Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-10-24
slightly wounded. One corporal miss

enemy and held his position in spite Of
tremendous cannonade from flank and
front, and well directed attacks of in
fantry and cavalry, but drove them by
impetuous bayonet charges for three
miles. and took 32-pounder columbiad
and considerable ammunition, at the
point of the bayonet.
The rebel loss is at least $50 killed
and wounded. Rebel Colonel Ashby
reported killed. Three rebel prisoners
captured. among whom is the Chaplain
of one of their regiments.
Col. Geary's overwhelming defeat of
the enemy, outnumbering him six or
eight to one, as they did, doubtless grew
ont Of the fact that his position-Boli-
var Heights. Immediately in the rear of
Harner's Ferry-is remarkably strong
one; and the further fact that the in
fantry of the attacking force were Vir-
ginia militia pressed into the service.
A despatch from Frederick to the
Washington Star repeats the same par
ticulars of the fight, and adds:
They took ten prisoners, who, with
the guns have been sent over to Gen.
Banks Headquarters.
cat least one hundred and fifty Of
the euemy's killed and wounded were
left on the field in their fright. Col.
Turner Ashby, their brag cavalry Of
fcer, commanded the Rebels, and lost
his life in the engagement as CALAMITY
as his brother lost his not long since in
the fight near Cumberland"
The cannon captured is a fine new
siege gun, well mounted and in good
order, with the exception of fracture
of one of it's axles, inflicted by Colonel
Gcary during the fight. 1t was sta
toned yesterday near the abutment Of
the bridge. and workmen were repairing
the axle. When it was about being re-
taken by the rebels penny nail was
driven into it, which has already been
drawn,
The statement that the Rhode Island
battery participated ic the fight is incor-
rect. They are stationed on the Mary
land Heights, and found it impossible
to discriminate in the distance between
friend and foe.
The fight from s o'clock in the morn
ing until 2 o'clock in the afternoon was
a regular skirmish, with varying results,
the rebels when hard pressed retreating
into Amallwood's woods, and at other
times driving the Federal troops back
into Bolivar, the main fight being back
of that town. on the road to Charles
town. At 3 o'clock, however Colonel
Geary arrived with three pieces of can
non, which were soon brought into nc,
tion, silencing the enemy's guns, and
putting their entire force in flight TO-
wards Charlestown.
Tho Chaplain, who was taken pris-
oner, stated that before he was cap
tured eighty-scven killed and wounded
had been carried from the field. The
victors, however, estimate the loss of the
enemy as high as one hundred and fifty.
There was nothing positive known as to
Col. Aohby having been killed, and it
was not generally credited An officer
supposed to have been with him was
shot during the final retreat.
The Federal troops remained in the
field all wednesday night, and yesterday
morning, having brought across the
river the remainder of some ten thou
sand bushels of wheat captured from
rebel military depot, which was being
transported to Leesburg, an order was
given for the whole force to retire to the
Maryland side.
The enemy was not seen during
Thursday at Harper's Ferry or vicinity
The gentleman who brought VI this in
formation entered Harper's Ferry and
visited the battle ground ou Thursday
afternoon. and found the few remaining
popplG.i0n IN great distress. lnforma
tlou had reacaa3 them that il WIS the
intention OF the enemy TO destroy both
Bolivar and Harper's Ferry on Thursday
night by fire, aud they were all packing
up preparatory to escaping into Mary
land. Whether the threat of conAagra-
ton was carried out We have no means
of ascertaining.
The river was too high to ford, and
the troops were conveyed across In a
scow. The whole force on the Federal
side was 400, and the prisoners cap
tured admit that the enemy's force was
over 1000, including the cavalry.
The change that has taken place in
Harper's Ferry and the thriving village
of Bolivar is represented as most shock
ing to behold. Ruin and desolation are
everywhere visible, and the remaining
inhabitants present the most sorrow
stricken aspect imaginable. consisting
altogether of women and children and
old men. The beautiful farms of the
country have also been raw
aged. The fencing has also disappeared.
the houses are empty, and the fields
trampled as if scourge had passed
over them.
THE DEATH OF COL. ASHBY.
A gentleman in this city received,
yesterday morning, letter from his ne
phcw in the Federal army, of which
The following is the substance
MOUNTAIN RETREAT.
NEAR HARpER's FERRY,
October Is, 1861.
We had fight on Sunday, and the
IIn;on man Killed Colonel Asbby. of the