Thursday, September 06, 2012

Looking for NC's Civil War: South Mountain


We're sitting here at the 150th Anniversary of the Maryland Campaign. In October 2003, this magnificent monument  was dedicated, honoring the North Carolina regiments involved in the battle.  Adjutant N. S. Smith of the 13th North Carolina Troops painted this picture of events for Clark's history after the war:

The Thirteenth marched across South Mountain and camped near the hamlet of Boonesboro. Soon, however, we had to retrace our steps to meet the enemy on the summit of South Mountain. On this battlefield the Thirteenth, under the command of Lieutenant -Colonel Thomas Ruffin, covered itself with glory. Garland's Brigade was all the force we had to defend the pass against a division under General Butterfield. Early in the action General Garland fell, mortally wounded, and the command of the brigade fell to Colonel Duncan K. MacRae. Brigade after brigade of the enemy assaulted our line, but each time were driven back with heavy loss. There is hardly any doubt that we killed and wounded more of the enemy than we had in our ranks. Never was there a more stubborn contest, for we were told that the lines must be held, that we had no reserves, and that every man must do his whole duty. Provisions were cooked in camp and carried up the mountain and our men fed in line of battle... There is no instance in the war where more heroic courage was exhibited than was shown by the Thirteenth North Carolina in this battle. Captain Chalmers Glenn, of Rockingham, fell in this battle and was buried by his faithful servant, Mat, the grave being dug with a bayonet. If is said that Mat died of a broken heart at the loss of his best friend, and hence the grave was never found.

1 comment:

JimR said...

Less than ten minutes for my house in Funkstown. Beautiful place, reminds me of my North Carolina mountains.

James J. Robertson