front of McClellan’s advancing forces. Skirmishes now became frequent; but it was not till the 14th of September, that any serious collision occurred. That day, however, witnessed the desperate and important. BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN, MD. SEPTEMBER 14, 1862. At the point known as Turner’s Gap, the South mountain is about one thousand feet in height, its general direction being from northeast to southwest. At a depression of about four hundred feet in depth the national road from Frederick to Hagerstown crosses the South mountain at right angles, through Turner’s Gap. On the north side of this road, the mountain is divided into two crests or ridges by a narrow valley, which is quite deep at the pass, but becomes only a slight depression at about a mile to the north. There are two country roads, overlooking the principal road, the one on the right, the other on the left; the latter is known as the old Sharpsburgh road, and is nearly parallel to the principal road, and about a half mile distant from it. When it reaches the crest of the mountain it bends off to the left. The other road, which is called the “Hagerstown road” passes up a ravine in the mountains about a mile from the direct road, and heading toward the left along the first crest, enters the turnpike near the summit of the pass. There it was that General McClellan’s army encountered the enemy, and contested the pass called Turner’s gap, where the rebels in very strong force resisted them bravely. The following is General McClellan’s account of his army’s position, when about to fight the battle of South mountain. On the night of the 13th the positions of the different corps were as follows: Reno’s corps at Middletown, except Rodman’s division at Frederick, Hooker’s corps on the Monocacy, two miles from Frederick. Sumner’s corps near Frederick. Banks’ corps near Frederick. Sykes’s division near Frederick. Franklin’s corps at Buckeystown. Couch’s division at Licksville. The orders from headquarters for the march on the 14th were as follows: Thirteenth, half past eleven, P. M.—Hooker to march at daylight to Middletown. Sykes to move at six, A. M. after Hooker, on the Middletown and Hagerstown road. Fourteenth, one, A. M.—Artillery reserve to follow Sykes, closely. Thirteenth, forty-five minutes past eight, P. M.—Turner to move at seven, A. M. Fourteenth, nine, A. M.—Sumner ordered to take the Shookstown road to Middletown. Thirteenth, forty-five minutes past six, P. M.—Couch ordered to move to Jefferson with his whole division. On the fourteenth, General Pleasanton continued his reconnoissance. Gibson’s battery and afterward Benjamin’s battery (of Reno’s corps) were placed on high ground to the left of the turnpike, and obtained a direct fire on the enemy’s position in the gap.