Filling the Gaps (Cramptons Gap)

At the southernmost point of the battle of South Mountain, near Burkittsville, Confederate cavalry and a small portion of Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws' division defended Brownsville Pass and Crampton's Gap.  McLaws was unaware of the approach of 12,000 Union soldiers and had only 500 men under Col. William A. Parham thinly deployed behind a three quarter-mile-long stone wall at the eastern base of Crampton's Gap. Franklin spent three hours deploying his forces. A Confederate later wrote of a "lion making exceedingly careful preparations to spring on a plucky little mouse." Franklin deployed the division of Maj. Gen. Henry Warner Slocum on the right and Maj. Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith on the left. They seized the gap and captured 400 prisoners, mostly men who were arriving as late reinforcements from Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb's brigade.

By dusk, with Crampton's Gap lost and his position at Fox's and Turner's Gaps precarious, Lee ordered his outnumbered forces to withdraw from South Mountain. McClellan was now in position to destroy Lee's army before it could concentrate.  Lee contemplated the end of his Maryland campaign. However, McClellan's limited activity on September 15 after his victory at South Mountain condemned the garrison at Harpers Ferry to capture and gave Lee time to unite his scattered divisions at Sharpsburg for the Battle of Antietam on September 17.

War Correspondents Memorial

Cramptons Gap is also home to Gathland State Park and the War Correspondents Memorial Arch.

The park memorializes Thomas Alfred Townsend (aka GATH) who himself was a war correspondent.  He originally worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer and later the New York Herald.  Towensend’s writing was very descriptive and he also utilized interviews for his articles, unique writing style for his time.  The estate at Gathland State Park was built over a 10 year period and culminated with the memorial arch, dedicated to his colleagues who reported on the Civil War both North and South.  Townsend went on to a prolific writing career, including five historical articles. 

  As a well-to-do of his time the estate had a grave yard and a mausoleum.  Unfortunately, Gath’s prose style became less popular and he could not support his lavish life style. He is buried in Philadelphis, never returning to Gathland.