{{short description|Battle of the American Civil War}} {{about|the battle in July 1863|the battle in September 1862|Battle of South Mountain}} {{infobox military conflict |conflict =Battle of Boonsboro |partof =the American Civil War |image =General Buford's Engagement with Stuart's Confederate Cavalry at Boonsboro, MD. July 9th, 1863, from "The Soldier in Our Civil War"-saam 1972.85.10.jpg |caption =''General Buford's Engagement with Stuart's Confederate Cavalry at Boonsboro, MD. July 9th, 1863'' (work by C.E.H. Bonwill, book ''The Soldier in Our Civil War'', 1893) |date =July 8, 1863 |place =Washington County, Maryland |coordinates ={{Coord|39.5254|-77.6632|display=title|type:event_region:US-MD}} |map_type = |map_relief = |latitude = |longitude = |map_size = |map_marksize = |map_caption = |map_label = |territory = |result =Inconclusive |status = |combatants_header = |combatant1 ={{flag|United States|1863|23px}} (Union) |combatant2 ={{flag|CSA (Confederacy)|1863|23px}} |commander1 =Alfred Pleasonton |commander2 =J.E.B. Stuart |units1 = |units2 = |strength1 =Divisions |strength2 =Divisions |casualties1 = |casualties2 = |casualties3 =100<ref name=nps/> |notes = |campaignbox ={{campaignbox Gettysburg Campaign}} }} thumb|305px|Gettysburg Campaign (July 5–14){{legend|#ff0000|Confederate}}{{legend|#0000ff|Union}} [[File:Boonsboro_Battlefield_Maryland.jpg|305px|thumb|right|Map of Boonsboro Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.]] The '''Battle of Boonsboro''' took place on July 8, 1863, in Washington County, Maryland, as part of the Retreat from Gettysburg during the Gettysburg campaign of the American Civil War.

While Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia retreated toward Virginia following its defeat in the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate cavalry held the South Mountain passes. The cavalry fought a rearguard action against elements of the Union 1st and 3rd Cavalry Divisions and supporting infantry. This action was one of a series of successive cavalry engagements around Boonsboro, Hagerstown, and Williamsport.<ref name=nps/>

==Battle== Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart faced a difficult assignment&mdash;locate the Union cavalry and prevent it from severing Gen. Lee's avenue of retreat to Williamsport and the Potomac River. The result was the biggest and most sustained cavalry battle in Maryland during the campaign. The Battle of Boonsboro occurred along the National Road on Wednesday, July 8, 1863.

Stuart, with five cavalry brigades, advanced from the direction of Funkstown and Williamsport. He first encountered Federal resistance at Beaver Creek Bridge, {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} north of Boonsboro. By 11 a.m., the Confederate cavalry had pushed forward to several mud-soaked fields, where fighting on horseback was nearly impossible, forcing Stuart's troopers and Brig. Gens. H. Judson Kilpatrick's and John Buford's Union cavalry divisions to dismount and slug it out like infantry.

By mid-afternoon, the Union left under Kilpatrick crumbled as the Federals ran low on ammunition under increasing Confederate pressure. Stuart's advanced ended about 7 p.m., however, when Union infantry arrived&mdash;the first to engage in battle since Gettysburg. Stuart withdrew north to Funkstown, but he had gained another day for Lee's retreating army. Two days later, he would again delay the Federal pursuit at the Battle of Funkstown.<ref>[http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=1630 Maryland Civil War Trails wayside marker for the Battle of Boonsboro]</ref>

==References== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080924063438/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/md006.htm National Park Service battle description]

==Notes== <references> <ref name=nps>[http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/md006.htm National Park Service battle description] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924063438/http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp/battles/md006.htm |date=September 24, 2008 }}</ref> </references>

{{Maryland in the Civil War}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1863 in the United States Boonsboro Boonsboro Boonsboro Boonsboro Category:History of Washington County, Maryland Category:1863 in Maryland Boonsboro Category:July 1863