Crampton's Gap Battlefield (18FR1112)

Crampton's Gap Battlefield (18FR1112) represents a portion of a mid-19th century Civil War battlefield associated with the Battle of South Mountain, which occurred on September 14, 1862.

In October of 2019, Dovetail Cultural Resource Group was contracted by the Maryland State Highway Administration to undertake metal detector surveys of some parcels within the South Mountain Battlefield. The two parcels on the Crampton's Gap section were the Arnold Farm parcel northwest of Burkittsville and the Shafer Farm parcel southeast of the town.

Prior to any subsurface investigations a formal grid was established in the project areas investigated as part of the study performed by the Maryland State Highway Administration. This highly controlled survey used 100-ft. by 100-ft. gridded segments, within which 5-ft. lanes or transects were established to maintain control of the survey. Metal detectorists performed one-directional sweeps in the designated transects and excavated every positive hit for 100 percent recovery.

Each metal detector hit retained for its historic value was given a unique number to aid in tracking and each location labeled with a plastic pin flag. All flagged hits were mapped using a total station to aid in accuracy of the mapping of the materials as they relate to the Civil War occupation of the property.

The metal detector survey on the Arnold property recovered a number of artifacts associated with the Battle of South Mountain, confirming battle positions of the Union and Confederate armies during this engagement. Of 523 artifacts recovered from the Arnold field, 206 (39.4 percent) are Civil War-era bullets, bullet fragments, or cartridge casings. An additional six artifacts are other arms-related objects dating to the battle period, including a musket spring, a percussion cap, an artillery sponge bucket chain, two rifle tools, and a revolver bullet mold. Other Civil War items recovered during the survey include six knapsack hooks, a regimental badge from the 7th Ohio Infantry, a slider from an M1855 U.S. rifleman's belt, a U.S. Army belt buckle, a cavalry button, a U.S. infantry button, two U.S. general service buttons, a New York state military button, a lead ring probably carved from a bullet, and a sheet music holder that likely belonged to a soldier. Other recovered items that are likely associated with the battle include five pieces of melted lead, one of which is probably a bullet and another of which may be case shot, and an 1850 U.S. dime. This brings the number of definite Civil War artifacts to 228, or 43.6 percent of the recovered assemblage, with and additional six items that are likely related to the battle and its aftermath.

The metal detector survey on the Shafer Farm produced very little cultural material related to the Civil War use of the property. Although the Shafer home was a headquarters for Major General William B. Franklin and the surrounding land served as a temporary post for troops, the occupation was brief. The short duration did not result in the substantial deposition of military-related materials. Of the 30 artifacts recovered during the metal detector survey that could be attributed to the troop occupation of the property, only six can be conclusively connected to the Civil War. These include 5 dropped minie balls and one pulled minie ball, a very typical assemblage for troops positioned on a landscape while awaiting orders. Other materials likely associated with the brief troop occupation are the five copper alloy rivets, a harness buckle, and horseshoes.

(Edited from archeological site survey form, Maryland Historical Trust, by Patricia Samford)