The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-20

Ol tOl0ne ASby, the cpfunannant OF tIe
garrison, near which placed thirty-two FOUNDER
siege piece, since taken by Colonel Geary.
B-Bat.ery Of iron guns, bearing upon Maryland
Heights.
C-R MN Catholic church, near which were posted
other pieces Of artillery.
Harpers Ferry bridge was destroyed time since,
and has not yet been entirely rebuilt
BOLIVAR HEIGHTS AND HARPER's FERRY.
Bolivar Heights is a small suburb of Harpcrs Ferry,
and us its indicates, occupies a commanding posi-
ton The Ferry is situated at the confluence of the She
nandoah and Potomac rivers, about milo above and
the river from the present terminus of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, Sandy Hook, and directly opposite Mary
land Heights. The town built upon the side Of steep
hill Before the breaking Of the war was beauti
fu and avore resort but the destruction OF the railroad
bridge and United States Arnory and Rife Works caused
rapid decline in its population and atterly has been
occupied chiefly military outpost by the Union forces
As strategic point base of operations its possession
has long been deemed of doubtful value and the retreat
of Johnston with his fifteen thousand from in June
last, when threatened by Patterson, considered
tremoy fortunate for the enemy II necesstated
tire change In the programme OF tho Union army Sub.
scqucntly Patterson fell back from Charestown upon
Harper Ferry, while the battle Of Bun was pro-
crossing When General Banks assumed command OF the
Shenandoah forces his first to withdraw the
main body from this and place where there could
be sudden attack made by the rebels From the brief
that have reached thus far relative the
affairs of the 16th 17th and 18th inst it that the
rebel forces only outnumbered those under Colonel
Geary, but also had the advantage of position.
Loudon and Bolivar Heights being theirs they had full
command Of Ha.per's Ferry and the Potomac ford,
gethcr with tho Maryland bank Of the river for some
three miles, With three thousand and pieces
Of artilleryone thrtytwo pound columbiad-Colonel
Ashy Of the rebel force ought to have been able TO
kept bay least three times that number Of foes who
in order drive him from his position and capture his
big gum had to the stream in and go through
the uphill work Of stormng the heights while fully ex
rosed TO the fire Of musketry and artillery
Finding it impossible to distinguish between friend and
foe, the Rhode Island battery, located Maryland
Heights, unable to bring its brass guns action
Subsequently, the Union force succeeded in crossing the
river with three pieces of cannon and gaining the
NIT Of the heights soon put the finishing touches upon tho
enemys the Charleston turnpike The credit Of
the whole victory due to the gaantry of Colonel
Geary of the Pennsylvania Twenty eighth who had
about thousand men, comprising companies from his
own the Wisconsin Third and Massachusetts, Thirteenth
regiments The rebel loss is reported to be upwards of
che hundred that Of the Union about half dozen.
After this little lesson it is likely that Colonel Ashby will
decide not into Maryland just present.
and will make up his mind to winter at Charestown or
winchester instead Of Baltimore whittier he was doubt
less going when Geary took him in hand. He may miss
his favoritc gun for a while, but have doubt
that Yankees will let him hear from it, from time
time and with much better effect than that with which
IL told on Bolivar Heights.