Old Letter Reveals Exciting Trip To Pinnacle Of Cumberland Gap

To The Editor, Mountain Echo
London, Kentucky
January 23, 1898

Dear Sir:

Will you please publish the following in your valuable and interesting paper?

On the 23rd of January, "Sunday," a party composed of the following, including the writer, visited the Pinnacle of Cumberland Gap, near Middlesboro, Kentucky: Henry McRunery and A. O. J. Morrison, Middlesboro; J. R. Kidd and J. S. Beaman, Big Stone Gap, Virginia; and D. J. Kidd, Sturgeon, Kentucky.

The Pinnacle of Cumberland Gap offers a beautiful view of the historic countryside where early pioneers struggled to enter the new land of Kentucky.
We left Middlesboro at nine in the morning and arrived at the foot of the Pinnacle at noon. After eating our lunch and standing on the cornerstone of the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia; and examining the breastworks in the Gap over the tunnel of the L. & N. R. R., finding a few grape shot holes, we ascended the mountain to the top of the Pinnacle.

We went all over the forts on top of the Pinnacle, also the place where the famous brass cannon, "Long Tom," was planted. We made search for "Long Tom," which is reported to have been buried on top of the Pinnacle when the Confederate troops abandoned the forts on top of the mountain, but failed to find it. Instead, we found other relics of the war, including the following: cannon balls, "Minnie" balls, musket balls, gun locks, musket straps, bullets, buckles, an old fork handle, a spoon, a coffee mill handle, gun springs, gun bands, gun rings, grape shot, musket screws, and more.

Even if we did not find "Long Tom," we were well-repaid for our trip. All returned at three in the evening, tired and hungry.

-- D. J. Kidd