Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-11-15
FEE HIARPER'S E'EmEY SUR
RENDER.
Report of the Investigating Conn
mission.
col. THOMAS II. FORD.

mission.
COT. THOMAS II. FORD.
The evidence shows conclusively that the
force upon the Heights was not well man.
aged that the point most pressed was
weakly defended as to numbers, ard after
the woundng of the Colonel Of the One
hundred and d.twcnty-sixth Regiment New
York Infantry, it was left without COM
pctent officer in command, Col. Ford him
self not appearing nor designating any one
who might have restored order and encou-
ragged the men that the abandonment ofthc .
Heights was premature is clearly proved
Our forces were not driven from the hill, as .
full time was given to spike the guns and .
throw the heavier ones down the cliff, and .
retreat in good order to Harpcr's Ferry
The next day a force returning to the |
Heights found them unoccuplcd, and hrO't
away unmolcstcd four abandoned guns and
a quantity Of ammunition.
In so grave a case as this with such dis
graceful consequences, the Court cannot
permit an officer to shield himself behind
the fact that he did as well as he could. ifin
So doing he exhibits lack Of military ca
pacty. Ii is clear to the Commission that
Colonel Ford should not have been placed
in command on Maryland Heights; that
llc COntuCICu lllC ttltl'C NiJlbul tDiutN.
and abandoned his position without suiii-
cicnt cause, and has shown throughout such
a lack of military capacity as to d5qualiiy
him, in the opinion Of the Commission, for
u command in the service.
col. d. $. NILES.
The Commission has approached con-
sdcration of this officers conduct in con
nection with the surrender Of IIarpcr'S
Ferry with extreme reluctance. An officer
who cannot appear before any earthly tri-
bun2l to answer or explain charges grayciy
affecting his character; who has met his
death at the hands Of the enemy, even upon
the spot he disgraccfully ,urrcndcrs. is en-
titled TO the tcndcrcst care and most careful
investigation. This the Commission has
accorded Colonel Miles. and in giving y
. decision only repeats what runs through
/ our 900 pages of testimony, strangely unaui.
nous upon The fact, that Colonel Miles
incapacity, amounting to almost imhecility,
. led to the shameful surrender Of this implr-
! tant post.
Early as the 18th Of August he disoncys
the orders OF Maior.Gncral Wool to forti!y
Maryland Heights. When it is surrounded
and attacked tE the enemy. Its naturally
strong position, are unin proved, and from
his criminal neglect. to use the miid"st term,
'"c ais. IoFIc OF the enemy Il Amos, upon
an 'Iuai,y "!Ih Tic s!n".. force uL"cF MS
command
rAROi!SG REBEL TR!ao.:Es DUEr&d THE
SIEGE.
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