Appalachian History Series Strategic Context By the icy winter of 1863-64, Cumberland Gap in Union hands formed a doorway into the Virginia-Tennessee-Kentucky corner. Acting on instructions from Brig. Gen. Orlando B. Willcox, Col. William C. Lemert ordered Maj. Charles H. Beeres to ride east with four companies of the 16th Illinois Cavalry and a section of the 22nd Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery (three guns under Lt. A. B. Alger).