The New York herald., 1862-09-21
A STATEMENT FROM THE BATTLE FIELD.
TIE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
THE SURRENDER OF HARPER's FERRY.
our Frederick Correspondence.

Dur Frederick Correspondence.
TIE FACTS OF TBR 0AsE-coLONEL MILES NOT
TRAITOn--THE TopoGRAPHY OF HARPER's FERRY
iTs pgrEEcEs- WHITES EVACUATION OF
MARriNsBuRG AND FALLING BACK TO HARPER5 8
pEnRY- GENERAL WHITE WAVES HIS PRIVILEGE
OF RIGHT TO TAKE CokAAhD-How AARYLAND
HEIGHTS WERE yAKEN BY THE REBELS--THB OPE.
RATrONs OF SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY
Tf.;As OF CAPITULArIoE, ETC.
FRRDEnCs Nd. Sept. IS, 1862.
TIE surrender Of Hsrper's Ferry, a; time when
army the Maryland side Of the Potomac steadily
defeating the rebel fsrces and driving them back to
the rver has, Of course, caused much modification and
surprise only TO the public generally, but also TO
those who engaged in its defence who did not fully
appreciate the Not only tho private soldiers
but many ocers have consequently not only believed
Int publicly stated that this disaster occurred in eonse
quenee OF the weakness irescbery Of Colonel D. s.
Miles, commanding the post, who has gone 20 his final
from wounds received while In The discharge Of
his ducs and cannot therefore, vndicte his fair fae
from such foul aspcrsios and he TASK is thus far left
TO- those Of his companions arms Who their rank
and position have tho Of knowing all the facts
and can speak understAndingly Of the matter.
from officer Of high rank. who present and par
tcpsted in the three days Defence which unfortunately
terminated In the surrender of the place. have been
ebs 10 obtain these facts, which fully vnd'cate Colonel
Miles from any charge Of trcachery prccpiiancy in
that surrender.
To understand she situation Il necessary know ths
Harpers Ferry and Bolivar Heights are commanded by
the Maryland Heights the norh the Loudon Heights
the east ard elevated pcau e land the Shenan
oah the southeast and high iands directly south and TO
maintain the position il absolutely necessary ,bst
these should al be occupied and fortified At the time of
the attack tsro fortihcaons upon these with
the exception OF the sarylsuc Heights and upon thcso
heights the esrthworlSs wsro AZ The summit, bu,
about hall way down the side.
There was for TIE defence the place garrison of
about niEe thousand nor, which was the total force
under the command o. Colonel Aies and inadequate 10
It's defence agsns. attack from large body
Of inen, well supplied with artillery.
In addition TO these forces, the evening OF en.sber
IT, General julius White, who had previously been
dercd oy neral Wool 20 bold Martirssurg with small
force long as practicable, and. .whon the position
became untcnaele to evaeuae had, m acoordaDcs with
his Instructions, evacuated that place rstreatoa
Hsrpers Ferry, which the only course lett
open Cor him. the rebels being such force position
prevent his moving westward Hs forces consisted
Of the Twelfth Illinois cavalry, sxty.nfth regiment hi
nois and one Hundred and Twenty 9TH regiment New
York infantry. and Phillips battery -four guns) Of the
Second Illinois artillery.
On the 18th Gen. White addr3ssed note TO Col
Miles, reporting his arrival, and informing him lha,
although, his superior in rank, IL curse co1ld sa.
p.rssde him 10 tie command Of ia isi he should is
cline 10 deprive him Of his comm1i asp1cslly ne
ne believed the interests OF the l uot DO pro.
noted thereby Tie, however, tenieis 81, .1r,icss Of
himself and orcers 20 aid in any l their power
IN dsfeuce Of tho place.
This magnannous courso fully appreciated by Col
Miles. who in general order acknowledged the same IN
very feeling and complimentary manner, and assigned
General White 10 the second command, which he hcd
tbrca
ployed in bis duties during the whole time
ON Saturday the enemy attacked tho works on tho
Aarysn. Heights ID strong force. These works
erected 70 rcpel from the opposite side Of the
river and were mol calculated ~ will readily be
from their position to sustain attack from the Mary
land side The enemy actually did obtain possession Of
the crest Of The heights Of The earhworis
but they held at hay by the garrison until the
unton for thoir long range guns gave out The posses
sion Of these heights was question of numbers. Had
tho whole force 81 Horpers Ferry sent across 70
defend them, tho snemy would then, Of course have
thrown his whole strength sgainst the works upon the
other aide and captured them vas therefore, decided
to abandon the Maryland Bcishs which vas accordingly
DONE In good order.
fhe public arc nov familiar with the proceedings On
Sunday, when the cncmYs batteries occupied he Mary
land and London eghts infantry attack was also
made the Charestown turnpike Gen white COM
ioandsd our FORCES 10 that affair, aud The enemy
repulscd and driven back Thus respite was obtained
Cor few hours more 10 afford chance for the arrival OF
tho reinforcsmens which hourly expected 10
leve the place, which did not sstualy reach that
vicinity until thirty esh, hours after tho surrender.
When night closed upon the scene the ammunition for |
ihe long range guns running very Short and was
evident that milsss succor coon sAmo II would he
too late.
Monday morning showed that the enemy had no, been
ids during night They had arranged thsr batteries
30 a. 70 entirely surroaud positions From sevsn
batteries comprising fcrlysix guns they opcned lire
apm our positions. shot and shell few about oil dI.
roc.ions and eli cut Of their batteries wae out of
,args Of any but heavy ss,sry. Their pfansry 10
great numbvs, mssssd in the woods sus Of rarge,
hus rssiy ., any tive 70 yspei sny a,,snpt !