Near Burkittsville in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sixth Army Corps

Crampton's Gap War Department Tablet C.P. 4 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 21, 2007

1. Crampton's Gap War Department Tablet C.P. 4 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

U. S. A.
Sixth Army Corps.
Major Gen. W. B. Franklin, Commanding
(September 14, 1862)
The Sixth Corps consisted of two Divisions commanded by Major Generals H. W. Slocum and W. F. Smith. On the march of the Army of the Potomac through Maryland, this Corps with Couch’s Division, Fourth Corps, temporarily attached, formed the left of the advancing line. It moved through Tennallytown, Darnestown, Poolesville and Barnesville, reaching Buckeystown, west of the Monocacy, 12 miles southwest of this, on the evening of September 13. Under orders to force Crampton’s Pass and seize Rohrersville in order to cut off McLaws from the main body of the Army of Northern Virginia and to relieve Harpers Ferry, the Corps moved early on the morning of the 14th, passed through Jefferson and reached the outskirts of Burkittsville at noon. At 3 p.m., Slocum and Smith advanced, drove Munford’s Cavalry and Mahone’s Infantry from the foot of the mountain and through this Pass and overthrew Cobb’s Brigade in the vicinity, taking many prisoners. The Infantry Brigades retreated to Brownsville and the Cavalry to Rohrersville. Semmes’ Brigade

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abandoned Brownsville Pass and joined Cobb and Mahone. The Corps advanced into Pleasant Valley on the evening of the 14th where it remained until the morning of the 17th when it marched for the field of Antietam.

Erected by Antietam Battlefield Board. (Marker Number C.P. 4.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Antietam Campaign War Department Markers series list.

Location. 39° 24.346′ N, 77° 38.354′ W. Marker is near Burkittsville, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker is at the intersection of Gapland Road and Arnoldstown Road, on the right when traveling west on Gapland Road. Marker is at the foot of the War Correspondence Memorial Arch. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Burkittsville MD 21718, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Crampton’s Pass Tablet C.P. 1 (here, next to this marker); Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws' Command (here, next to this marker); Crampton’s Pass Tablet C.P. 3 (here, next to this marker); First New Jersey Brigade (here, next to this marker); War Correspondents (here, next to this marker); The Battle of South Mountain (here, next

Four War Department Markers at the Arch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 21, 2007

2. Four War Department Markers at the Arch

to this marker); War Correspondents Memorial Arch (a few steps from this marker); The Battle of Crampton's Gap (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burkittsville.

More about this marker. One of nine markers reported by the Antietam Battlefield Board as erected at Crampton’s Pass in the report dated 1898. Four are at the War Correspondence Memorial Arch, the remainder were placed between the Pass and Burkittsville to the east.(Source: George R. Large and Joe A. Swisher, “Battle of Antietam: The Official History by the Antietam Battlefield Board”)

Also see . . .
1. General Franklin’s Account of the Battle. Antietam on the Web entry (Submitted on August 8, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. General W. F. Smiths report. Antietam on the Web entry (Submitted on August 8, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

3. General Slocum’s Report of the Battle. Antietam on the Web entry (Submitted on August 8, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Sixth Army Corps Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, June 24, 2009

3. Sixth Army Corps Marker

Sixth Army Corps Marker near the War Correspondents Memorial Arch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2002

4. Sixth Army Corps Marker near the War Correspondents Memorial Arch

Federal Advance - Looking West from the Foot of South Mountain image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 5, 2007

5. Federal Advance - Looking West from the Foot of South Mountain

From the fields to the north and west of Burkittsville (vicinity of the present day Mountain Church Road), the Sixth Corps began their assault on the gap.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,828 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on August 9, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 4. submitted on November 29, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on August 8, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.