Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 03.djvu/298

288 obviously no place for cavalry operations, a single horseman passing from point to point on the mountain with difficulty.

Leaving the Jeff. Davis Legion here, therefore, and directing Colonel Rosser, with a detachment of cavalry and the Stuart horse artillery, to occupy Braddock's gap, I started on my way to join the main portion of my command at Crampton's gap, stopping for the night near Boonsboro'. I had not up to this time seen General D. H. Hill, but about midnight he sent General Ripley to me to get information concerning roads and gaps in a locality where General D. H. Hill had been lying for two days with his command. All the information I had was cheerfully given, and the situation of the gaps explained by map. I confidently hoped by this time to have received the information which was expected from Brigadier-General Fitz. Lee. All the information I possessed, or had the means of possessing, had been laid before General D. H. Hill and the Commanding General. His troops were duly notified of the advance of the enemy, and I saw them in line of battle awaiting his approach, and myself gave some general directions concerning the location of his lines, during the afternoon in his absence.

Early next morning I repaired to Crampton's gap, which I had reason to believe was as much threatened as any other.

Brigadier-General Hampton proceeded as directed toward Burketsville. As General Jackson was then in front of Harper's Ferry, and General McLaws with his division occupied Maryland Heights to prevent the escape of the Federal garrison, it was believed that the enemy's efforts would be against McLaws, probably by the route of Crampton's gap. On his way to the gap, Brigadier-General Hampton encountered a regiment of the enemy's cavalry, on a road parallel to the one which he was pursuing, and, taking the Cobb Legion, Lieutenant-Colonel Young, at once charged them, dispersing them, killing or wounding thirty, and taking five prisoners. Our loss was four killed and nine wounded; among the former Lieutenant Marshall and Sergeant Barksdale, and among the latter Lieutenant-Colonel Young and Captain Wright, all of whom acted with remarkable gallantry.

General Hampton then drew near the gap, when Colonel Munford, mistaking his command for a portion of the enemy's cavalry, ordered his artillery to open upon him. This order was on the point of being executed, when Hampton, becoming aware of his danger, exhibited a white flag, and thus averted this serious misfortune.