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His plan was sound and if executed properly had the ability to cut Lee’s army in half and keep them separated. He planned on sending General Jesse Reno’s 9th Corps, followed by General Joseph Hooker’s 1st Corps to the northern mountain gaps known as Turner’s and Fox’s. General Edwin Sumner was to follow the 9th and 1st Corps with his Center Wing. Concurrently, he ordered William Franklin’s 6th Corps to cross over Catoctin Mountain, proceed through the village of Burkittsville, and then drive through South Mountain at Crampton’s Gap. From there he was to continue south to trap Confederate General Lafayette McLaws from the rear atop Maryland Heights, overlooking Harpers Ferry. McClellan believed that if he were able to affect the release of Colonel Miles’ troops at Harpers Ferry, they in turn could either reinforce the 9th and 1st Corps or trap Longstreet and D.H. Hill at the Potomac River.<ref>Hoptak, 35.</ref>The strategy was excellen,t yet the delay in action gave Lee time to reposition his troops on South Mountain in order to extend the protection of Jackson in Harpers Ferry.

== Harpers Ferry and the Gaps ==