The National tribune., 1904-03-24

| mates the ridge to the right OF the pass
| With considerable force this position is
very defensible; but when the advance OF
the Union force reached the mountain, on
| the morning Of the 18th. it was guarded
only by d. H. Hills Division of 5000
| men. Renos Corps arrived near the pass
early in the forenoon; but that officer di-
| rected all his efforts to the assault Of the
crest on the left-the .key-point being
overlooked. After sharp fight Reno
brigade opposed to him., and established
his troops on the first ridge, but was un-
able to push beyond. 90 The commanding
| importance OF the ground to the right Of
the pass soon developed itself, however,
| and on the arrival of Hooker's Corps in
the middle Of the afternoon, he was d.
rected to assault that position. BY this
time Hill had been REINFORCED by two di-
visions of Longstreet. The ridge to the
north OF the turnpike is divided into a
double crest by ravine, and Hooker put
in Meade's Division on the right, and
Hatch's on the left; Ricketts, Division be-
ing held in reserve. The ground is very
hillside being steep and rocky; but the ad
vance was made with much spirit-the
light-fOoted skirmishers leaping and
springing up the slopes and ledges with
the nimbeness of the coney. 1t was found
that, owing to the precipitous- figure of the
mountain sides, the hostile artillery did
little hurt; but the Confederate rifemen,
fighting behind rocks and trees and stone
walls, opposed a persistent resistance.
They were, however, forced back, step by
step; and by dark, Hooker's troops had
carried the crest on the right of the gap.
Now, as simultaneous with this, Gibbon
with his brigade had worked his way by
the main road we'll up towards the top
OF the pass, and as Reno's Corps had
gained firm foothold on the crest to the
left Of the pass, it seemed that the posi-
ton was carried: and though it was by
this time too dark to push through to the
western side of the mountain, yet the
whole army was up, and with the position
secured would in the morning force an
issue by its own pressure. Yet these sue
cesses were not gained without heavy
sacrifice. Fifteen hundred men were
killed and wounded In this severe struggle,
and among those who fell was Gen. Reno.
commander Of the Ninth Corps, an able
and respected officer. The Confederate
loss was above 5000 men, whereof 1900
The action at South Mountain de-
servedly figures as a brilliant affair: and
the only adverse comment that may be
made thereon will turn on the tardiness in
commencing the attack; for, with more
vigorous conduct on the part OF Gen.
during the forenoon. while vet defended i
only by Hills small force; and notwith-
standing the previous delay, this would
still have put Mcclellan IN position to
succor Harper's Ferry.
CHAMPIONS PASS CLEARED.
During the contest at Turner'S Gap.
Franklin was struggling to force the pas,
sage on the ridge at Crampton's Pass, de-
Tended by n part Of the force OF McI1aws,
who was then engaged n the invest
ment OF Harper's Ferry.QO1 The position
here was similar to that at Turner'S Gap;
Forming his troops with Slocum's Diyis.
sion on the right Of the road and Smiths
on the left, Franklin advanced his line,
driving the Confederates from. their posi-
tion at the base Of the mountain, where
they were protected by stone wall. and
mountain to near its summit. where, after
an action Of three hours. the crest was
carried.nD -Four hundred prisoners, TOO
stand Of arms one piece OF artillery, and
three colors were captured In this spirited
action. Franklin's total loss was $50, and
the corps rested on its arms: with its ad-
ley. During the night, the Confederates
at Turner's Gap withdrew, and the Union
right and center in the morning passed
through to the west side Of the mountain.
IT not too late, Mcclellan was now in a
position to succor the garrison at Harper's
Ferry, whose situation was one OF almost
conjuncture, on the very morning that the
army broke through the South Mountain,
and was in position to relieve the be-
leagured force, it was surrendered by its
commander. l shall briefly detail the CIR
cumstances under which this took place.
JACKSON TO HABpER's FERRY.
Leaving Frederick on the 10th, Jackson
made a very rapid march by way Of Mid
dletown, Boonsboro and Williamsport, and
on the following day crossed the Potomac
into Virginia, at ford near the latter
place Disposing his forces SO that there
should be no escape for the garrison from
that side, he moved down towards Har-
per's Ferry. On his approach, Gen.
White with the garrison Of Martinsburg
evacuated that place, and retired TO Har-
per's Ferry, the rear of which, at Bolivar
Hights, Jackson reached on the 18th, and
Immediately proceeded to put himself in
communication with Walker and McIaws.
who were respectively to cooperate In the
investment from London and Maryland
Hights. Walker was already in position
on Loudon Hights and McLaws was
working his way up Maryland flights. The
latter position is the key-point to Har-
pers Ferry, as brief description will
show.
The Elk Ridge, running north and south
across parts of Maryland and Virginia, is
rifted In twain by the Potomac, and the
cleavage leaves, on each side a bold and
lofty abutment OF rock. Maryland Hights
Is the name given the steep on the north
bank, and Loudon Hights the steep on the
south bank. Between Loudon Hights and
Harper's Ferry the Shenandoah breaks
into the Potomac, and to. the rear Of the
ferry is less bold ridge, 1aamed Bolivar
Hfghts, which falls off in graceful undu-
lations southward into the Valley Of the
70. The Confederate hris6de opposed to
Reno was under Gem Garland, who was
killed early in the action. Garland's
Brigade" says Gen. Hll, s'was much de-
moralized by his fall, and the rough
handling it had received; and had the
Yankees pressed vigorously forward, the
| road might have been gained. Reports
Of the ArmySof Northern Virginia, vol. ii,
| .. 112. , g.
10. Crampton's PasS .debouches into
Pleasant Valley directly II fhe rear Of and
but FIVE miles from Maryland flights, op-
posite Harper's Ferry. !. McIIaws on
learning the approach ok the Union force.
and seeing the danger ~ this attack in his
rear, sent back Gen. Cobb, with three
brigades, instructing him to hold Cramp-
toms Pass until the work at Harper's