568

THE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN, OR BOONSBORO

BOONSBOROUGH

EXPLANATION

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BATTLE OF NLJg

SOUTH MOUNTAIN “SSEPT. 14.1862 “'ffi

SCALE OF FEET

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MAP OF THE POSITIONS AT FOX’S AND TURNER’S GAPS.

The fights of September 14th were so distinct as to timeand place, and the positions of the troops were so oftenchanged, that any single map would he misleadingwith-out analysis: (1) The early morning fight was mostlyon the south side of Fox’s Gap, between Cox’s two Unionbrigades and Garland’s brigade, the latter being assistedon its left by a part of Colquitt’s brigade which was atTurner’s Gap. By 10 o’clock Garland had been killedand his brigade routed. (2) Then Cox encountered G.B. Anderson’s arriving brigade, repulsed it, and fell backto his position in the morning. (3) G. B. Anderson wasthen posted at Fox’s Gap on both sides of the old Sharps-burg road. D. IT. Hill’s two other brigades came up to-ward noon, Ripley being joined to G. B. Anderson, andRodes being sent to occupy a hill on the north side ofTurner’s Gap, near where Garnett is placed on the map.(4) About 2 o’clock, on the Union side, Cox’s division

was reenforced by the arriving divisions of Willcox,Sturgis, and Rodman; and Hooker’s corps of three divi-sions was moving north of the National road by way ofMount Tabor Church (Hooker’s headquarters) to flankthe Confederate left. About the same time D. H. Hill’sbrigades at Fox’s Gap were reenforced by Longstreet’sbrigades of G. T. Anderson, Drayton, Law, and Hood;and north of Turner’s Gap throe of Rodes’s four regi-ments were sent still farther to the left. The defense wasafterward strengthened by the posting of Longstreet’sbrigades of Garnett and Kemper, supported by Jenkins,on the hill first held by Rodes. Evans’s brigade arrivedlater, and was of assistance to Rodes when the latter had.been thrown back by Meade’s flank movement. (5) Thelast severe engagementsbegan at both gaps after 3 o’clockand lasted until after dark. Colquitt and Gibbon, in thecenter, joined desperately in the battle. — Editors.

scout had seen the captain, and the brigade was the first to open fire. Thefight was, of course, brief, the regiment heating a hasty retreat. The brigadehalted at the edge of the woods, probably believing that there was a con-cealed foe somewhere in the depths of the forest. This Federal brigadewas, possibly, Benjamin C. Christ’s of Willcox’s division — the same whichhad made the successful flank movement in the previous fight. ☆

This engagement is not mentioned by Cox, Willcox, or Christ. The Union brigade was moreprobably that of Colonel H. S. Fairchild, Rodman’s division. See p. 558.— Editors.