Shortly after nightfall on July 4, the Confederate infantry was ordered to withdraw from Gettysburg. Upon reaching Fairfield, South Mountain stood as a natural barrier separating the Confederate army and the Cumberland Valley. With the recent rains and the Battle of Monterey Pass, marching over the mountain would not be an easy task. Many roadways leading through Fairfield Gap to Monterey Pass were merely impassible. Many Confederate soldiers dubbed the area a "quagmire" and even nicknamed it "Mount Misery." During the day of July 5, General A.P. Hill’s Corps was the first to enter the mountain, and was followed by General Richard Ewell’s Corps. General James Longstreet’s Corps took Jack’s Mountain Road to Fountaindale, where it came out on the Emmitsburg and Waynesboro Turnpike, and then to Monterey Pass. The two columns of the Confederate infantry converged at Monterey Pass in order to get to the Cumberland Valley, and finally to Williamsport, Maryland. During the night, many thousands of Confederate soldiers bivouacked along the road leading to Monterey Pass. With the wagon trains well ahead of them, many of the soldiers lacked provisions and rations. General Hill’s Corps encamped along the Maria Furnace Road, while General Longstreet’s Corps encamped along the Emmitsburg and Waynesboro Turnpike. General Richard Ewell’s Corps was forced to encamp between Fairfield and Fairfield Gap, skirmishing throughout the day. By evening of July 6, the Confederate army was concentrated at Leitersburg, Maryland, and Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

Photo: via Gettysburg Daily

Photo: Larry Gertner

Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania · USA