This weekend at Boonsboro, about 1,500 Civil War buffs will re-enact the 1862 Battle of South Mountain.

Although South Mountain was the first major clash of the Civil War on Maryland soil, it was quickly relegated to a historical footnote by the fierce struggle at Antietam, three days later. Despite its quick exit from the spotlight, South Mountain was a significant battle.

In the summer of 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was at full flower, having defeated Union forces in a series of defensive struggles in Northern Virginia, culminating in the second battle of Bull Run in August.

After Bull Run, Lee decided to cross the Potomac.

The idea of moving into Maryland and establishing a menace at least against Pennsylvania had long been a favorite with Lee's righthand man, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. It now seemed to Lee that the time had come when this might be attempted. The movement commenced on Sept. 3, and on Sept. 4 the army began crossing the Potomac at White's Ford, 30 miles above Washington. The crossing continued until Sept. 7. The entire force was not more than 60,000; casualties, exhaustion and desertion had cost Lee about 30,000 men in six weeks.

Lee's address to Maryland

On Sept. 7 the vanguard of the army reached Frederick, where Lee issued an address to the people of Maryland. The author of the address was a member of his staff, Col. Charles Marshall of Baltimore.

"The people of the Confederate states," Lee said, "have long watched, with the deepest sympathy, the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth, allied to the states of the South by the strongest social, political and economic ties. They have seen with profound indignation their sister states deprived of every right and reduced to the condition of a conquered province. ...

"Believing that the people of Maryland possessed a spirit too lofty to submit to such a government, the people of the South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign yoke. ... In obedience to this wish, our army has come among you and is prepared to assist you with the power of its arms in regaining the rights of which you have been despoiled. ... No restraint upon your free will is intended, no intimidation will be allowed. ... This army will respect your choice, whatever it may be; and while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your natural position among them, they will only welcome you when you have come of your own free will," Lee declared.

Col. Bradley T. Johnson, a Marylander in the Confederate service, called for recruits: "We have arms for you, and I am authorized to muster in for the war companies and regiments. Let each man provide himself with a stout pair of shoes, a good blanket and a tin cup. Jackson's men have no baggage."

Fewer than 500 Marylanders responded to this appeal.

On the Union side, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, named commander of the Army of the Potomac on Sept. 2, rapidly reorganized the army after the second Battle of Bull Run and in less than a week had 172,000 men of whom 100,000 were to form the movable force, the remainder to be retained for the defense of Washington.

On Sept. 7, McClellan moved toward Lee, whose force he estimated at 120,000, twice its actual number.

Special Orders No. 191

The federal army reached Frederick Sept. 12, camping on the same grounds the Southern army had camped on a few days earlier. Here two soldiers found a copy of Lee's Special Orders No. 191, a directive for the movements and operations of the next few days, which Lee had issued on Sept.9:

* Jackson's corps was ordered to capture or drive away the 14,000 federal troops at Harpers Ferry to clear the line of communications.

* Lee moved northwestward, arriving in Hagerstown Sept. 11. Since Maryland's response to his appeal had been disappointing, Lee intended to move into Pennsylvania, where he could replenish his supplies and perhaps cut Washington's communications with the north along the Susquehanna River.

* As a rear guard, Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill's infantry division was left with the Confederate army's trains near Boonsboro, and Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry remained east of South Mountain to guard the passes.

McClellan availed himself of this information. "Here is a paper, with which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home," he said. McClellan began moving toward the Confederates with the intention of engaging them while their army was separated.

Lee soon began to suspect that his plan had been betrayed to the Union army. Stuart's scouts were reporting the presence of the federal army near Frederick and Jackson had not yet captured Harpers Ferry.

By the night of Sept. 13, Lee decided that it was essential that the three passes through South Mountain - Turner's Gap, Fox's Gap and Crampton's Gap - be defended until he could concentrate his army. He ordered Hill to hold the two northern passes, sending two divisions from Maj. Gen. James Longstreet's corps to his aid, and Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws to send part of his force back from Harpers Ferry to hold Crampton's Gap.

During the afternoon of Sept. 13, Stuart sent Hill a dispatch saying that he was being followed by two brigades of federal infantry and requesting help in stopping their advance at South Mountain. Hill sent two of his five brigades - Col. Alfred H. Colquitt's brigade to Turner's Gap and Brig. Gen. Samuel Garland Jr.'s brigade to Fox's Gap, about two miles apart.

And on Sept. 14 McLaws sent back three brigades with orders to hold Crampton's Gap if it cost the last man.

The lines were drawn for the Battle of South Mountain.

McClellan ordered three infantry corps and Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton's cavalry division to clear the passes. Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's 1st Corps faced Turner's Gap; Maj. Gen. Jesse L. Reno's 9th Corps was at Fox's Gap, and Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin's 6th Corps approached Crampton's Gap.

Hill, the Confederate commander, described the spectacle at Turner's Gap: "I had seen from the lookout station near the Mountain House the vast army of McClellan spread out before me. The marching columns extended back far as the eye could see in the distance; but many of the troops had already arrived and were in double lines of battle, and those advancing were taking up positions as fast as they arrived."

In the early morning, Reno struck at Fox's Gap with two brigades commanded by Brig. Gen. Jacob D. Cox. By 10 a.m., Garland had been killed and his brigade routed.

Cox then encountered Brig. Gen. George B. Anderson's brigade, which Hill had sent to reinforce the position at Fox's Gap. Anderson's brigade was repulsed, but Cox withdrew to the position he had held in the morning.

Anderson took over defense of the gap and was reinforced about noon by Brig. Gen. Roswell S. Ripley's brigade. Brig. Gen. Robert E. Rodes' brigade reinforced Colquitt at Turner's Gap.

About 2 p.m., on the Union side, Cox was reinforced with the divisions of Brig. Gen. Orlando B. Willcox, Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis and Brig. Gen. Isaac P. Rodman. Hooker's corps of three divisions was moving north of Turner's Gap to outflank the Confederate defenders. On the Confederate side, Hill's position at Fox's Gap was reinforced by four of Longstreet's brigades - commanded by Col. George T. Anderson, Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Drayton, Col. Evander McIver Law and Col. William T. Wofford. The position at Turner's Gap was reinforced with four more of Longstreet's brigades - commanded by Brig. Gen. Richard B. Garnett, Brig. Gen. James L. Kemper, Col. Joseph Walker and Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans.

Hill managed to hold the passes until evening, when Lee ordered the outgunned defenders to retreat to Sharpsburg.

Union losses in this part of the Battle of South Mountain were 312 killed and 1,234 wounded. Among the slain was the corps commander, Reno, who was shot down by Texas sharpshooters as he directed his troops near dusk.

The Confederate loss was greater, probably more than 2,000 killed and wounded. Hill said that of his 5,000 men, he had 3,000 left at the end of the fighting. Longstreet's loss was also considerable.

In the south, Franklin's corps brushed away McLaws' three brigades in Crampton's Gap after a fight in which the federal loss was 115 killed and 416 wounded. McLaws reported the Confederate loss as 749 killed, wounded or missing out of 1,515 engaged.

As a result of the day's fighting at South Mountain, Jackson had time to capture Harpers Ferry, and Lee, although forced to retreat from the passes, gained time to consolidate his army for the Battle of Antietam.

Text of Special Orders No. 191

Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia

September 9th, 1862

The army will resume its march to-morrow, taking the Hagerstown road. General Jackson's command will form the advance, and after passing Middletown, with such portions as he may select, take the route toward Sharpsburg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point, and by Friday night take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of the enemy as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape from Harper's Ferry.

General Longstreet's command will pursue the same road as far as Boonsboro', where it will halt with the reserve, supply, and baggage trains of the army.

General McLaws, with his own division and that of General R. H. Anderson, will follow General Longstreet; on reaching Middletown, he will take the route to Harper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the Maryland Heights and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and vicinity.

General Walker, with his division after accomplishing the object in which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Check's ford, ascend its right bank to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudoun Heights, if practicable, by Friday morning, Keyes's ford on his left, and the road between the end of the mountain and the Potomac on his right. He will, as far as practicable, cooperate with General McLaws and General Jackson in intercepting the retreat of the enemy.

General D. H. Hill's division will form the rearguard of the army, pursuing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance, and supply trains, etc., will precede General Hill.

General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the commands of Generals Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and, with the main body of the cavalry, will cover the route of the army and bring up all stragglers that may have been left behind.

The commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and Walker after accomplishing the objectives for which they have been detached, will join the main body of the army at Boonsboro' or Hagerstown.

Each regiment of the march will habitually carry its axes in the regimental ordnance-wagons, for use of the men at their encampments, to procure wood, etc. By command of General R. E. Lee

R. H. Chilton, Assistant Adjutant-General

Major-General D. H. Hill, Commanding Division

Schedule

These activities are scheduled for the Battle of South Mountain re-enactment:

Saturday

2:30 p.m.: Formation of troops

3 p.m.: Battle

5 p.m.: Camps close

8 p.m.: Camp dance

Sunday

9 a.m.: Camps open

10 a.m.: Church services

11 a.m.: Guest speaker

1 p.m.: Guest speaker

1:30 p.m.: Formation of troops

2 p.m.: Battle

4 p.m.: Camp closes