"The Fight For Crampton's Gap", Blanchardville, Wisconsin.

[IowaYank]

Hello all,

I would like to let everyone know that in an effort to deconflict between the Sally Port Mess's "Disaffected in Canada" and "The Fight for Crampton's Gap" (FCG), I have decided to move FCG to the weekend of July 16-18, 2010.

The Fight for Crampton's Gap will be portraying the actions that happened at Crampton's Gap on September 14, 1862 during the series of fights that made up the Battle of South Mountain. This will take place on the same land that "Retreat From Bentonville" was held on near Blanchardville, Wisconsin.

Jason Reinholz will be commanding the Confederate force and Steve Acker will be commanding the Federal force. There will also be room for civilians, Confederate Cavalry, and a limited number of Federal cavalry as well.

More information regarding impressions, etc will be coming forth later, along with a website.

Thanks!
Dan Chmelar

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Dan,

This looks to be a great event! I am excited to head back up there. Glad we have at least one "local" event.

[IowaYank]

Holler, I too am excited for next year. Plans are being made as we speak and information will be coming out soon. Look for a website to come out hopefully in the next month!!

[Dan Wambaugh]

Dan,

Still holding out hope that I can convince you to change the event to Turner's Gap just so I can bring a slew of little green men with breechloaders. You know, cater the entire event around me. ;-)

I'll be there!

[elcid01]

Dan,
Ill be there in Jean Cloth... Had a great time last year. I always thought that WS was a snow covered state, boy was i mistaken! Amazing countryside and location! Ill plan on flying into Chi Again for the Fair mobile pickup!

[Dbackfed]

Dan,

I would like to come. However, may I start off in gray, but switch to blue when I realize how fruitless my efforts are against the mighty AoP? :tounge_sm

[IowaYank]

Ha, Jason, I think we had enough switching sides last year to last us for awhile!!!! ;-)


On a more serious note, for family reasons Steve Acker has stepping down from the Federal Commander position. This spot has ably been filled by Terry Sorchy. Terry will do an excellent job leading our Federal troops against Crampton's Gap!!

Look for guidelines and the usual sort of event website information to come out hopefully in the next several weeks.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in SW Wisconsin again!!
Dan

[IowaYank]

A couple images from last year to peak ones interest!!
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/DanChmelar/TiredJohnniesRfBJune09.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/DanChmelar/bentonville.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/DanChmelar/bentonville2.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/DanChmelar/bentonville1.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q106/DanChmelar/ThePeridickymentRfBJune09.jpg

Sorry about the large size!!!

Dan

[Eric Fair]

I'll be there again! The property is really outstanding and lends itself to any number of scenarios. This is really a don't miss for me.

Cheers,
Eric

[Rmhisteach]

Dan,

I am in. I had a good time in June. I will put it on my calendar.

RM

[cwpilgrim]

Sounds like a good event.

[Dbackfed]

Don't worry Dan I plan to stick to my guns literally. Any thought as to what Union regiment you will portray?

Seriously people, this event site is supurb. Anyone who attended "Retreat from Bentonville" can vouch for Dan and how his last event was excellent. I know he will do another great job on this one. I do look forward to attending this one.

[IowaYank]

Jason, the Federal unit has no yet been decided upon. Research is still being done. The Confederate infantry will be portraying two companies of the 12th Virginia, and the Confederate cavalry will be portrying the 2nd Virginia Cavalry.

Dan

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Those Nation Boys that will attend will be there as Confederates.


We had a great time in gray and will do it again.

[BenjaminLDavis]

After all the wind I was forced to endure last year when I went blue,
I will be most proud to join them fellers of the 12th Virginia and
contend against them damnable tyrants and invaders! And mostly
to see what kind of a Johnnie Holler makes!

[elcid01]

Holler was a Reb last year.. pretty good one too! Think the ole' fella was used to Yank rations, as the Johnnie stuff didn't sit with his stomach too much sat am. He was a trooper though and after removing the rations from his stomach returned to the line and contunied the fight!

Dan is the plan for 1 or 2 CS companies? considering that the companies were pretty limited in numbers for this time of the campaign.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

I was on pain medication and just took a caffeine pill. Throwing up made me feel much better. :wink_smil

And yes I am excited to be a reb again. I talked with Brandon Jolly last night and am working on some new gear.

[pvt_jb]

Dan,

Thanks for looking for deconflicting options.

I was talking with someone about this event last night. We will see what we can pull together from Michigan and get out there as Federals. Head our way in June and we will head yours in July :p

[IowaYank]

Skip, the plan is to have two small companies, about 10-12 per company. There WILL be a cap on Confederates again this year. The need once again this year will be for the Federals to fill out nicely, as Franklins Corp had an approximate 6-1 numerical advantage at Crampton's Gap.

[J. Donaldson]

I'm interested in attending as a Federal, even if it is portraying the God-forsaken Army of the Potomac.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

James,

I too will be with you on the federal side.

[Dan Wambaugh]

Holler,

Terry already drafted Brian and I into the federal company for this one. We're going to have one hell of a time attacking up that hill. I'm looking forward to it!

[IowaYank]

Units to portray have been decided upon. As previously stated, the Confederates will have two 12 man companies, Company A under Jason Reinholz and Company C under Brad Bodoh. The Confederate cavalry will be portraying the 2nd Virginia cavalry led by myself.

The Federals will be portraying two hopefully 20-25 man companies of the 4th New Jersey, one commanded by Terry Sorchy and the second commander has yet to be determined. Harrision "Holler" Holloway will be the Lt. for Sorchy's company. The Federal cavalry will be portraying the 6th U.S Cavalry.

Stephanie Reinholz will be serving as our civilian coordinator.

I hope to have registration open before Christmas. Remember, Confederates WILL be capped at 12 for each company. First come first serve!!

Thanks
Dan

[IowaYank]

One correction. We have now decided to have one large Federal company. We are going to shoot for a 50-60 man Federal company. It will be nice to see a large early war company with its full compliment of officers and NCO's.

Dan

[BenjaminLDavis]

Bump - keep this one in mind, boys. Dan has arranged a great place for
us to march, fight and camp (as those who attended last year can attest to.)
It will be fun.

[IowaYank]

Thanks Jim, I will do my best to provide another quality immersion experience for all participants, military and civilian alike. Interest has been expressed by multiple parties from outside of the "Old Northwest" and those are readily accepted!! While I don't have original battleground to put you on, I can provide a site nearly 100% void of any type of modern intrusion.

Dan

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Some 4th New Jersey information: This is from the Antietam Campaign Website

http://aotw.org/



Crampton's Gap
Key Units
Author and historian Timothy Reese, a noted authority on the Battle of Crampton's Gap, has consented to have AotW present here the principal content of his reference website, formerly hosted on Earthlink, now withdrawn from service. This page from that site features 3 of the key units at the Battle.

See also his main Crampton's Gap page.


Col. Alfred T.A. Torbert
(National Archives)

First New Jersey Brigade
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
Premier among Union combat organizations at Crampton’s Gap stands the First New Jersey Brigade commanded by Col. Alfred T.A. Torbert. The Jersey Brigade held left center of the Union line. The assault on Col. Thomas Munford’s primary Confederate position was intended as a simultaneous attack all along the line of battle. Instead Torbert’s brigade charged forward first, quickly dispersing Virginia infantry holding a thin line of defense in Mountain Church Road. Here the Jerseymen struck an empty void on the mountainside and kept going uphill until they reached the gap road, 1st and 3rd regiments in front, 2nd and 4th regiments close behind.

Reaching the road, Col. Henry Brown of the 3rd New Jersey sighted the flank of Gen. Howell Cobb’s newly arrived support regiments just getting into place below him in the woods to his lower right. Brown wheeled his line on the road, coming down directly behind the Cobb Legion Infantry. Meanwhile the balance of Torbert’s regiments inclined to their right, enveloping the Legion front and flank. Surrounded on three sides, the Legion line was nearly doubled back upon itself as it fought for survival. Within twenty minutes the Legion suffered 72 percent casualties, most accounted for as prisoners of war. Two stands of colors were captured.

Somewhat disarrayed, the 1st and 3rd sorted out their conquest while elements of the 2nd and 4th continued up the gap road where they assisted in reduction of Cobb’s last stand in the gap. Soldiers of the 4th New Jersey were largely responsible for flanking the final Confederate position at twilight. Crampton’s Gap had been won largely through the efforts of Torbert’s unstoppable juggernaut.
Presentation Flag of the 1st New Jersey
(NJ State Museum)

Afterward Torbert was so pleased with the performance of the 4th Regiment that he petitioned the State of New Jersey to present new colors to the unit to replace those lost in action at Gaines’ Mill in June of that year where the regiment had been surrounded and forced to surrender. Turn about had become fair play. This was a unique distinction because these new colors bore commemorative scrolls heralding gallantry at Crampton’s Gap.

Early the following year Torbert also procured similar colors for his other three regiments, all in tribute to their performance that day. Though of like design, each regiment’s new state flag bore a different central motif. That of the 4th New Jersey bore a full-color depiction of their charge up South Mountain. Hard field service and age have now made this painting wholly indiscernible. The brigade’s subsequent field service unfolded beneath the memorable words "Crampton’s Pass", benchmark for battles to come.




Lt. Col. Jefferson M. Lamar
(Courtesy Mrs. W. Elliott Dunwody, Jr.)

Cobb's Georgia Legion/Troup Light Artillery
Contrary to popular misconception, the Cobb Georgia Legion was not raised by Gen. Howell Cobb, rather by his brother, Col. Thomas R.R. Cobb, later killed in action at Fredericksburg. A "legion" embodied elements of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. This system not lending itself to army organization, elements were distributed according to type, the Legion infantry battalion and Troup Light Artillery being assigned to Howell Cobb’s brigade of McLaws’ Division.

The great tragedy of Crampton’s Gap is that Cobb’s brigade was in the act of taking position above and behind Col. Thomas Munford’s line of battle just as it gave way. Holding the extreme right, the Cobb Legion Infantry was quickly surrounded and nearly annihilated by the New Jersey Brigade. Within twenty minutes the Legion suffered 72 percent casualties, many taken as prisoners of war.

In this horrible predicament the Legion likely would have followed Munford’s men in panicked retreat up the mountain. But its lieutenant colonel, Jefferson M. Lamar, held them to their impossible work until he had been twice shot, once mortally. By holding on to the last possible moment Lamar bought time for Howell Cobb to assemble a last-ditch stand in the gap, further forestalling Union penetration into Pleasant Valley where it would compromise Gen. Robert E. Lee’s tenuous hold on South Mountain and with it the Confederate expedition into Maryland.



Cobb Legion flag
(GA State Museum)

At twilight a section (two guns) of the Troup Artillery hastily unlimbered in the gap crossroads and held back the Federal tide until it was too dark to pursue. Firing canister into the very faces our their adversary, Legion gunners incredibly held off massed assault largely on its own with remarkably few casualties. Then when all was obviously lost, the guns quickly limbered up and retired down the Harpers Ferry road to safety from whence they had come.

The Legion lost two colors through capture, most of its men being later exchanged for further field duty. Legion gunners were in the habit of naming their guns after wives and sweethearts. The 6-pounder "Sallie Craig" made good its escape, but the 12-pounder "Jennie" became disabled at the west foot of the mountain and had to be abandoned, claimed as a Union prize of war. It was hauled to the summit in triumph past the dead and wounded who had served her so well.

[TKlas]

Holler,

If all goes well I look forward to portraying the 4th New Jersey with my ONV comrades. It just might be my only immersion experice for 2010 :(. Family & work are calling me away from LBL and other fine events for 2010.

Thanks Dan again for your work and I look forward to an even a better event that last year!

Tom

[IowaYank]

Hello all,
I just wanted to clarify that "The Fight for Crampton's Gap" is an invitation only event. Our physical equipment guidelines will not be "difficult" to meet. We are putting a strong emphasis on first person and attitude for this event!! Gear can be loaned, a good attitude cannot!

Those interested in an invite should contact myself at dan.chmelar(AT)wartburg.edu

Our website is in the making and will be out, along with registration soon.

Thanks
Dan Chmelar

[Abe]

Gentlemen

Just to clarify some things on the Confederate Infantry Side of this event. It will be limited to two companies of the 12th Virginia, A and C.

Company A Jason Reinholz
Company C Brad Bodoh


A Company will only except Enfields, no exceptions. Those weapons were purchased before the war and carried through 63. Company C has will except other calibers so please check the Regs.

Each Company will be limited to the first 12 people who register. So first in keeps their spots. Once you register you will be sent via snail mail an informational packet with first person information and regimental history of the 12th. So please register as soon as possible for this unique first person event.


Jason Reinholz

[IowaYank]

Hello All,
I sent out this morning an email to all that I have recieved registrations from for The Fight For Crampton's Gap. There is room in all companies for men still, US and CS; Cavalry or Infantry!

If you have sent in a registration and have not recieved my email this morning please get ahold of me either through here or dan.chmelar(AT)wartburg.edu

Thanks
Dan Chmelar

[DougCooper]

I echo Tom Klas - been away far too long due to real life hurdles, but this looks like a great event, if location, leadership, comrades, history and event charteristics mean anything ;)

Working on a Jersey accent...

[elcid01]

Doug im still planning on wearing blue for this one.. looking forward to it.

skip