Among the mountains of East Tennessee . . .

. . . a relentless warfare is carried on by the Union men. A deserter from the rebel ranks, arriving in one of the national camps, reports that the rebel soldiers dare not go out of their lines, being in mortal fear of the Union men. The rebels at Cumberland Gap are obliged to station pickets some distance from their camp to prevent the desertion of those impressed into their service. It is stated that from information from official sources the rebels intend making East Tennessee their point d’apui if driven from Virginia.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 2