In 1862 the
National army pursued the
Confederates from
Frederick, Md., in two columns over
South Mountain into the valley of
Antietam Creek.
General Burnside led the right and centre by way of Turner's Gap; and the left, composed of
Franklin's corps, went by the way of Crampton's Gap, on the same range, nearer
Harper's Ferry.
The division of
D. H. Hill was the only Confederate force guarding Turner's Gap, and
McLaws was guarding Crampton's Gap.
The Confederates had no idea that the Nationals would make such a vigorous pursuit as they did; but on the morning of Sept. 14, a startling apparition met the eyes of the
Confederates from the mountain heights.
Pleasonton's cavalry was leading nearly the whole of the
National army down the
Kittoctan Hills and across the valley towards
South Mountain.
A portion of
General Cox's division of
Ohio troops reached the borders of the
Gap early in the forenoon, and, under the cover of a portion of
McMullin's battery,
Cox pressed up the wooded and rocky acclivity.
He was at first confronted by
Garland's division, which was badly cut up and its commander killed in the severe action that ensued.
The place of this division was soon filled by the troops of
Anderson, supported by
Rhodes and
Ripley.
These held the position for a long time, but finally gave way, and
Cox gained the crest of the mountain.
It was now noon.
Very soon the battle assumed far greater proportions, for two of
Longstreet's brigades came to the aid of
Hill.
These were soon followed by
Longstreet himself with seven brigades, making the
Confederate force defending the
Gap and the two crests about 30,000 strong.
First the divisions of National troops of
Wilcox,
Rodman, and
Sturgis came up, followed soon after by
Hooker's troops, and a little later a general battle-line was formed
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Battle of South Mountain. |
with
Ricketts's,
Reno's, and
King's divisions.
At 4 P. M. fighting was general all along the line, and at many points the ground was contested inch by inch.
General Hatch, who commanded
King's division, was wounded, when
General Doubleday took his command, his own passing to the care of
General Wainwright, who was soon disabled.
At dusk
Hooker had flanked and beaten the
Confederate left.
Reno's command, which had gained a foothold on the crest, fought desperately until dark.
At about sunset their leader, at the head of the troops in an open field, was killed.
He died almost at the moment of victory, and his command devolved on
General Cox.
Meade, with his brigades, led by General
Seymour and
Colonels Magilton and
Gallagher, fought on the right of
Hatch's division.
General Duryee, whose fine brigade of
Ricketts's division had participated in the later struggles of
Pope with
Lee, was just coming up when the contest ceased at that point.
Meanwhile the brigades of
Gibbons and
Hartsuff had pushed up the road along the
Gap, fighting and winning steadily until about 9 P. M., when, having reached a point near the summit of the
Gap, their ammunition was exhausted.
But the victory for the Nationals was secured.
During the night
Lee withdrew his forces, and so ended the
battle of South Mountain.
Franklin meanwhile, confronted by Confederates led by
Howell Cobb, had fought
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and driven his enemies over the mountain into the valley at Crampton's Gap, and held a position in
Pleasant Valley, within 6 miles of
Harper's Ferry.
