Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-31
Harper's Ferry-A View from the Ma
ryland Heights

about haItpast five O'Clock in the morn
ing, After long and tedious clambering
over rocks and among thick laurel bush,
rs, we reached the road the Kentuckians
had constructed from the base of the
mountain to its top. 1t mast have occa
stoned them immense labor | suppose
they employed slaves principally for that
purpose. II, however, the soldiers pero
formed that labor, 1t was very great.
1t led first to the camp occupied by the
Kcntuckians, under Phantom Duncan,
numbering wien they retreatcd only one
hundred and hinety men. Here We found
twenty-six small cabins, constructed of
small chestnut trees, slOping backwards
from the top, the front part beng about
twelve feet high, and the back part seven
or eight, Tins slope was given them 10
order to have them rooted cabin fashion.
They were the rudest structures | ever
saw, save hunters lodges among the Rocky
Mountains, and these are built with an
eye to protection against all kinds of
weather lnclemences, whilst these even
If rooted would not have prevented the
entrance of rain from all sides. Around
them lay several thousand feet of boards,
! evidently intended for roofing purposes
q In some OF them rude, unhewn pole
/ berths we,e yut up, so that two rows of
sleepers could enjoy the luxury of open
quarters ard an open sky. What must
have been the reflections of these sons
Of Southern gentlemen" rs their friends
called them, as they lay in the top of this
bleak mountain upon such beds, and
/ looked ont upon the starlight during n
. Npp Sl i,rl, talt II
driving Of heavy rain upon them? Did
they think OF ,he homes they had left.
with all their comforts and luXurics, to
/ fight against the tiag their fathers had
/ borne gallantly upon many fields?
/ beyond and above this was a partially
constructed quadrangle of chestnut logs,
/ doHbled upon each other. Underneath
! the east de-the building being located
upon the the very crest OF the mountain,
I the ground suddenly sunk away. In this
! depression they had commenced 10 build
Il stone wall III the usual manner in which
rude stone fences are constructed in rural
districts. Upon these one battery either
had rested or was to rest. The sides Of
The quadrangle had not reached any whore
more than three feet 1t had been alan
dOncd before their retreat. The strang-
d est part OF this whole sncampment was
that theJ had no parade ground, there
being but sixty ieCt between the double
rows of cabins, and that not being cleared
more than 400 feet in length. They could
not have formed more than 800 hundred
mel j. to u line and not have man auvered
Il company Of more than fifty. The sur
face was rough and uneven, and full of
eli Gg lat - 1fI IN y -
c.uid nor be presented. The drill ma,
neuyers and parade must have been a
very amusing affair. Dogtcrry's muster
of TIE night watch could not have been
more so.
Immediately south of this, and in a
stIaight line towards tho Ferry, there is
depression in the ridge and by a neck the
heights me connected with what is called
by the mouutaineers the Pinnacle. This
presents one of its sides to the Potomac,
where there is a most fearful prccipice- q
perpendicular of full three hundred feet,
beelIing, irowing, darker grander than
any feuddl keep. Along this neck the
kentuckians constructed also an old
fashioned stoGkade, such rs iheir fathers
were wont to repel Indian attacks with
almost Il century ago. ThCs, are known
upon the nestern frontier nowadays by
the name of blockade. 1t had thirteen
entrances upon the south side, was near
100 feet long. 1t consisted Of hewn chest
nut posts squared with an axe upon their
edges, and driyed into the ground like
spiles arc driven, being sharp at the low
er point Between every second of the
jOiuts was a loophole which is an linden.
tution in each log directly opposite the
other Through this the gun is thrust
and the fire delivered upon an advancing
enemy. In the centre of the stockade
poles were longer, and a platform was
erected at about the height of eight feet.
Lcop.hOles were also cut in these Mt TIE
height of about three feet.
/ That so rude mode of foriificaton
+ should have been resorted TO indicates
/ that but little engineering skill exists
among the southern forces, notwithstand.
ing their bcasted Beauregard and Whit.
ing. Why, 1t must occur to the most or
dlnmv mind that hal ever seen gun f.
red, that six or twelve FOUNDER would
have knocked their high central spiles
into thousand ,pliEters, and sent the
upper tier OF mon kicking, jumping and
sprawling among their companions be.
low.
Going over this depressed piece OF
ground. we again assembled until We reach.
ed u higher point upon the pinnacle upon
its west side Here we found about a do1'
en- rude cabins, showing less architectural
skill than the Others. This is called Low
er Bradleyville. Nothing worthy of re-
mark was presented at this point. To
the eastward OF this. and at the very crest
of the Pinnacle, was still another rude
oncampment. The cabins in both were
constructed without any regard to militia
ry order. The large cabin at the upper
point was the headquarters of B. I. John
son, of Frederick city, Md, the Confeder.
ate commander of . couple of companies
OF Maryland secessionists. Ju above hi:
tent, upon ledge of rocks, stood the
flag staff The Confederate flag had dis
appeared, however.
I'VE went further DOWN the Pinnacle
20 1. . Il. L.