Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-22
w. ID. WALLACH.
A CONFEDERATE ACCOUNT OF THE
AFFAIR AT HARPER,S FERRY

The Baltimore "News Sheet" (Sesesh) has
the following " Southside" view Of the late 40
tion at Hsrper's Ferry:
The Harper's Ferry Fight.
Correspondence uf the Md News Sheet
SANDY HOOK, Oct 10, 1861.
Messrs. Editors Having noticed In the Bal
timore papers several gross misstatements OF
the facts in relation to the skirmishes at Har.
per's Ferry on Wednesday last, I write to in
form you Of what know to be true, 50 far as
the result OF the conflict is concerned The
forces engaged were about 300 Federal troops
and 1000 Confederates. As is well known,
there was detachment of Federal troops at
Harper's Ferry previous to the skirmishes of
"Wednesday; now, IL is equally true that they
are net there, but that Confederate troops are.
so much for the statement that the Federal
troops held their position" in the town That
the Federal troops captured a cannon there is
no doubt, but 1t is one that had been previous
ly spiked in anticipation Of losing il, and will
not be Of any use to Col. Geary, except it be
for table upon which to write blood and
thunder dispatches" The loss on the side of
the Confederates was killed and wounded,
two Of them seriously. The young man who
was killed belonged in the vicinity, but was
not in service there regularly, having lust
taken mp arms during the fight; he was on a
furlough from his regiment, which is stationed
IN the vicinity Of Manassas. On the Federal
wounded men. have also seen four men and
one boy, not soldiers, in the hands of Federal
troops, who claimed them as prisoners of war
They were sent down the road towards head
quarters.
The report Of the killing Of Col. Ashby. of
the Black Horse Cavalry, is the most absurd
and ridiculous seen that have for a long time.
IL may possibly appear moro 30 to me from the
fact that have met and conversed with Col.
Ashby since the fight. He yesterday ferried
two ladies across from the Virginia side, and
IN the course Of our conversation he gave me a
brief account Of the affair of Wednesday, which
he denOminated "quite a small thing.
/ have good reason to belive that the Con.
federates burned the mill Of Messrs Herr 4
Welsh, and with it quantity CT grain; and /
further believe that it is their intention to en-
orely destroy the town Of Harper's Ferry
from the fact that 1t has afforded the Federal
troops facilities for obtaining information of
movements across the river, which would be
stopped by the destrac ien Of the place. Speak
ing Of the burning Of the mill, 1 must relate to
you an incident that occurred in Connection
with the attempt Of the Federal troors to re-
move portion Of the grain which was stored
IN the mill. The troops commenced the work
Of removal with q hearty good will, q number
OF them having diyested themselves of their
overcOats in order to facilitate their move
nsnts. Whilst in this plight, and busily at
work, detachment Of Confederate troops in
the rear Of the town discovered their move
ments and made sudden descent upon them,
which, however, they discovered In time to
make their escape by precipitate fight, leaving
behind them number Of overcoats, which
were taken charge Of by the Confederates. who
complained because there were no men in
them.
Mr.. A. III. Herr, Of the firm, has been ar
rested and taken to Richmond in consequence
Of an alleged atteRpt to carry water on both
shoulders, though he is generally believed to
be \ southern man.
forgot to state that il required but fsto
bags to carry the IS zee bushels of wheat which
Sons people may believe the Federal troops
carried of from the mill. I will venture to
say that Col. Geary don't believe it,
have written this much merely to give you
an idea Of what exaggerated stories may be
circulated by person seeking "the bubble
reputation" on the back Of spiked 32-pound-
or. Truly yours, C.R.