, 1862-11-10

Gus danger, but that, iu 3lcCl,llan's i1dg.
nent, he could yet hold out for two days, and
a promise Was given In the most energetic
form to relieve him II they held out even for
one day. Gen. McClel1au'6 army then being
mainly At Frederick, and said to be moving
Gen Mcclellan WAS full aware Of the critical
situation Of Harpes's Ferry. is proved by ths
fect ttat ibis 6ame communication announced
that white Col. Miles still retained possession
OF HarFer's FsT5 aud Loudon Highte, the en-.
sny p sseseed Mar3land Fights . position
from which their cannon completely over
crowed the troops In the Ferry, and against
witch the fort1tications erected on L3u1on
flights were absolutely va1us;ee5, On t,cl5 h
of 8. ptemher, Col. a. Voss Of the 12th Eli
hcts cavalry, who had succeeded ths night be-
fore In escaping from Hrper's Fsrry-~htch
appears so have been very imperfeclg he
siehed, ard with full communications open to
she Nar-1sporta from P1pusylyIafl that,
when he lift ulrper's Ferry, Col Miles had
been In hourly expectation Of receiving tas
promised re-lnfurcemenfs, and that on t1s
day previous, on his way to Pennsylvania, he
hed hesrd furious can1oradiug ali day long.
On the same dag, the war department. teae:-
grapted this report Of Col. Voss to Gen. 3fc-
CIetlan, urgieg, in the strongest manner, that
reinfostements to the Ferry be s-ut at once,
as it vas known that the enemy had planted
Canon en- Maryland Hfghts, and announcing
that large reiusorcemeuts Ind h=t sent for
ward to the Army Of the Potomac, which
wou1d mere than replace any colutun that
might be detached for the relief Of Col Miles
command.
The result is known. On the 16sh OF Sep
tenber Ger. n hite, Who hid, In defsrence to
Gan. WoeIs express and repeated in=trac~
1aous, Enivec bis seniority and refusaG to Iske
command at Hatpe1's Ferry, sent q report to
the FAT department that the place with all its
defenders had surrendered, their ammunition
being exhausted ~, With various other Shah
By excuses.
The point Of striking interest colln:era1 to
the foregoing narrative is. thst the army OF
the Potomac, knowing that Harper's Ferry
WIS he6leged aud In dagger, and that it was to
agreat eztent the key Of the POSSIBLE, retreat
Of the rebels down The Virginia valley, ad~
arces to its relief a: daily rate OF msreaiag
averaging less than si4 miles per day, aud tnat
although from the It'll inst. Harlee's Ferry
Vas then one da. = march to columns abund-
aut1y competent to its relief, no siugle t13nrl,
dirfet o. i1adiy1rt looking fosea1d Rat ena nas
made ~ the d47hy If The htoxnac. Had Har-
p&l's Ferry htc2 in our Possession Thcu the
tattle OF An!tetam was fought, the result
c@uld not but have been widely different, and
most disastrous to the rebels.
The ley to the only aTai'able l11e Of retreat
for Gen, Lee would lave been in the hau5s ot
the:.Uz ion f>rcee; ard the columns, Of Jackson
With the Immense prestige belonging to it,
W uld hare been withheld from the corfl:et.
All tEese pulu:s wild be fu y set tnr.h iu the
report Of tie military coaasnis-ion now aonut
h appear, and embracing the testimony mi
merely Q: the officers engaged in the tcaasac,
taop, hut alsc the opil,iN Of many Of tint
highest military authcritiss. who have beer
cor rsu.ted, 10 the effect that u:rper's F-rr5
10th could ard should haee 1te,s 1><fieeed by Gen