The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-12-19

was made with admirable steadness through a
we'll ldirecied fire from The batteries the mount
| ain, the brigade of Col Bartlett taking the lead,
followed at proper intervals by the brgades of Gen.
| Newton and Col. Torbert. Upon fully determining
| the enemy's position the skirmishers with
drawn and Col. Bartlett became engaged along his
| entire line. He maintained his ground steadily
under severe fire for time nj n manifest dis
advantage until reinforced by two regiments of
Gen. Ncwton's Brigade upon his right and the bri-
gade of Col. Torbert and tho two remaining regi-
ments of Newtons his left The line OF battle thus
| formed. an Immediate charge ordered and
most galiantly executed. The men swept forward,
with cheer, over the stone wall, dslodging the
enemy and pursuing him up the mountain-sde TO
the crest of the hill and down the opposite slope
This single charge, sustained it n great
distance, and on rough ascent of unusual steep
ness, was decisive The enemy driven I'm the
| utmost confusion from position Of strength. and
allowed no opportunity for even an attemptto rally
until the Pass cleared in the possession of
our troops. When the division under Gen Slo
cum first became actively engaged. directed Gen.
| Brookss Brigade, of Smiths Division, TO advance
| upon the left of the road and dslodge the enemy
| from the woods upon Slooum's flank. The move.
ment was promptly and steadily made, under n
| severe artillery fire. Gen. Brooks occupied tho
woods after slight resistance, and then advanced
| simultaneously with Gen. SoCum rapidly and in
good order To the crest of the mountain. The VIC
| tory WAS complete, and its achievement followed
so rapidly upon the first attack that the enemy's
| reserves, although pushed forward nt the double
| quick, arrived but in time TO participate in the
| flight and add confusion to the rout Four hun
dred prisoners from IL different organizations 700
stand of arms. piece of artillery aud three stand
| of coors were captured while numberless arti-
oles OF equipment, knapsacks haversncks, blankets,
etc, were abandoned by the enemy in their flight
The gRllantry of the officers and the spirit and
dash displayed by the troops arc worthy of the
highest praise, and ! respectfully call attention
10 the recommendations made In the accompany
ing reports of Maj. Gen. Slocum and the command
ers of brgades, and solicit for them the favorable
notice OF tile Commanding General, also refer TO
the reports in question for detailed account OF
the operations of the respective brigades and for
the nnmes OF such officers ns have won honorable
| lhnt ilun hnnrt d. et. HnlI
while fully concurring in the recomme endaiion
offered i'm behalf OF Coils. Bartlett and Torbett
who have certainly earned promotion on this ms
on other occasions, i respectfully and earnestly
request that Brig. Gen. Newton may be promoted
TO the rank of Mjor-Genera for his conspicuous
Ghlantry and important services during the entire
engagement.
The prompt and energetic action OF DR. White.
tue Medical Director OF the Corps; OF DIR. Bradley,
his assistant and of the Medical Staff of the differ
ent organizations engaged, la bringing off and
caring for the wounded, is worthy of the highest
praise.
The total loss In killed and wounded IL $50. OF
these 10 are officers, five of whom killed. The
total loss. killed. was 10; wounded 40. The
losses of the enemy not accurately known We
buried l50 of their dead, and took charge of more
field.
am, General, very respectfully. your obodiont
servant, w. II, FRANKLIN
M%or-General, Commanding Sixth Corps.
Report Of Brig Gen. Horpeu Cobb, G. s. A., COM
manding Brigade IN the action at Crampton's
Pass, South Mountain.
BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,
OPEQUAS CROSSING. Sept. %. 1862.
GENERAL: On the l3th instant was ordered by
you 10 take aud hold possession of Sandy Hook
near Hnrper's Ferry. which done without seri-
Gus opposition. On the lith my command wna
ordered by you to return to our former camp Mt
Brownsviile. This order received about
O'Clock p. m, and the brigade was Immediately
marched TO thHt point reaching there about { p. M
had been in camp about an hour when received
% nt (tran an I,nu
distant about two miles, recommending the re-
movai OF my command to that point, the enemy
were pressing the small force at the Gap. imme-
diately ordered my Two strongest regiments 70
march 10 their support Before, however, the head
OF the column had filed into tho road received n
message from Col. Parham. who was in command
OF Mahonc's Brigade, at the Gap TO tho effect that
the enemy was pressing him hard with overwhclu-
Ing Numbers and appealing for all the support
could bring to hinl- ] Immediately ordered tho
remaining Two regiments TO march, and accom-
panied the command In person. As | was march
ing the last OF the column I received = mcssnge
rom you through your Assistant Adiutant-Gen-
erRi, Mai. Mcintosh thRt must hold the Gap n 10
cost the lite OF every man In my command. Thus
Impressed with the Importance OF the position
went forward with the utmost dispatch. When |
reached the top Of the mountain ] found that the
enemy had been repuIsed and driven back in the
center and had been pursued down the other side
oi the mountain by Mshone's Brigade / soon dis.
covered. however, that the enemy. by their greatly
superior numbers. were thanking both upon tho
right and left Two Of my regiments sent TO
The right and two To the left TO meet these move
mcnts oi the enemy. In this We were successful
untli TIC center gave way, pressed by fresh troops
Of the enemy aud increased numbera Up 10
this time the troops had fought vol aud main
tanned Their ground against greatly superior
forces The 10Th Ga, OF Gen. Semmea's Brigade,
had been ordered TO the Gap from their positions at
the foot OF the mountain. and participated in Tic
Hines were broken all my efforts To rally the troops
were unsuccessful. was enabled TO check their
advance by momeHtary rallies aud. tho nighl com
Ing ON, i made successful stand near the foot Of
The mountain, which position held through tho
night. and until n new position taken about
day dawn the next morning in the rear Of Browns
vilIe which position whH held until the surrender
OF tRrper's Ferry. Gen. Seinmos's Brigade aud
Nicox's Brigade under the command Of Col
Cumming, of the 10Th Ga. hRd been ordered; tho
FORMER by Gen. semmea and the latter by yourself
To my support They came up To tho position /
occupied during the night; they could not hays
reached mo sooner The whole number of tToof,a
engaged side did not exceed . 3nO whilst
the force OF the enemy variousy estimated AT
from iO.O0D 10 1000 men. IL could not have been
less than 10000, and probably reached 1900.
ii is impossible for me To- report the casualties as
the fate Of only few of tile large number missing
battle there are now missing aud unAooounted for
over 80. The larger portion Of this humber ia be-
lieved 10 be prisoners. ms we were nanked on both
the right ana Ieis by the enemy, aud thus sur
rounded our were compelled To surrendrr
For tho most successful rally made on the retreat
from the crest al the mountain was indebted 10 n
section OF The ITonp artillery under Lieut. Henry
Jennings. They had been ordered forward aud
had reached point where under the terrific rs of
TIE enemy, thciF pieces were placed In position,
and 10y their prompt and rapid firing checked for a
time the advance OF the enemy. One OF these
pieces Was brought of safely the other was lost by
an accident to the axle. When | reached the Gap
found both Col. Munford and Col PRrhau. active
and energetic in the discharge OF their duty which
continued to tlIe end Of the light Shortly after tho
Hines were broken. and was endeayoring TO rally
TIE troops. Gen. Semines appeared the field aud
nj great exposure and with great aud eonf-
nge gave ms his cordial aid aud cooperation All
the members of my Htan on the field aud did
Ril that could be done under tile circumstances
One Of them tCol. John Is. Lamar of Georgia vol
unteer AidD, whilst near my side earnestly raj wing
the men, received "a mortal wound OF which he
died the next day. No nobier braYer man has
fallen In this war. There many other acts of
personal courage, which circumstances prevent me
from mentioning nj present. The remnant OF my
brigade marched with the rest of your division
from Harpef's Ferry. and was engaged In the bat.
tie of the l7th nj bharpsburg fAntielan) 1 was
necessarily absent for two days from tho command
end reached II the morning afler the battle; and
the present absence OF tile officer then ia command
OF this brigade. prevents "A report at this time of
that days operations. Accompanying this report
is list Of the killed. wounded aud missing made
out with hs much accuracy practicable under eK-
listing circumstances
ain, very respectfully. yours, etc.
HoWFII. CoHH
Brigadier General.
Old Soidiers' Colony for settlement In The bea,,