The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-11-20
Hnrpcr's Ferry INVESTIGATION.
WAsnINUToN, Nov.

" AsllINhTON, Nov. y.
The following is the summing up Q!
the report of the liarpcr's Ferry Com.
mission g:
The court acqui,S Coils D'UtaSsy and
Trimble of blame. Gen Julius Whit,
is commended OF Col. Ford, tie ON
mission finds that he was placed in com
mand Of Maryland Heights by Col. Miles
with orders to defend it to the last cx
tremity Col. Ford, finding the place
unprepared by fortitications, earnestly de-
manded means to fortify it, The de,
nauds were not complied with when the
enemy appeared in heavy force Colonel
Ford frequently and earnestly called for
reiuforcements, which were fcebly or not
at all furnished As late as the 18th,
COL Ford sent two written dispatches,
stating that unless he had reinforcement,
he could not hold the Heights, and with,
out other instructions or relief, he would
have to abandon them A few hours be-
fore the abandonment, Col. Miles was on
the Heights and told Co.. Ford he could
not have another an; he must do as
we'll as he could, and if the worst came,
he must spike his siege guns, throw
them over the hills, and withdraw in
good order to Harper's Ferry. The
commission is then satisfied that a dis,
cre,ionary power to hold or abandon the
Heights was given to Col Ford, and it
believes from evidence, circumstantiaI
and direct, that the result did not sur
prise or in any way displease the officer
in command at iiarpcr's Ferry. but
this result, so much relied upon by the
defense, forces the Commission to tie
consideration Of the fact, did COL Ford
under the discretionary power thus vest
cd In him make a proper dctcCsc Of the
Heights and hold them as lie should have
done, until driven off by the enemy -
The evidence shows that the force was
badly placed. The point most pressed
was badly defended After the wound
ing Of the gallant Colonel of the l-6th
New York it was left without a c1rI, c.
tent officer in command, Colonel Ford
himself not appearing nor designating
any ono who might Lave restored order
or encouraged the men The abanGun-
mcnt was premature Oar forces were
not driven FROM the Heights; On the
next day reg: S:ment returning found
them unoccupied and unmoles,sd, with
four abandoned guns and large quaint.
ty of ammunition. In SO grave case as
this, says the Commission, with such dis,
graceful consequences, the Commission
cannot permit an officer to shield himself
behind the fact that he dill as well is lie
could, if in so doing he exhibits a lack
of military capacity. Col. Ford should
not have been placed in command of Ma
ryland Heights. lie conducted the de
fcnse without abb ity, and abandoned his
position without sufficient cause; he has
proven himself unworthy a command in
the service.
Upon Col Miles the Commission is
very severe. 1t pronounccs him iucapa-
Bile, and censurcs Gen Wool for placing
him in command The Commission is
equally severe upon Gen. Mcclellan -
He was sent 80 relieve llarper's Ferry
and drive the enemy from Maryland -
He marched six miles a day with %, 600
men. He permits lee, with only H.
600, with only two o,thirds that number
in Maryland, to capture IIarpcr's Ferry,
unite his army and meet him at Antic-
tam. lie could and should have relieved
Harper's Ferry