Near Burkittsville in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Battle of South Mountain
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 21, 2007
1. The Battle of South Mountain Marker
At Frederick, Md. he boldly divided his army. Three columns (No. 1) were to surround and capture the Federal garrison at Harpers Ferry and then reunite with Lee and Longstreet (No. 2) at Boonsboro and Hagerstown and continue north.
Gen. George McClellan’s strong Union army (No. 3) was hot on Lee’s heels, threatening to overrun his divided units. On September 14, Lee was forced to order all available troops around Boonsboro back to defend the passes over South Mountain. Greatly outnumbered, the Confederates desperately held off Union forces until the evening of the 14th, and then withdrew toward Sharpsburg.
On September 15th the Federals poured through the passes, but Lee had gained time to reunite his army.
On the 17th the armies clashed in the bloody Battle of Antietam. The story of the battle is told at Antietam National Battlefield Site, Sharpsburg, Maryland.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1862.
Location. 39° 24.346′ N, 77° 38.349′ W. Marker is near Burkittsville, Maryland, in Frederick County. Marker is at the intersection of Gapland Road
this page online
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); Sixth Army Corps (here, next to this marker); First New Jersey Brigade (a few steps from this marker); War Correspondents (a few steps from this marker); The Battle of Crampton's Gap (a few steps from this marker); War Correspondents Memorial Arch (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burkittsville.
More about this marker. The marker features a raised map depicting the campaign. The numbered citations in the text relate to place marks on the map.
Also see . . . Friends of South Mountain State Battlefield. Information about the campaign, battle, and the surrounding park. (Submitted on August 9, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 21, 2007
2. Close Up View of the Map
Note the numbered place marks keyed to citations in the text.
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 21, 2007
3. Marker Stands in Front of the East Side of the Arch
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2002
4. The Battle of South Mountain Marker near the War Correspondents Memorial Arch
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,071 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on November 29, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
