THE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN, OR BOONSBORO’. 563

of the roads, near the summit of the mountain (Fox’s Giap). He had withhim five regiments of infantry and Bondurant’s battery of artillery—hisinfantry force being a little less than one thousand men, all North Caro-linians . The 5th regiment was placed on the right of the road, with the 12thas its support; the 23d was posted behind a low stone-wall on the left of the5th; then came the 20th and 13th. From the nature of the ground and theduty to be performed, the regiments were not in contact with each other,and the 13th was 250 yards to the left of the 20th. Fifty skirmishers ofthe 5th North Carolina soon encountered the 23d Ohio , deployed as skir-mishers under Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Hayes, afterward President of theUnited States , and the action began at 9 A. m. between Cox’s division andGarland’s brigade.

I will delay an account of the fight to give the strength of the forcesengaged. \> The Ninth Corps (Reno’s) consisted of four divisions under Cox,Wiilcox, Sturgis, and Rodman; or eight brigades — Scammon and Crook(Cox); Christ and Welsh (Wiilcox); Nagle and Ferrero (Sturgis); and Fair-child and Harland (Rodman). It had 29 regiments of infantry, 3 companiesof cavalry, and 8 batteries of artillery, 3 of them United States batteries ofregulars under Benjamin, Clark, and Muhlenberg.\

General Cox, who fought Garland, had six Ohio regiments under Briga-diers Scammon and Crook, and also the batteries of McMullin and Sim-monds, and three companies of cavalry. The heavy batteries in position(20-pounder Parrotts) were of service to him also, in commanding theapproaches to the scene of the conflict. The strength of the division is notgiven directly, but Scammon estimates his effectives at 1455. The otherbrigade was most likely equally strong, and I conclude that Cox’s infantry,artillery, and cavalry reached three thousand. ☆ Garland’s brigade is esti-mated at “ scarce a thousand.”

Scammon’s brigade led the attack with great spirit. The 13th North Caro-lina , under Lieutenant-Colonel Ruffin, and the 20th, under Colonel Alfred Iver-son, were furiously assailed on the left. Both regiments were under triedand true soldiers, and they received the assault calmly. Lieutenant Crome,of McMullin’s battery, ran up a section of artillery by hand, and opened witheffect upon the 20th North Carolina ; but the skirmishers under CaptainAtwell of that regiment killed the gallant officer while he was himself servingas a gunner. The section was abandoned, but the Confederates were unableto capture it. The effort seemed to be to turn the 13th; and Colonel Ruffinin vain urged General Garland to go to the other part of his line. But withGarland the post of danger was the post of honor. Judge Ruffin, in a recentletter to me, thus speaks of the fall of the hero:

“ I said to him : ‘ General, why do you stay here ? you are in great danger.’

“ To which he replied: 1 1 may as well be here as yourself.’

| See also Table of Opposing Forces in the division and a portion of Pleasonton’s cavalry wereMaryland Campaign, p. 598.— Editors.' the only Union troops on the field. Sturgis arrived

\ According to General Cox, until the arrival of on the field about 3 : 30. — EditorsWiilcox with his division, about 2 o’clock, Cox’s In effect confirmed by General Cox.— Editors.