The conflict of the 14th of september, 1862, is called at the north the battle of south mountain, and at the south the battle of boonsboro. The battle of south mountain was a very important battle. Lee time to collect his army and prepare for the battle at antietam. South mountain battlefield american battlefield trust. The army of the potomac finally beats bobby lees boys. The battle of south mountain was fought on september 14, 1862 in marylands south mountain between confederate and union forces. Although not as well known as the battle of antietam, south mountain was a savage precursor to that battle. The battle of south mountain by john david hoptak the. Again, this book is a very detailed tactical look at south mountain, and may not be for everyone. The south mountain state battlefield encompasses cramptons, foxs, and turners gaps of south mountain.
The battle of south mountain published by the history. As lee moved into western maryland, he left detachments to guard cramptons gap and turners gap through south mountain. Mcclellan tried to force his troops through three passes in the south mountain range. It was the first invasion of the northern united states by a confederate army.
He was a contributor to the centers publication the story of the noncommissioned officer corps. If mcclellan had penetrated the passes, he would have found lees. Battle mountain humane society, hot springs, south dakota. Summary a regional view of south mountain in frederick county, md. The federals eventually forced their way through, but the delay gave robert e. Having moved north into maryland following his victory at the second battle of manassas, confederate general robert e. This was the first book of john michael priest that i had ever read and i found it to be a well researched and well presented account of the battle for south mountain. Title the battle of cramptons gap 5 miles south of turners gap, south mountain, md. Jordan adds a chapter at the end on how union and confederate veterans and authors looked at south mountain and its importance after the war. North and south clash at the battle of south mountain history. Its diverse terrain features rolling farmland of western maryland and the deep forests of the south mountain battlefield american battlefield trust. The bloodletting at sharpsburg three days later has always overshadowed south mountain, and unholy sabbath is a big first step toward equalizing that disparity. Battle of south mountain news newspapers books scholar jstor september 20.
The battle of south mountain is available from our civil war trustamazon bookstore john hoptak was born on the 116th anniversary of the battle of south mountain, on september 14, 1978, in schuylkill county, pennsylvania. North and south clash at the battle of south mountain. The battle of cramptons gap 5 miles south of turners gap. The fighting was desperate and for the numbers engaged rather bloody. Battle of the mountains te ara encyclopedia of new zealand. Priest also focuses on the battle of south mountain, and does so in his usual amount of detail. The original title of this chapter is stated at the end of the page and with the source. Battle mountain white pages phone books in nevada nv. Dec 27, 2014 we laid in camp until september th1probably september 11th because the battle was on september 14th. Lees opportunistic first invasion of the north was turned back at the gaps of south mountain near boonsboro, maryland. Battle of antietam joins his other battlefield guides to balls bluff and first and second bull run. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Which antietam books should you buy the best antietam.
On september 17, 1862, three days after the battle of south mountain, the bloodiest single day in united states military history occurred at the battle of antietam. Battle of south mountain by john david hoptak, paperback. It was at three mountain passes, referred to as south mountain, that lees army met the federal forces commanded by general george b. It was the first major battle fought north of the potomac river.
The book also has an excellent set of maps and a number of photographs, not just of the major commanders, but also period and modern photos of the key parts of the battlefield. Battle of south mountain, maryland maryland historical. Mar 05, 2018 hugh mcneil was the colonel of the th pennsylvania reserves, the famous bucktails, during the battle of south mountain. Granted, perhaps not in as great a detail as this book, but certainly scott hartwigs book, to antietam creek, had an amazing amount of material on the battle for the gaps as well. Feb 07, 2012 many readers of civil war history have been led to believe the battle of south mountain september 14, 1862 was but a trifling skirmish, a preliminary engagement of little strategic or tactical. Battle of south mountain by john david hoptak, paperback barnes. The author, john michael priest, does a good job telling the events of the battle, describing unit movements down to regimental level. In a fierce daylong battle spread out across miles of rugged, mountainous terrain, mcclellan defeated lee but the confederates did tie up the federals long enough to allow jacksons conquest of harpers ferry. Our loss in the regiment was small, but there were over 14,000. Mcclellan pursued the confederates to frederick, maryland, then advanced on south mountain. Many readers of civil war history have been led to believe the battle of south mountain september 14, 1862 was but a trifling skirmish, a preliminary engagement of little strategic or tactical. This very detailed map shows south mountain, turners and foxs gaps, and their relationships to boonsboro and frost town, md.
Whitepages is the largest and most trusted online phone book and directory. The battle of antietam has been called the bloodiest single day in american history. The battle of south mountain on september 14, 1862, robert e. The battle of south mountain american battlefield trust. By the end of the evening, 17 september 1862, an estimated 4,000 american soldiers had been killed and over 18,000 wounded in and around the small farming community of sharpsburg, maryland. Author brian matthew jordan talks about the september 1862 battle of south mountain, fought during confederate general robert e.
Battle of south mountain in the civil war thoughtco. I enjoyed it so much that i ordered his other book antietam. His regiment would take part in the assault that would capture the frosttown gap before nightfall stopped federal forces from capturing their main objective, turners gap. The battle of south mountain by john david hoptak the history. The battle of south mountain by john david hoptak, the history press it seems almost futile to hope that the impressive scholarship on the maryland campaign produced in the past few years might bring the events of september 1862 out of the shadow of the army of northern virginia s second excursion north of the potomac river. Illustrates the position of confederate forces andersons division commanded by lafayette mclaws and the. Theres not that much detailed reading material on the battle of south mountain, consequently i had never realized the scope and ferocity of it. How the mountains were placed the mountains in the central north island once fought a great battle for the hand of pihanga, a mountain to the south of turangi. Three pitched battles were fought for possession of three south mountain passes.
The battle of south mountainknown in several early southern accounts as the battle of boonsboro gapwas fought september 14, 1862, as part of the maryland campaign of the american civil war. The battle of south mountain by john david hoptak goodreads. However, the brutal fighting that occurred on sunday, september 14, 1862, is worthy of standing alone as an example of courage from both defenders and attackers. It will cover primarily the fighting that took place on the slopes of south mountain on september 14, 1862 but will also include post about events leading up to and after this battle during the maryland campaign of 1862. Lee hoped to conduct a prolonged campaign on northern soil. Along with pictures of important people and places, you will learn about south mountain like never before. Many readers of civil war history have been led to believe the battle of south mountain september 14, 1862 was but a trifling skirmish. Lee, after decisively repelling john popes august 1862 in. A lifelong student of the american civil war, hoptak holds a bachelors degree in history from kutztown.
Defeated, lee and the army of northern virginia abandoned their maryland campaign and retreated into virginia through shepherdstown. Although it has long languished in the shadows cast by antietam, the september 14, 1862, battle of south mountain was in itself a battle of great importance and profound consequence. The story of americas largest labor uprising robert shogan, author. The battle of south mountain civil war series kindle edition by hoptak, john david. The battle of south mountain was fought september 14, 1862, and was part of the american civil wars maryland campaign. South mountain state battlefield seeks to preserve and interpret the first major civil war battle to take place in maryland. Brian jordans first book is, without question, the best and most tactically detailed account of the critical battle of south mountain, fought on september 14, 1862. Fought on september 14, 1862, the battle of south mountain was a critical turning point in the american civil war.
Lees first invasion of the north and in the leadup to the battle. It was created to make it easier to understand on the internet and is not in the original book. Dating back to 1844 in baltimore, marylands premier history museum and library preserve and teach four centuries of exciting and dramatic stories to visitors of all ages. On september 14, pitched battles were fought for possession of the south mountain passes. The battle of south mountain is normally considered a minor prelude to the historic battle of antietam. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the battle of south mountain civil war series. The battle of south mountain, or boonsboro fightning for time at turners and foxs gaps by. Lee led the army of northern virginia north of the potomac river as part of his northern invasion, seeking a quick end to the war. The locations of roads and buildings, many identified by owner, are included. The battle for south mountain by john michael priest. Sep 16, 2019 as lee moved into western maryland, he left detachments to guard cramptons gap and turners gap through south mountain. Battle of south mountain brian matthew jordan talked about the september 1862 battle of south mountain, fought during confederate general robert e. Sep 19, 2011 the real problem with the book is that the story of the battle on south mountain has been told before, many times. The civil war trust recently had the chance to sit down with john david hoptak, author of the battle of south mountain, a new account of this important 1862 maryland campaign battle fought just before the fateful battle of antietam.
May 14, 2011 author, historian, and antietam national park ranger john hoptak provides viewers with an on location glimpse of his acclaimed new book. South mountain state battlefield, middletown tripadvisor. A lifelong student of the american civil war, hoptak holds a bachelors degree in history from kutztown university and a masters degree in history from lehigh university. The civil war trust recently had the chance to sit down with john david hoptak, the author of a new account on the civil war battle of south mountain. Author, historian, and antietam national park ranger john hoptak provides viewers with an on location glimpse of his acclaimed new book. Feb 11, 2011 john david hoptak was born on the 116th anniversary of the battle of south mountain, on september 14, 1978, in schuylkill county, pennsylvania. The dates of 1618 september 1862 mark the bloodiest battle in the american civil war. The soldiers battle as soon as i finished this book. Battle mountain humane society is a 501c3 notforprofit corporation. The new york world wrote that the battle turned back the tide of rebel successes and the strength of the rebels is hopelessly broken. This book offers a tactical exploration of the maryland campaign and the battles of south mountain, read more. This book does an outstanding job of examining the different aspects of the battle and connecting all of them together so the reader knows why the commanders did what they did and how it all culminated in the battle of sharpsburg. The battle of south mountain was an important morale booster for the defeatstricken army of the potomac. Battle of south mountain simple english wikipedia, the free.