New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-10
THE DEFENSE OF HAPPENS
FERRY.
Operations OF Gen. saxtsn-His Omciaf
Report.

Operations OF Gen. Saxtsn-1is OEcia
Report.
Hon. Y. NJ STANTON Secretary Of War:
SIR: have the honor 10 report that in obedience
TO your Instructions assumed command Of the force
at Harpers Ferry on the Goth of May. found Col
Miles occupying the place with one company of tn,
Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. He had pushet
forward that morning Q battalion, composed Of the
First District of Columbia Regiment and lllth Penn
sylvania Volunteers, on the cars to Winchester, to
REINFORCE Gen. Banks; they were too late, he hsv-
ing retreated and they returned to Hsrper's Ferry
the same evening. Rs-enforcements arrived, con.
sisting Of the 18th New-York, 109th Pennsylvania,
a naval battery of Dahlgren guns, under Lieut..
Dan'els, and four companies Of tue 9Th New-Y0rk
Cavalry, from Winchester. On the 9th other troops
arrived with Capts. Crounse and Reynolds Bat
tcries of the LIST Nsw-York Artillery.
occupied Bolivar flights with my troopa and
Maryland flights with the naval battery.
On tire same evening sent two companies Of Col.
Maulsby's LIST Maryland Regiment, under Major
Steiner, to make reconnaissance Of Loudoun
flights, where it was reported the enemy were In
position They were fred upon while ascending.
between and 10 O'Clock in the evening, by dis
mounted Rebel cavalry concealed in the bushes on
both sides Of the road, woundirg Sergeant MehrlDg
OF Company /. The fire returned, but with
what effect is rot known. Owing to the darkness
CT the night, Major Steiner returned.
On Wednesday stelled the flights from Battery
Stanton, compelling the enemy to retire, as was
proven by subsequent reconnaissance.
In the course Of the morning reconnoss lnce in
iorce was made toward Charlestown by the lllth
lennsylvania Regiment, Col Schlaudecker, LIST
Maryland Cavalry, Major Deems. and one section of
Reynoldss battery. Our cavalry drove the Rebels
out OF Cbarlestown, but they were Immediately re-
enforced, and opening fire from battery of nine
guns, compelled our forces to retire. with loss Of
one captain and eight men captured by the enemy.
The 18th New-York and the remaining pieces of
Reynolds battery were at once dispatched TO cover
their retreat, which effected in good order and
without further injury, the enemys battery follow
Ing them to point two miles distant from Charles
town. They reported, on their return, the enemy
advancing. Our troops were Immediately formed 10
line OF battle extending along the Greet Of Bolivar
Nights, across the peninsula, from the Potomac to
the Shenandoah. A body of the enemy's cavalry
wa seen occasionally emerging from q point Of
woods, about TIVE miles distant little to the left OF
the road TO Chsrles,own Clouds OF dust were wis.,
bio IN various directions, as if the enemy were adj
vancing Our guns shelled the woods in our front.
| The enemy made no response, bat seemed from
our moveu enls DESTROYS of draw ing us out of our
posiiion. Our men slept on their arms.
On the morning Of the 9th, tho 9Th New-York
Cavalry were sent out to recOnnoiter, and fired
upon by the enemy's Infantry and artillery. Our
pIckets being driven in, forces again formed
flights. TO the right, and Gen. Slough's brigade
to the lett of the road Leading to Charestown. After
two or three hours, the enemy no: appearing, u
squad OF cavalry was sent out toward ialltown,
before reaching which, they were suddenly fired
upon by a battery occupying petition on the verge
OF the wood to the left Of the road.
| body Of cavalry and some infantry were seen
stationed under cover of the wOois IN position 10
support the battery. Having accomplished their
object, our cavalry returned. Ii became evident
that the enemy were seeking AZ on the preceding
day. 20 allure US from our strong defensive poeition
to Of their own SELECTION, where their greatly
superior force could attack US with certainty Of
sa, cess
Learning. in the course Of the evening from
various trnsi~ortby sources that the enemy, failug
in this, contemplated flank movement, crossing the
Potomac with one Division above. and with another
occupying Loudonu Ilighls, 30 TO command our
naval battery, and cut OF our communications below
ilarper's Ferry, while their remaining forces
niennscd us in front IL determined to withdraw
our troops from Bolivar flights, and take up acc
ond ne Tie lights known ms Camp Hill, imne-
disssly above the town Of IiarIers Ferry.
The occupation Of this inner line presented a two
fold advantage; first, that being much less extended
II be held by smaller folce, the enemy, from
the nature of the ground being unable to bring into
action "a larger force than own; secondly, that
i would enable us 70 bring our naval battery, Oh
Mary land flights, TO bear upon the enemy rs they
advanced down the declivity Of Bolivar flights,
| Hill.
They would thus be expo-ed for a considerable
time to a heavy fire from this formidable battery,
whose great elevation would enable it to throw
shells directly over the heads Of our own forces
Camp Hill into tie fares OF the advancing foe.
With the fierce rend red, by tins contraction Of one
part, available for other purposes, 1t was emed
prudent % occupy the crest OF the bill above the
naval battery on the Maryland shore to frns.rate
auy attempt Of tho enemy to take this hill in the
rear M turn our batteries against us. The move
ment having been decided upon, orders were imme-
ely given for its prompt execution. lhis was
about midnight. General Cooper's Brigade at
once W., 10 motion, and by daylight had succeeded
in crossing the river aud occupying the nights on the
MaryiSndtide.
Gen. Slough's brigade at the zane time. fell back
to the new position on Camp Hill, and when morn
ing dawned, our batteries compane, AID l. Of the
lat New York Artillery supported by heavy force
of infantry IN position 10 command all the ap-
uroaches on front and Hanks, the remainder OF the
Infantry being posted reserves along the brow o!
the hill under cover OF trees and houses. The weak
portions Of this line were consequently strengthened
| by breas, works, hastily erected
On Friday morning, MAYOR GnrdIer, with the 9TH
New-York Cavalry was sent to tie iIoni 10 feel the
the ensmy's position end watch his movements He
was later in the day REINFORCED by piece Of arli.
lery aud two hundred snarp-shooters. Inc enemy
onenei upon him with scatter Il fire OF muskciry
along his whole front. The fire of grape from our
niece caused the ruemys skirmishers 10 fall back III
disorder. lie then brought six pieces of artillery
into action. Msjor Gardner, having most galan'ly
accomplished the object OF his expedition, retired.
The enemy now advanced with his artillery and
rbelled our former position on Bolivar iiiShtS.
/ Having done this, he withdrew jackson, the
commander of tho Rebel forces. having given the
order to his amy to storm our position, they adj
yanced beyond Bolivar Rights in force TO attack gs
abou, dark Friday evening, in storm. Gen. Slough
opened upon them from Camp Hill, with Croun,e's
and part OF Reynolds battery, and Lieut. DahieI :,
from battery Stanton, .on Maryland iii hts The
srene az this time was very impressive.
The night wss iuyusely dark. The bills around
were alive with tue sgnal-lights OF the enemy, the
-. 1871 La tarr.nis VIVID haaher OF H0hl ming