Chronology of Wartime Service

September 5-15, 1862

The Seige of Harpers Ferry

Sept. 5: Lawton's Brigade under command of Col. Marcellus Douglass crossed the Potomac River at White's Ford into Maryland along with Gen. Stonewall Jackson's 2d Corps. The Corps bivouacked that night near Three Springs, Maryland.

Sept. 6-9: On Sept. 6, Lawton's Brigade marched along with the 2d Corps to Frederick, Maryland. General Lawton, commanding Ewell's Division, was posted along with Gen. A. P. Hill's division near the railroad bridge over the Monocacy river, blocking the approaches from both Washington and Baltimore. Receiving orders from Gen. Lee to capture Federal forces and stores at Martinsburg (WV) and Harper's Ferry (Md), Gen. Jackson put his force in motion on Sept. 10.

Sept. 10-11: Lawton's Brigade along with Jackson's 2d Corps "left the vacinity of Frederick City on the 10th, and , passing rapidly through Middletown, Boons-borough, and Williamsport, recrossed the Potomac into Virginia, at Light's Ford, on the 11th." While Hill's division marched directly on Martinsburg, the balance of Jackson's Corps marched to North Mountain Depot (on the B&O Railroad), which lies approximately 7 miles to the north and west of Martinsburg, in hopes of cutting off the Union force there. The Union troops, however, retired rapidly to Harper's Ferry on the evening of Sept. 11 as soon as they received news of Jackson's approach.

Sept. 12: Jackson concentrated his Corps at Martinsburg, where they seized abandoned commissary and ordnance stores. Lawton's Brigade replentished their supplies from the bounty.

Sept. 13: Lawton's Brigade marched with Ewell's Division toward Harper's Ferry. Around 11:00 a.m., General Hill's division, at the head of Jackson's column, found Union troops in force on Bolivar Heights above Harper's Ferry and stopped his advance at Halltown (two miles from Bolivar Heights) to allow the concentration of Jackson's army. On arrival, Lawton's Brigade encamped near by. Meanwhile Jackson lay plans for the seige of Harpers Ferry, dispatching McLaw's and Anderson's Divisions to take possession of Maryland Heights (on the Maryland side across the Potomac overlooking Harpers Ferry) and Walker's Division to occupy Loudon Heights (on the Virginia side across the Shenandoah overlooking Harpers Ferry), while the divisions of Jones, Lawton (Ewell) and Hill were positioned several miles opposite the advanced Union line at Bolivar Heights. Lawton's Brigade remained camped for the balance of the day as Gen. Jackson waited for confirmation that McLaws and Walker were in place.

Sept. 14: By early afternoon, with Maryland and Loudon Heights secured, and artillery in position to command Harpers Ferry, Gen. Jackson ordered Hill's division to advance along the left bank of the Shenandoah.. Lawton's Brigade (and Ewell's Divison) were ordered to move along the Charles Town Road on the left of Hill's advance, to provide support. Col. Douglass formed his brigade and advanced it in march column moving parallel and to the right of the road, forming the right flank of Lawton's advance. When the division reached Halltown, Lawton's (Ewell's) division was formed into line of battle with Douglass' Georgians and Trimble's Brigade to the right of the road and Hay's Louisianians to the left. The battleline advanced to the woods on School-House Hill, where it lay on its arms during the night. That evening, Jones' Division passed through the woods and advanced on the left flank, driving the Union skirmishers from School House Ridge.

Sept. 15: At dawn, Lawton's (Ewell's) Division passed through the woods paralling Charles Town Road, and Douglass' Brigade was moved by the flank down from School House Hill to the bottom opposite Bolivar Heights in order to directly support the advance of Hill's Division on the right. A heavy cannonade was begun from several points by the batteries of Brown, Garber, Latimer, Dement, Poague, Carper, and French, which silenced the Union response. Union fire resumed as Hill's division began its advance, which prompted redeployment and a heavy counterfire from Pegram and Crenshaw. The Union situation was hopeless, surrounded, enfiladed by artillery, and with no prospects of escape. As the Union commander, Col. D. S. Miles discussed surrender with his officers, a confederate shell struck him in the leg causing a mortal wound. The garrison was surrendered shortly thereafter by Brig.-Gen White.

Having received word from Gen. Lee of an imminent battle at Sharpsburg, General Jackson detailed Hill's division to receive the Union surrender at Harpers Ferry and secure the captured stores (which included 73 pieces of artillery, 13,000 small arms and other supplies), while the balance of his Corps including Lawton's Brigade made a "severe" night march to Sharpsburg, arriving early on the morning of Sept. 16.

Sources

Reports of Lieut. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, C.S. Army, Official Records, Series I, Vol. XiX/1 (S#27) (September 3-20, 1862, the Maryland Campaign. No. 264).

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Last Updated: April 19, 2002