Battle of South Mountain • Turner’s Gap • Fox’s Gap • Crampton’s Gap
The Troup Light Artillery wayside marker first on the left of a set of six on the south side of Gapland Road at Crampon’s Gap on the South Mountain battlefield. (map) The area is part of Gathland State Park.
From the marker:
Troup Light Artillery
Organized in 1858 as the National Artillery, this unit changed its name to the Troup Light Artillery in honor of former Georgia Governor George W. Troup. It became a part of Cobb’s Legion when the war began. During the Maryland campaign the battery had two ten-pound Parrott Rifles and two smoothbore bronze howitzers, a twelve-pounder called the “Jennie” and a six-pounder called the “Sally Craig.” Cobb’s Legion, including the Troup Light Artillery, was a part of Major General Lafayette McLaws’ division. As part of Lee’s plan to capture Harpers Ferry, they marched to Elk Ridge on the Maryland side of the Potomac. While the two long-range rifled pieces were manhandled to the heights above Harpers Ferry, the two shorter-ranged bronze guns, commanded by Lieutenant Henry Jennings, remained at the foot of Maryland Heights.
Towards evening, as Jennings settled into his bivouac, orders arrived instructing them to “make all speed” to Crampton’s Gap. Arriving in the Gap just as the Federals were coming up, Jennings deployed his guns to the intersection in front of you. The “Jennie” aimed down the road to your left, while the “Sallie Craig” covered the road on your right. Both guns blasted the approaching Federals with canister, getting off five rounds each. Jennings fired his last round into the faces of the Federals less than 50 yards away. He then hastily withdrew his guns, leaving several of his dead or wounded crew behind. escape was not possible for the “Jennie,” as her carriage, damaged by federal artillery fire, broke in two as she was being withdrawn.
Presented to the people of the United States by Doctor and Mrs. Daniel Beattie of Charlottesville, Virginia.
From the caption to the color photo:
Jennings’ Georgia men, firing guns similar to this one, stopped the charging Federals cold, if only for a moment, before being flanked and pushed off the mountain by Torbert’s New Jersey Brigade.
From the caption to the photo at upper left:
Major General Lafayette McLaws
Order of Battle for this part of the fighting is from the marker. Links are to unit histories on Civil War in the East.
Order of Battle
Confederate States of America
Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb
16th Ga. 24th Ga.
Cobb’s Legion 15th N.C.
Troup Light Artillery
United States of America
Col. Joseph J. Bartlett (composite command)
32nd N.Y. 16th N.Y. 18th N.Y.
96th Pa. & reserves