Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/48

 36 Southern Historical Society Papers.

officer and in command of all the troops and would have given his own brigade position on the pike in the center, and Col. Colquitt would have been relieved of the responsibility, which I am sure rested heavily upon him, when during the night he saw the whole Middletown Valley lighted with camp-fires far in excess of what would have been necessary for the two bri- gades of cavalry which General Stuart had reported as the only troops following him. When these camp-fires continued to increase as the night advanced, Col. Colquitt became satisfied that there was a very large force in his front, and he sent a courier with a note to General Hill, giving this information. Before daylight General Hill appeared on the mountain top, and being soon convinced that Colonel Colquitt's information was correct, sent orders to the other brigades of his division to come to his aid in the defense of the pass, and also informed General Lee of the situation.

Three brigades had been posted to hold tthe several roads leading through the valley lying west of the South Alountain, known as Pleasant Valley, to prevent the escape of troops at Harper's Ferry in that direction, and at the same time to guard General Lee's wagon and artillery trains parked in the neigh- borhood of Boonsboro.

General Hill says he was slow to order these brigades to leave their important positions, but the fact that he was confronted by a very large force of the enemy compelled him to call them to his support. After giving these orders. General Hill, with Colonel Colquitt to assist him, made a hurried examination of the pass he was to defend. Colquitt's brigade was already in position on the pike, nearly halfway down the side of the moun- tain, the left of the 28th Georgia Regiment resting against a 5teep cliff of the mountain, around which it was very difficult ior any troops to pass, and the 23rd Georgia on the right of the 28th, its line extending to the pike and both regiments rest- ing for the most part behind a stone fence which ran perpen- dicular to the pike. On the south side of the pike the 6th Georgia was in position with its left on the road and extending