The American Civil War - Chronologically

Sept. 18, 1862 Keedysville, MD "After the Battle of South Mountain ended around nightfall on September 14, 1862, many Confederates marched by here. The next day, Gen. George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac arrived, and McClellan established his headquarters here in the German Reformed Church. The army bivouacked in and around Keedysville before it attacked Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia near Sharpsburg on September 17. After the battle, the bloodiest day in American history, Keedysville became one vast Union hospital. Here Capt. Oliver Wendell Homes, Jr., son of the poet and future justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, received treatment for his neck wound. Keedysville hosted Federal troops for several weeks thereafter." I think this was the German Reformed Church. Also: an historic bridge over the Antietam Creek https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=1640 " A knock on the door on September 16, 1862, forever changed the lives of Philip and Elizabeth Pry. For almost...

Sept. 15, 1862 Lee's Ammunition Train Captured Hagerstown, MD https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=386 One of Lee’s ammunition trains was captured here Sept. 15, 1862 by 1200 Federal cavalry under Col. B. F. Davis, escaping from Gen. T. J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s capture of Harpers Ferry. This loss was felt by the Confederate army at the Battle of Antietam. ******************************************** Sept. 15, 1862 Rearguard Cavalry Engagement after Antietam Boonsboro, MD Cavalry under  Pleasanton  (8th IL and 3rd IN and 5th NH) vs Cavalry under  JEB Stuart (mostly VAs)  https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=122154 "A rearguard cavalry engagement occurred here, during which some of this Unionist town’s citizens sniped at the Confederates. Part of the Union army marched through here on its way to attack Lee’s army, which had withdrawn to a ridge near Sharpsburg after accomplishing its mission at South Mountain." And here's a lovely article that contextualizes the importance of this o...

Sept. 14, 1862 The Battle of South Mountain:  Crampton's Gap, Turner's Gap, and Fox's Gap Frederick County and Washington County, Maryland George B. McClellan (Gen. Jacob D. Cox Kanawha Division of the Union IX Corps; Hooker's I Corps; Meade; Hatch;  Maj Gen. Franklin's VIC Crops, Maj Gen. Slocum: Col. Torbert, Bartlett @ Compton's Gap - NY and PA reserves; plus Baldy Smith!) VS. Robert E. Lee (Longstreet's Division: D.H. Hill @ Fox's Gap and Turner's Gap; Brid Gen. Cobb - Georgians, Cobb's Legion, 15th NC, Troup Light Art; JEB Stuart was around as were Anderson, McLaws, and Semmes near Crampton's Gap)   * Union Victory over Confederates trying to block the mountain passes, though Lee regroups at Antietam two days later. * Jesse L. Reno is killed on the road to Fox's Gap, the highest ranking Union office killed up to that point.  This is a big one! And as a Marylander, I am a fan. However, there really is no South Mountain Battlefield. A ...