Battle of South Mountain Facts

September 14 - 15, 1862

Key facts about the Battle of South Mountain.

Portrait of Rutherford B. Hayes

Future U.S. presidents Rutherford B. Hayes (pictured here) and William McKinley fought at the Battle of South Mountain. [Wikimedia Commons]

Date and Location

  • September 14, 1862
  • Frederick County and Washington County, Maryland

Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

Principal Confederate Commanders

Union Forces Engaged

  • 1st, 6th, 9th, 4th Army Corps (Army of the Potomac)

Confederate Forces Engaged

  • Hill’s Division (Army of Northern Virginia)

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 38,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

  • Roughly 12,000

Estimated Union Casualties

  • 2,325 total (443 killed, 1,807 wounded, 75 missing)

Estimated Confederate Ccasualties

  • 2,685 total (325 killed, 1560 wounded, 800 missing)

Result

  • Union victory

Significance

  • The Battle of South Mountain was fought for control of three passes through South Mountain, Turner’s Gap, Fox’s Gap, and Crampton’s Gap.
  • Future U.S. presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley fought at the Battle of South Mountain.
  • Union Major General Jesse L. Reno and Confederate Brigadier General Samuel Garland were mortally wounded during the Battle of South Mountain.

Timeline of the Maryland Campaign

These are the main battles and events of the Maryland Campaign in order.