The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-10-08
The Surrender Of narpsr's Ferry.
COLONEL MILKs ExcuLpArED.

COLONEL MILEs ExcULPATED
! Currency has been given 10 scandalous
rumors in connection with the above event,
by which it is sought 10 cover with infamy
the memory of as gallant and loyal soldier
as ever drew a sword in defence of The
country. Even the officers who served IN.
der him have not escaped similar calum-
nies. When.the facts come TO be correctly
asceraned, we believe il will be found
that everything was done by our troops at
Harper's Ferry that was possible for so
small force 10 accomplish agaius. such
overwhelming odds. The blame of the
surrender rests not with the officers in COM
mand, but with the War Department.. which
lailed 10 reinforce this important s,ra,egicaI
point when it was in danger Mcclellan
had too much on hand at Shsrpsburg TO
spare any OF his troops without endanger-
ing his plans. II was for the War Depart-
meni 10 have despatched a sufficient force
from Washington 10 enable Colonel Miles
| 10 hold out until the rebels in front Of Nc
Clellan were either compelled to surrender
or driven across the Potomac Thus again
TO the insufficiency OF the laundering OF the
department do we owe the loss of the SER
vices OF eight or ten thousand of our best
troops, and the facilitating of Jackson's
junction with Lee: which cost us the lives
| OF several thousand more OF what use is
it tor us to have good Generals if they are
thus seconded 2
CLEAR CAUSE FOR COURT MARTIAL.
II Tho roepoa=;bi.i;y Of tho surrender uf
HarPer's Ferry belongs especially to any
one officer, we think that Colonel Tom
Ford, OF Ohio, is that man His abandon
ment of Maryland Heights was the loss of
the whole position for with those Heights
in possession Of the enemy all the other de-
fences Of the town sswere unlenable. Nor
does II appear that Ford made even res
peciaole show OF resistance 10 hold those
Heights. Gen. Mcclellan fought the sue
cessiul battle OF South Mountain on Sunday
the l4ih the cannonading OF which was.
perhaps, heard in the same mountain rance
al Harper's Ferry, ohIy some twelve or fif
teen miles of. We know, at all events
that had our officers in charge of that posi-
lion held out till Monday night, instead of
baselY surrendering that morning, the be-
leaguring rebel forces would have been
compelled TO leave The place on Tuesday
morning, they did, TO 60 up the river TO
the relief of General Lee.
Thus, in holding Harper's Ferry few
hours longer, we should have saved 10 our
Army OF the Potomac from ten to twelve
thousand men, some fifteen Thousand mus.
kets and rifles from fifty TO Que hundred
peices OF artillery, and valuable supplies OF
ammunition, provisions, wagons and stores
OF all kinds but, above all, in connection
with these troops and materials of war, we
should have saved military position eonai
10 fifty thousand men 20 General Mcclellan.
But all was lost through this disgracefuI ca.
pltulatIon, and thus The means and the way
OF escape were provided for the rebel army
from Maryland, which otherwise would
have been cut off From the facts before
Us, had our forces at Harper's Ferry been
under the command of an officer of Jeff
Jaws, The capltulatIon would not have been
conitised more advaniaseously than ii has
been 10 Gen. Lee.
We submit that the abandonment of
Maryland Heights by Tom Ford should be
thoroughly investigated. We have had of
late quite enough of these shameful capitu.
latioas, with the smallest possible show of
honest resistance nor until some exempla-
ry pnnishmenls are administered for such
outrageous Gelinquencies can wa expect
any great success. In conclusion, while
such incompetent blaIher-skiliug politi-
clans and adventures as Tom Ford are as
signed 10 such imporlan, military trusts as
Maryland Heights. we have no righ, TO ex-
2ect anything bnl disappoinlmenls and dis
grace.