Civil War History - The Eastern TheaterDiscuss any and all battles, movements, and events occuring in the Eastern Theater here! This includes any actions in tha area east of the Appalachian Mountains in the vicinity of the river capitals of Richmond and Washington D.C.
According to Timothy Reese it was the Union victory at Crampton's Gap at 6PM on September 14, 1862 that forced Lee to withdraw from Fox's and Turner's gaps on South Mountain on September 15, 1862. In the History Of The 35th Regiment, MA Volunteers they believed Lee retreated from the West side of South Mountain because by darkness on the 14th the AoP had pushed the AoNV from below the East side of the ridge back across it in heavy fighting. By sundown Union forces outnumbered Confederate forces by more than 3 to 1 on South Mountain. Both sides did not mount an attack after dark. It is clear that the AoP were determined to mount an attack on the morning of the 15th to finish the job, to drive the Confederates completely from South Mountain, but the AoNV had already left in a hurry leaving much equiptment behind. Lee was no doubt worried because he lost Cramton's Gap, but he could not have held South Mountain in any case. Reese calls the Battle of South Mountain a tie. The Union soldiers who were there would have stongly disagreed! http://aotw.org/exhibit.php?exhibit_id=421
__________________ "Those who forget to remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.
The confederates knew they were outnumbered at South mountain, and that there only chance of pushing the feds off was to take cramptons gap. That was the purpose of fighting at cramptons gap in the first place. Once they lost cramptons it would not have mattered even if they werent outnumbered, the union force form cramptons could have caught them if they didnt leave quickly.
__________________ "In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
I think our memories differ, Dred. Crampton's Gap was vital mostly in that if it had failed sooner, Lee wouldn't have time to consolidate the three parts of his army. Longstreet was off to Hagerstown, Jackson was off to Harpers Ferry.
There is evidence that Lee knew that McClellan knew that Lee's army was divided into three. Even if he didn't, he still knew that the Federals pouring over South Mountain might get between Longstreet and Jackson. They had to be slowed down, if not stopped.
Regards,
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
I was reading a Morningside Reprint of Neese's Three Years In the Confederate Horse Artillery. He discusses their fight on pages 120-122. Neese's unit fought there and says their forces were only a few hundred - mostly cavalry. Without checking, I believe he underestimated their numbers.
Your memory is probably more on with what was happening. It's been a while since I read up on the batte, but thinking about it, makes sense that Lee was not going to hold South Mountain even if he could. He was more worried about consolidating.
__________________ "In mortal combat, a man may and will become so infuriated by the din and dangers of a bloody fight that his heart will turn to stone and his every de sire [be] for blood."
John Hadley, 7th Indiana after the battle at Port Republic
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Crampton's Gap Key To South Mountain 
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