up early and out late.
He is, in short, the right man in the right place," and with such soldiers as he commands, with stout hearts and willing hands, who doubts the issue?
Believe me, it will be no bombardment in rehearsal as Forts Henry or Donelson, neither will it be a second act in the drama of roanoke, but it will, when it does come, be a fortification, where every rock is labelled ‘"no surrender,"’ and every blade of grass that welcomes the morning dew in the mountain side, will drip with the blood of Southrons fighting for freedom!
The time is past for this farce of firing a few hundred shells and then running up a white flag as a token of submission.
We feel the great issue at stake with us here, and depend upon it, we will fill the order ‘"to hold the Gap."’ More anon.
Montes. 