The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-03

Charges Against Colonel Ford OF
Ohio
Especial Dispatch to ac ciutaasu 0atotte1
WAsmNaToN Sept 49, 1852
WESTERN TROOPS AT HAMPERS FERRY.
The following Western troops were an
der Colonel Miles at Harper's Ferry, and
were surrendered by that officer 10 thc
rebels Eighty -seycnth Ohio, Thirty-scu-
ond Ohio, Sixtieth Ohio, and one Indiana
battery. The Twelfth Illinois Cavalry
also belonged TO Miles command, but cut
its way through the rebels to Chambers
burg. The Eighty-seyenth Ohio was a
| three months regiment, whose term OF
! service had expired some weeks ago.
| They had remained al the special request
| OF the War Department. All these pris-
oners We're promptly liberated by the
rebels, some of them not being even pa,
rolled, the rebels declaring that they had
noitime to attend 10 IT, Those forbidden
by their parole 70 continue in service tall
! exchanged have returned To Frederick
BITTERNESS AGAINST COLONEL MILES.
They are exceedingly bitter against
Col Miles, and declare the surrender was
| unnecessary. II seems that Harper's
Ferry was under Gen. Wool's command
Notwithstanding McCiellan's troops were
all around it, Wool is said TO have
thought the garrison there competent 20
sustain the position against any force the
rebels could bring against it, Mr.. Full
ton, editor Of the Baltimore ADtericaa
writes from Frederick, TO his paper this
morning:
e" can state but family the feeling of
| modification, anger and earnest denun-
citation which prevails in the ranks of
the late garrison of Harper's Ferry
Whether there is substantial foundation
fer the IChargcs made or not | cannot
say. But officers of every grade are
equally unanimous on the subject. II is
! even asserted that a proposition was
| made to retake Maryland flights after
they had been abandoned, but consent
was refused, and the place surrendered.
| ADDITIONAL WESTERN TROOPS AT HAnrEG's
FERRY.
Besides the Western troops already
announced as being in the garrison at
Harpers Ferry, the Sixtieth Illinois, the
Fifteenth Indiana battery, and an Ohio
battery, are said to have been there, and
been included in the surrender. A por.
ton Of the paroled prisoners from there
arrived here to-day
/ STATISTICS or Our LOSS AT HARrER's
FERRY.
Our lose at IIarpers Ferry is stated in
| precise numbers at eleven thausand five
lRndred and eighty-threc, and forty
seven pieces of artillery, besides some
that were so badly injured as not to be
worth counting.
COZ. TOM. rom RESPONSIBLE roR THE HAIR
PER'S FERRY DISASTER.
Correspondents from Harpers Ferry
assign large share Of the blame for the
surrender of that position TO Colonel Tom
| Ford, of the Thirty-secOnd Ohio, late
! Public Printer former Lieutenant Gov.
ernor of Ohio and best known for his
anti-slayery speech in the Philadelphia
| kaoW- Nothing Convention in lSlG.--
They say he abandoned Maryland flights
against Col. Miles positive orders, and
when there was no occasion or necessity
! Tor IT, The flights were defended by
Captain McGrath's battery, composed of
two l1.inch Dahlgrcn guns, one 5O-pound
rifed gun, aud two Napoleon howl2ers.
Supporting this battery wos Col, Ford's
brigade, composed of his own regiment,
the thirty-second Ohio, a battalion Of the
First Maryland Home Brigade and some
Rhode Island and Maryland cavalry, and
during the progress Of the fight more
troops were sent up All familiar with
the locality know that the Maryland
flights commanded the whole position
Eve witnesses declare that they were
perfectly able 10 hold the Nights.
A correspondent of the 1i4bits says
Colonel Ford ordered the evacuation, ion
what reason lac could not learn. Can
tain McGrath, as true and brave sol
der as ever walked, upon receiving or.
ders TO spike his guns, was so astounded
that he refused 10 alloy il, and not un-
ill he saw the infantry deserving him
could he be induced 10 perform the dis,
graceful task. lie sat upon his guns ant
wcpt like child, telling Colonel Ford
that no matter by whose order il was
done il was piece Of treachery. This
abandonment of the key 10 The whole po
sitiOn certainly requires a most careful
investigation al the hands of the proper
authorities. Ford had positive an,
written orders TO hold the place 70 thl
last extremity. Five thousand troop,
and all our batteries were 10 aid him
Colonel Ford had remarked that he hal
looked the hill all over and made mp hi,
mind to stay there that not mar
? should come down until they had beer
! whipped from IT, His subsequent action
I certainly gives the lie 10 his words.
| Colonel Miles, who was at the extreme
+ left, upon learning that the troops wer
q leaving, rode hastily toward the spot, bu
met the men on their way up the hill, auC
learning that the guns were spiked, die
: not order them bank as lac intended doing
l As there was much talk as TO whom be
d longed the responsibility Of the evacua
s ton Of this position, your correspondent
asked Colonel Miles il il was done b,
% his orders. ono, sir; but in direct oppo
sition 10 them" was the unequiyocal re
ply. Officers and men were thunder
struck al the performance, and Colone
Dulassy, commanding the first brigade
offered 10 retake and hold the position
but Colonel Miles refused. The eyacua
70 ton received merted condemnation {
!, officers and men, Every Ionc saw tina
u the way for the rebels was now open.
4 LOSSES IN TIE BATTLES.
Il Among our losses in Generals
e Sharpsburg is General Joseph X.
h Mansfield, Of the Regular Army who b.
"a been in the service since 1922. He is
10 cousin 20 Hon. h., d. Mansfield, Of Obi
% the present Commissioner Of Statistic
he was mOrtally wounded in the ticl
aud has since died and bis body.