Saphroneth
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2017
I did this previously for a discussion but I hope people might be able to find it interesting. This is what the Lost Orders said, plus what Lee had actually done, and the opportunities that it opened for McClellan.
Note by the way that SO 191 was issued on Tuesday 9 September; consequently "Friday" is September 12. McClellan finds the orders September 13, some time in the afternoon.
Special Orders, No. 191
Hdqrs. Army of Northern Virginia
September 9, 1862
This is the content of SO 191. (Map base from the GCACW game series as it shows the roads quite well.) This is the most information that McClellan could extract from SO 191.
As of when the orders are captured, it's Saturday. The orders expired on Friday, but because Harpers Ferry has not yet fallen they are a fairly good predictor (though not perfect) of Confederate positions.
Given that McClellan knew DH Hill left Frederick on the 11th, and assuming that he knew there was no extra division or so knocking about not included in the orders, the below is what McClellan could reasonably predict Lee's positions to be in red (along with the true positions, which are slightly different and where different are in orange).
Note that while the cavalry is not marked on this map, this is because McClellan was actually in contact with it already - Stuart's cavalry was holding the Cactotin passes as of noon on the 13th, and Jefferson Pass is not taken until near sundown.
So here Lee's basic problem is that if he can't hold the line of South Mountain then he's in big trouble - McLaws (25% of the AoNV) is "trapped" and DH Hill is somewhat isolated, indeed DH Hill is more vulnerable than he would be if SO191 had been adhered to rigourously. There's also only about 50%-60% of his combat power north of the Potomac.
This means that Lee's immediate concern is to make changes to the SO191 dispositions to avoid the vulnerabilities that it presents. Accordingly he issues orders to have Jackson break off the siege and rush to reinforce him, McLaws get over Maryland Heights (as hard as that would be for a force of about 20,000 men) and Longstreet to hurry to Boonsboro to reinforce DH Hill; Jackson disobeys orders and gets a better result, but this is basically chance (what Lee's doing is trying to minimize harm, Jackson is trying to maximize opportunity).
Note by the way that SO 191 was issued on Tuesday 9 September; consequently "Friday" is September 12. McClellan finds the orders September 13, some time in the afternoon.
Special Orders, No. 191
Hdqrs. Army of Northern Virginia
September 9, 1862
- (missing)
- (missing)
- The army will resume its march tomorrow, taking the Hagerstown road. General Jackson's command will form the advance, and, after passing Middletown, with such portion as he may select, take the route toward Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday morning take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of them as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from Harpers Ferry.
- General Longstreet's command will pursue the same road as far as Boonsborough, where it will halt, with reserve, supply, and baggage trains of the army.
- General McLaws, with his own division and that of General R. H. Anderson, will follow General Longstreet. On reaching Middletown will take the route to Harpers Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the Maryland Heights and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harpers Ferry and vicinity.
- General Walker, with his division, after accomplishing the object in which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Cheek's Ford, ascend its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudoun Heights, if practicable, by Friday morning, Key's Ford on his left, and the road between the end of the mountain and the Potomac on his right. He will, as far as practicable, cooperate with General McLaws and Jackson, and intercept retreat of the enemy.
- General D. H. Hill's division will form the rear guard of the army, pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance, and supply trains, &c., will precede General Hill.
- General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the commands of Generals Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and, with the main body of the cavalry, will cover the route of the army, bringing up all stragglers that may have been left behind.
- The commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and Walker, after accomplishing the objects for which they have been detached, will join the main body of the army at Boonsborough or Hagerstown.
- Each regiment on the march will habitually carry its axes in the regimental ordnance—wagons, for use of the men at their encampments, to procure wood &c.
This is the content of SO 191. (Map base from the GCACW game series as it shows the roads quite well.) This is the most information that McClellan could extract from SO 191.
As of when the orders are captured, it's Saturday. The orders expired on Friday, but because Harpers Ferry has not yet fallen they are a fairly good predictor (though not perfect) of Confederate positions.
Given that McClellan knew DH Hill left Frederick on the 11th, and assuming that he knew there was no extra division or so knocking about not included in the orders, the below is what McClellan could reasonably predict Lee's positions to be in red (along with the true positions, which are slightly different and where different are in orange).
Note that while the cavalry is not marked on this map, this is because McClellan was actually in contact with it already - Stuart's cavalry was holding the Cactotin passes as of noon on the 13th, and Jefferson Pass is not taken until near sundown.
So here Lee's basic problem is that if he can't hold the line of South Mountain then he's in big trouble - McLaws (25% of the AoNV) is "trapped" and DH Hill is somewhat isolated, indeed DH Hill is more vulnerable than he would be if SO191 had been adhered to rigourously. There's also only about 50%-60% of his combat power north of the Potomac.
This means that Lee's immediate concern is to make changes to the SO191 dispositions to avoid the vulnerabilities that it presents. Accordingly he issues orders to have Jackson break off the siege and rush to reinforce him, McLaws get over Maryland Heights (as hard as that would be for a force of about 20,000 men) and Longstreet to hurry to Boonsboro to reinforce DH Hill; Jackson disobeys orders and gets a better result, but this is basically chance (what Lee's doing is trying to minimize harm, Jackson is trying to maximize opportunity).