Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-10-03
The Surrender Of Harper's Ferry.


The Surrender Of Harper's Ferry.
Probably the most disgraceful trans
action of the war was the surrender of
Harper's Ferry. 1t was one of the
strongest positions in the country. 1t
was defended by artillery in such posi-
tlons as rendered it impregnable, in the
opinion of our best military men. 1t
was the key to the retreat of the rebels
from Maryland. With the position in
our hands, the destruction of the whole
rebel army seemed to be inevitable
But, just at the critical moment, when
the fate of the rebel army seemed to
hang upon hair, the country was as
founded by the surrender Of the position,
without serious struggle.
Col. Miles, who was il command, it.
will be remembered, was charged with
large share Of the disaster at Bull Run,
"a year ego. a court Of inquiry was or
dercd on his case then. Some thirty
witnesses swore he was drunk, and ut
terly incapacitated TO perform his duties.
Others testified that, although intoxi-
Gated, he still knew what he was about
The court of inquiry recommended the
call of Court Martial to try him, Lut,
We believe. it was never done, and he
was kept in command. Many believed
him traitor, while others attributed
his conduct to drunkenness. Those
who found heroes in whoever of our
Generals was so conservative" as not
to ''incite the South lauded him as a
second Napoleon. 1t was very natural.
He was free from all suspicion of "rad-
icalism." Nobody suspected him of
sympathy with the radicals. He was,
therefore, just the mani
Well, just as the rebels were worsted
in Maryland, and compelled to retreat
or be annihilated, Lee sent over
force to Harper's Ferry, and it was con-
veniently surrendered to him! Miles is
dead. He was killed after he had sur
rendered. Some say he was first
wounded by shell, and afterward shot.
The she'll story is not SO sure. His
friends say he was shot by the rebels
Others say he was shot by. some of his
own men. Thanks be to whoever did
it if he played false to the Government.
lie is beyond the reach Of Court Mar
tials. But others are not. Col. Ford,
of Ohio, is charged with the crime of
spiking the guns on the Hights, and
abandoning the strong position he held,
and thus rendering the surrender neces-
sary. He and his friends deny the
charge, and demand an Investigation
They say that he absolutely refused to
do so on the rcr6az order of Col. Miles,
the commander. That the order was
repeated and lie still refused, until it was
sent to him in writing. If this is true,
his vindication will be complete. For
the honor of Ohio, we hope it is true
But, by the Devil inspired treachery of
somebody, the National cause was be-
trayed, the country disgraced, and the
rebels not only allowed to retreat in
safety, but were supplied with arms, am
munition, provision and store enough to
pay them for the expedition.
The surrender turned over to the reb-
els about tuelre thousand Union soldiers,
with all their arms, all our immense bat
teries of artillery, eighteen hundred fine
horses, and our train Of army wagons,
with which to haul away the stores be-
longing to the United States, the
amount of which could not have been
purchased in the South for all the gold
in California.
We trust the most rigid Investigation
will be made, and the responsibility for
this damning act Of treason be placed
where it belongs, let who will suffer-
Miles has paid the forfeiture Of his life
already, and cannot be further reached
by earthly penalties. But if he had ac-
completes either above or below him, let
them be ferreted out, and consigned to
the eternal infamy they have earned.