Battle of South Mountain

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Battle of South Mountain
Boonsboro Gap

Began:

September 14, 1862

Ended:

Same day

Location:

Frederick and Washington Counties, Maryland

Theater:

Eastern Theater

Campaign:

Maryland Campaign

Outcome:

Union victory

Combatants

Army of the Potomac

Army of Northern Virginia

Commanders

George B. McClellan
Major General, USA

Robert E. Lee
General, CSA

Strength

28,000

18,000

Casualties

2,325
Killed: 443
Wounded: 1,807
Missing: 75

2,685
Killed: 325
Wounded: 1,560
Missing: 800

After invading Maryland in September 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee divided his army to march on and invest Harpers Ferry. The Army of the Potomac under Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan pursued the Confederates to Frederick, Maryland, then advanced on South Mountain. On September 14, pitched battles were fought for possession of the South Mountain passes: Crampton’s, Turner’s, and Fox’s Gaps. By dusk the Confederate defenders were driven back, suffering severe casualties, and McClellan was in position to destroy Lee’s army before it could reconcentrate. McClellan’s limited activity on September 15 after his victory at South Mountain, however, condemned the garrison at Harpers Ferry to capture and gave Lee time to unite his scattered divisions at Sharpsburg. Union general Jesse Reno and Confederate general Samuel Garland, Jr., were killed at South Mountain.

v • d • e Maryland Campaign, September 1862

Harpers Ferry -- South Mountain -- Antietam -- Shepherdstown

Discuss this campaign of the American Civil War at CivilWarTalk.com - The Eastern Theater Forum

v • d • e Battles of 1862

Eastern Theater	Cockpit Point -- Hancock -- Roanoke Island -- Elizabeth City -- New Bern -- Fort Macon -- 1st Kernstown -- Hampton Roads -- Yorktown -- South Mills -- Williamsburg -- Eltham's Landing -- McDowell -- Princeton Court House -- Drewry’s Bluff -- Front Royal -- 1st Winchester -- Hanover Court House -- Seven Pines -- Tranter's Creek -- Cross Keys -- Port Republic -- Oak Grove -- Beaver Dam Creek -- Gaines' Mill -- Garnett's and Golding's Farms -- Savage's Station -- Glendale -- White Oak Swamp -- Malvern Hill -- Cedar Mountain -- 1st Rappahannock Station -- Manassas Station Operations -- Thoroughfare Gap -- 2nd Bull Run -- Chantilly -- Harpers Ferry -- South Mountain -- Antietam -- Shepherdstown -- Fredericksburg -- Kinston -- White Hall -- Goldsboro Bridge

Western Theater	Middle Creek -- Mill Springs -- Fort Henry -- Fort Donelson -- Island Number Ten -- 1st Memphis -- Shiloh -- Siege of Corinth -- 1st Chattanooga -- 1st Murfreesboro -- Richmond, KY -- Munfordville -- Iuka -- Corinth -- Hatchie's Bridge -- Perryville -- Hartsville -- Jackson, TN -- Chickasaw Bayou -- Parker's Cross Roads -- Stones River

Trans-Mississippi Theater	Roan's Tan Yard -- Valverde -- Pea Ridge -- Glorieta Pass -- Stanwix Station -- Albuquerque -- Peralta -- Picacho Pass -- Dragoon Springs -- Saint Charles -- Cotton Plant -- Apache Pass -- Moore’s Mill -- Kirksville -- Compton's Ferry -- 1st Independence, MO -- 1st Sabine Pass -- 1st Galveston -- Lone Jack -- 1st Newtonia -- Old Fort Wayne -- Island Mound -- Clark's Mill -- Cane Hill -- Prairie Grove

Lower Seaboard Theater	Fort Pulaski -- Forts Jackson and St. Philip -- New Orleans -- Secessionville -- Simmon's Bluff -- Tampa -- Baton Rouge -- 1st Donaldsonville -- Saint John's Bluff -- Georgia Landing

See also: