New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-18
THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY.
Full Particulars by Our Special Reporter.
POSITION OF POINTS OF DEFENSE
NUMBER OF THE UNION FORCE.
The ATTACK ON MARYLAND HEIGHTS.
TAE DETAILS OF SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTS.
GREAT DISPARITY OF NUMBERS.
A SURRENDER AT LAST.
EXTENT OFTHE UNION LOSS
punor of q Roco nfurn hv Con Rurneidn
TnE DETAILS OF SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTS.
GREAT DISPARITY OF NUMBERS.
4 SURRENDER AT LAST.
EXTENT OFTHE UNION LOSS
Rumor of a Recapture by Gen. Burnside.
from Our Special Correspondent.

HARPERs FERRY, Sept Is, 1862
Now that the siege of Harpsrs Ferry is over, and
the Rebels have learned everything about the stua-
ton and the forces recently there, by capturing BOTH
description of the Notifications will not be contra.
band, and may prove interesting.
Harper's Ferry is situated in the angle formed ty
the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Riv-
ers The town itself is literally buried il the sur
rounding hills. Stretching across the angle, and
forming the base of triangle, is the ridge known a.
Bolivar Nights, which, rising quite abruptly from
the town, spreads out into plain, and then rising
again, forms sort Of parapet, sopiDg down TO the
surrounding country, the level Of which is Of lower
grade than the plain. This formed the front Of the
position, and was occupied by the LIST Brigade, Col.
+. G. dUtassy 18th N. ~ commanding, composed
Of the ll5th New-York, COL Sanmon, 39th New.
York CGaribadi Guard Major Hidebrsndt, 1Ilth
New-York, COL Segoin, and Capt. Won Schleims
18th Indiana Battery, and by the I'd Brigade, Col.
Trimble Goth Ohio VOLUNTEERED commanding, and
composed of the Goth Ohio Volunteers 9Th Vermont,
l26th New.York, Col. Sheriff., and the Potts Bat
terry.
The hill rising Immediately from the town is des-
ignated as Camp Hill, and surrounded by an inner
of being driven from the more advanced position OF
Bolivar Heights. Here was posted the reserve
known as the Fourth Brigade, Col. w. G. Ward, Of
the New.York 10Th, commanding composed Of the
10Th New.York, s7th Ohio, Capt. Rigby's Company
Ar,illerists and Co. A, New.York Heavy Artillery,
Capt. Graham. There were mounted along the in.
,rencbments some dozen howl zers, under charge Oh
CAPT. Rigby's company, and to the left, upon the
precpice overhanging the Shenandoah and com.
mandiug the approaches by the Shenandoah road,
and also up the Potomac from Sandy Hook, were
placed two twelve and two twenty -four pound Par
rott guns and howitzers, under charge Of Captain
Graham. This battery commanded the position on
Bolivar Heights, and raked the whole plain across
which troops must approach to the inner intrench-
meuts 1t also had range of Maryland Heights and
Loudon Heights and was emphaticay strong
position.
On the Maryland side of the Potomac, in the angle
formed by the bend of the river, tower Maryland
Hghts over 1900 feet elevation. little more
than half the distance up the mountain placed
the battery which commanded all the other batteries,
and the surrounding country for miles around, aud
was the key to Harper's Ferry. Tbis battery con-
sisted of two ll.nch Dshlgren guns, one 5-Poond
riAed gum and two light bowitzers, under command
OF Capt. McGrath. A shot from one Of the ll.inch
Dahgens has been thrown into Halltown, between
four and five miles distant, and through q house
there located. To support this battery, the ID Brig.
ade, Col. Ford (32d Ohio, wss posted OF plSteau
to the right of the battery and low enough TO be ous
of range of the guns. The brigade comprised the I'D
Ohio battalion of LIST Maryland Potomac Homo
Brigade, Major Steiner squadron Rhode leland
Cavalry, Major Corliss; two companies lst Mary
land Cavalry, Capt. Russell, and the 9Th New.fork
Heavy Artillery, Capt. McGrath.
To prevent surprise to repel attack up the back
side of Marylau flights, and also to guard the ap.
proach the Ferry around the bend of the Potomac,
a force was stationed at and about Sandy Hook.
under command OF Col. Maulsby Of the lst Maryland
Regiment Potomac Home Brigade consisting Of the
regiment just named, Capt. Coless Maryland Cav
airy and part of the S7th Ohio Volunteers Two
cannon were also with the command, served ~
Capt. Graham's men. Up the Potomac, at Shsparls-
town, Col. Downey WAS stationed with the Sd Mary
land Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Col. Davis,
with the sth NewYork Cavalry, was encsmpsd in
town at the old rifle factory. The positions given
above those occupied by the troops prior to and
at the commencement of the siege. The changes Of
position noted in the detailed Of the Incl
dents. Gen. julius White brought with him from
Martinsburg the brigade composed Of the l25th New.
York, Col. Willard, 65th Illinois, y h Pennsylvania,
18th Illinois Cavalry, Col. voss, and Capt Phiips's
Illinois Battery.
Seated here in camp, prisoners OF war, with .
Confederate army encamped about US, Confederate
batteries frowning upon us, and owing to misun.
dersanding Of the terms of capitulation with de.
ghtful uncertainty before u.s. will Try to write up
the events of the siege ant surrender Of Harper's
Ferry. The ominous silence Of the past two nights
is now broken by the voices Of some Of our Carl
bald Guard, singing those delightful part songs and
choruses for which the Germans famous, and 70
their music write a story which wish could nave
been left unwritten.
In the last letter written Sept I'D but WHICH
could not be sent, through the interference Oh e'''
Secesh with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad We"
OF u.s. after narrsting the current events OF tho cay
your correspondent INDUCED in surmises a. TO inc
Rebel programme, specuations as TO lines Oh re-
treat and bases of operations and suggestions -
to the whereabout and doings Of the Union s'mies'
all of which were los; to the world by the move
ments Of the Confederate troops.
Going back to that letter only to recall 'nen events
us have q bearing upon the connected narrative"
has to be recorded that COL Downey OF the "a Mary
land Potomac Home Brigade, taking with him Csps.
Shamberg of the LIST Maryland Cavalry aud ~
troopers, made "a dash on the morning OF the i0tn
inst. into Boonsboro, having been informed tnss
there were but few cavalry men there. Instead "
a few he rode into large force Of cavalry inisssX
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