Battle of South Mountain • Turner’s Gap • Fox’s Gap • Crampton’s Gap
The Padgett’s Field: Confederate Last Stand wayside marker is the second from 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:
Padgett’s Field: Confederate Last Stand
On September 14, 1862 this area was an open field belonging to George W. Padgett. A wooden rail fence lined the road on the east. A low, stone wall bordered the field to the west. As the shattered remnants of Brigadier General Howell Cobb’s force streamed up Whipp’s Ravine and through the the Gap toward the safety of Pleasant Valley, Cobb attempted to check the retreat. He would put up a “last ditch” defense here on the summit of Crampton’s Gap. With most of his troops in a headlong retreat, Cobb stopped as many as he could and threw up a hastily formed line behind the stone wall. The 24th Georgia still held a position southeast of the gap along Gapland Road. They concentrated their fire on the Federals, who were pursuing the Confederates up the ravine. Suddenly the New Jersey troops, charging up the road from the southeast, hurled a deadly volley on the 24th’s right flank.
The Georgians broke under pressure. Cobb, taking their colors, ordered them to make a stand. Some ignored him and continued their flight. Others stopped and formed behind the wall to wait for the Federals. They didn’t have to wait long. As the head of the Union column turned the corner and approached the gap, the Federals were met by fire from Confederate muskets and two guns of the Troup Light Artillery. The artillery had just arrived on the field. The blast caught the caught the federals off guard. the column briefly recoiled and then moved forward again. The New Jersey Brigade’s blood was up, and they were not to be denied. As the Federal tide moved inexorably forward, the New Jersey troops again turned the right flank of the Confederate line. Resistance collapsed, and the remaining Confederate troops joined their comrades in headline retreat int the valley below.
Presented to the people of the United States by the Board of Trustees of the Blue and Grey education Society, Colonel William C. Lowe, President
From the caption to the photo on the upper left:
Brigadier General Howell Cobb
From the caption to the image on the lower right:
A bullet struck Colonel john Basil Lamar in the chest. General Cobb carried Lamar, who was his brother-in-law and aide-de-camp, dying from the field.
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