Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/45

 The Battle of Boonsboro Gap. 33

intellect and the utmost activity that a general can exercise." The telegram to Lincoln and the orders to Franklin and other commanders are set forth in full in the Official Records of the War, Series No. I., page 231, and in JMcClellan's official re- port, Vol. 19, page 49.

It is plain to see with what importance General McClellan viewed his attack at Boonsboro Gap, and with what hope and spirit he commenced this battle with his whole army, except Franklin's corps, which was engaged at the same time at Cramp- ton's Gap, in the same general purpose. General Lee in his official report of the capture of Harper's Ferry and operations in Maryland, speaking of this battle, says: "The resistance that had been offered to the enemy at Boonsboro, secured suf- ficient time to enable General Jackson to complete the reduc- tion of Harper's Ferry." If he had known when he wrote that report what is so plain to us now, he could well have added, "and foiled General McClellan's ambitious purpose 'to cut the enemy in two, and beat him in detail.' "

Believing that full enough has been said in reference to the circumstances under which this battle was fought, to demon- strate its importance, and effect, I proceed to give account of the battle itself. ]\Iy opportunity for personal knowledge of most of the movements of the troops in this engagement arises from the fact that I, a lieutenant in the 6th Georgia Regiment, had been called by Colonel Colquitt to serve as his Aide, while in command of the brigade, afterwards known as Colquitt's Bri- gade, and at that time forming a part of the division of Gen- eral D. H. Hill.

This brigade was the first on the field, having been ordered by General Hill to occupy the pass on the evening of the 13th. at which time I was with Colonel Colquitt, when he made an examination of the ground. I was also with him early the next morning when in company with General Hill he again went over the field, and as our brigade held the road in the center of the line, and was not vigorously attacked until about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th, I in carrying messages be-