Battle of Crampton's Gap
1862 Battle of the American Civil War / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Battle of Crampton's Gap, or Battle of Burkittsville,[lower-alpha 1] was fought between forces under Confederate Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb and Union Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin as part of the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862, at Crampton's Gap in Western Maryland, during the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War.
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2021) |
Battle of Crampton's Gap Battle of Burkittsville | |||||||
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Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States (Union) | CSA (Confederacy) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
William B. Franklin | Howell Cobb | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
12,800 | 2,100 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
533 total (115 killed, 416 wounded, 2 missing) |
887 total (130 killed, 759 wounded) | ||||||
Franklin's VI Corps attacked a small, hastily assembled Confederate force at Crampton's Gap in South Mountain that sought to protect the rear of Confederate Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws, who was across Pleasant Valley on Maryland Heights taking part in the siege of Harpers Ferry. Despite inferior numbers, the Confederate force held out throughout the day, taking heavy casualties. By the evening the VI Corps broke the Confederate line and proceeded through the gap into Pleasant Valley. Franklin, however, failed to follow up on his success and did not attack McLaws on Maryland Heights.
Tactically the battle resulted in a Union victory because they broke the Confederate line and drove through the gap. Strategically, the Confederates were successful in stalling the Union advance and were able to protect McLaws' rear.