Through the Cumberland Gap

Thomas Walker, a Virginia physician, explored the Cumberland Gap region in 1750. Keeping a journal along the way, his entry for April 13, 1750 reads:

"We went four miles to large Creek, which we called Cedar (Indian) Creek, being a branch of Bear Grass, (Powell's) and from thence six miles to Cave (Cumberland) Gap the land being levil. On the north side of the gap is a large Spring, which falls very fast, and just above the Spring is a small entrance to a large Cave, which the Spring runs through, and there is a constant Stream of cool air issuing out. The Spring is sufficient to turn a Mill. Just at the foot of the Hill is a Laurel Thicket, and the Spring Water runs through it. On the South side is a plain Indian Road. On the top of the Ridge are Laurel Trees marked with crosses, others blazed and several figures on them. As I went down on the other side, I soon came to some Laurel in the head of a Branch. A Beech stands on the left hand, on which I cut my name. This Gap may be seen at a considerable distance, and there is no other, that I know of, except one about two miles to the North of it, which does not appear to be so low as the other. The mountain on the North Side of the Gap is very Steep and Rocky, but on the South side it is not so. e called it Steep Ridge. At the foot of the hill on the North West side we came to a Branch, that made a great deal of flat Land. We kept down it 2 miles, several other branches coming in to make it a large Creek, and we called it Flat (Yellow) Creek. We camped on the Bank where we found very good Coal. I did not see any Lime Stone beyond this Ridge. We rode 13 miles this day."

Given the outlandish claims so commonly made about the Melungeons being found by early European explorers already living in the mountains of Southern Appalachia speaking Elizabethan English, it may be worth noting that Thomas Walker did not find any Melungeons living on or around Newmans Ridge in 1750.

To read the entire journal: Click Here.