THE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN, OR BOONSBORO

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mand to tlie Blue Ridge to strengthen D. H. Hill’sand Stuart’s divisions en-gaged in holding thepasses of the mountains,lest the enemy should fallupon McLaws ’s rear, drivehim from the MarylandHeights, and thus relievethe garrison at Harper’sFerry .”

This report and thenote to me show thatGeneral Lee expectedGeneral Stuart to re-main and help defendthe pass on the 14tli.

But on reaching theMountain House be-tween daylight andsunrise that morning,

I received a messagefrom Stuart that hehad gone to Cramp-ton’s Gap. [See map,p. 593.] He was toogallant a soldier toleave his post when abattle was imminent, and doubtless he believed that there was but a small Fed-eral force on the National road.]. I found Garland’s brigade at the MountainHouse and learned that Colquitt’s was at the foot of the mountain on the eastside. I found General Colquitt there without vedettes and without informationof the Federals, but believing that they had retired. General Cox’s Federaldivision was at that very time marching up the old Sharpsburg or Braddock’sroad, a mile to the south, seizing the heights on our right and establishing thoseheavy batteries which afterward commanded the pike and all the approachesto it. General Pleasonton, of the Federal cavalry, had learned the ground bythe reconnoissance of the day before, and to him was intrusted the posting ofthe advance troops of Reno ’s corps on the south side of the pike. He says:

“ I directed Scammon’s brigade to move up the mountain on the left-hand road, gain thecrest, and then move to the right, to the turnpike in the enemy’s rear. At the same time Iplaced Gibson’s battery and the heavy batteries in position to the left, covering the road on thatside and obtaining a direct fire on the enemy’s position in the gap.”

This shows that Pleasonton knew that the Confederate forces were at thefoot of the mountain. However, I brought Colquitt’s brigade back to a point

1 Generals Colquitt and Rosser have both written to me that General Stuart told them he had beenfollowed by only a small Federal force.— D. H. H.

RATIONS FROM THE STALK.