The Portland daily press., 1862-11-18
IIarper's Ferry.

DEAR PROF " GU ask me for details oil the
affair at HarpeI's Ferry, and especially who
gave the order to evacuate Mary land Heights:
the key of the place.
1t is shameful to relate; but 1t is not our
fault. Half way up Maryland Heights there
were two seventy-pound cannons which threw
the shells three miles, one rifed cannon of fif-
ty pounds and four brass pieces. reside these,
there were the 32d Ohio, part OF the 10th
MARYLAND, and some piekcts of cavalry. That
was all.
The Rebels were encampedin Pleasant Val
ley behind US. From Maryland Heights we
could see their camps and train OF nearly a
hundred wagons. There were about fifty
thousand of them. To defend this position
we could rely only upon the infantry; the
woods, and especially the bushes were too
thick. On the summit there is an observatory
called look out" Three hundred PAGES
beyond following the ridge, they had hastily
constructed light breast-work from the trunks
OF small trees. Three miles further on, is Sol
omon's Gap, which they had been allowed to
pass. What would have been more sim
pie than to occupy this Gap in force? Loudon
Heights also were unoccupied. Not even a pa
troll had been sent there. Evidently Col
Miles in acting thus already, had the intention
of surrenderng, the place. From Pleasant
Valley the Rebels began to ascend, little by
little every day gaining some ground, till at
days diminishing with the 32d Ohio and some
other troops stationed there. Then during
the night they assembled in force. During
these four days, twenty Thousand men, com
manded by Jackson in person, were making
forced marches by Martinsburg to surprise US
on that side OF Virginia facing Bolivar
Heights. As soon as it was known that
the Rebels had passed Solomon's Gap and
that the fight was about to commence
six companies Of our Regiment, the seth
and 1l5th Y. Y, were ordered out. You must
know that our fullest companies contain but
35 men, In spite of this, our regiment, and
the 32d Ohio, were the only ones that could be
relied upon, all the Others being recruits,
whom our under officers were drilling, their
own officers being incapable of doing it. AT
this time was sick. My name being on the
sick list. | had the privilege of remaining in
| camp, or even of going to the hospital If
chose. The order came, | took my place at
the head of my company. We started the
18th, at three and half O'Clock in the morn
| ing, for the mountain. l thought L should
never reach the top. l dragged myself along.
| We marched and couDtermarched all day in
| the woods and brushwood, without meeting
the enc n.y. We slept with the 32d Ohio, who
| had supplied us to the best of their ability,
! though the brave fellows had scarcely more
| rations than we. On the 18th, in the morning.
after having detailed several companies to he
different points which he thought proper, Col.
Ford, commanding Maryland Heights, assign
| ed to our regiment the defense OF the cannons;
but as the enemy assembled in force beyond
| the look out il BECAME necessary To detaeh
| two companies to reinforce those who were
| there. | do not know why the Sd and 4th
companies always enjoy the special privilege
| of being sent to the most dangerous post. i
! feared should never reach the top; 1t was
| very steep and rough. We passed the look
/ - k-nas tst.. and" nj
| PAGES We came upon company of the 32d,
! placed as a reserve. Sharpshooters were
| placed in front of us. Dietrich deploys the
! first platoon and the second aud we wait the
enemy. From the place where we were, we
distinctly heard the rebels calling fall in fall
in! forward, march J" etc, etc. Very soon we
! heard them beating the long roll, and ten min
utes afterwards the firing began. We mad be-
| fore us a company of the Sd Maryland, and
| company of recruits from y. Y. At the end
! of two minutes the fire ceased, and we heard
that fierce veil which the rebels raise when
| they charge. Immediately these two compa-
| MES break ranks and rush towards US at the
top of their speed, break our ranks, and drag
us with them as far as the breast-work There
the whole Of my company stop instinetively,
as also the Ohio boys: but the terrified re-
cruits continue to run, not needing the cries OF
| the officers to halt
The enemy seeing our exposed front, sud
| denly stopped. Some trees and shrubs had
been thrown down before the breast-work
| forming kind of abattis, hard TO pass but not
impracticable. We delay there moment, dur
ing which time the Major, whose name have
| forgotten, gave me the order to go and rally
| the fugtiyes. l ran a mile before reaching
them. aud | drove them back with the blows
! of my sabre. During this time we had re-
ceived some reinforcements, but the rebels had
received considerably more than we. Sudden
| liz Lieut.. Castillo of an Italian company cried
| out to me: AUd sinistrd"-to the let!-l
understood that the rebels were turning our
left. and ran to inform Col. Sheriff. of the 10th
\. Y. who had taken the command. He COM
manded me to 90 and see II there We're any
men there / ran down the only practicable
path and at little cross path l found fifteen
men of the 32d, commanded by sergeant
as that all you have here, boys?" Yes,
Lieut. aud it is time we should be reinforced ;
they are forming right in front OF u.s. And,
indeed, looking through the trees, saw them
forming. l brought the news, and they sent
a fresh company of the 10th n. Y, who had
lust arrived. Almost at the same moment,
firing began, and Col. Sheriff. at my side re-
ceived ball in the chin, and he is led away
a Lieut.. fell, his face became yellow as saffron
another received ball in the head, and he
stood fast: another in the leg which compelled
him TO retire, and so on, while the firing last
| ed. That Of the rebels was quite goOu, Dul
ours God of Abraham! Fancy fire at will
which almost resembed a continuous battal
ion fire, and that during two hours! They try
to come out of the woods to charge the breast
work, but impossible! They fall like fes! DC
casionally their firing slackened, then fresf
companies reach them and the balls begin Il
whistle thick aud fast. Our firing did no
!, slacken for an instant during those two NOR
tai hours. Those who heard IL from Baliya
! Heights land among them were some officer
who had served in European warsl were amaz
ed. One moment our left was heavily pressed
but the Ohio boys and some of the Maryland
ers Immediately rghted it. At first. the re
cruts fired into the trees, and made mysel
. actually hoarse with shouts to them, TO :" ftr
! lotc,' They corrected their fire, and did ad
mirably, the rest of the engagement. The fir
OF the rebels continued 10 slacken, aud we cor
sidered them beaten, when the order came
60 fall back" Would you believe it! No. nc
would l. nor any one else,-and so, instead {
I obeying, the officer was received in strang
# manner. The $50 to h.. y reached hin
more quickly than the balls. When he sal
5 that it was at the command of Col. Ford, SON
e one replied to him with one of those vulgs
T. and energetic sentences, but at the SAN
! time sublime in expressiveness, an eloquel
reply to the infamous ialsehood which he to-
I, before the Commission of inquiry, in sayir
that he had evacuated Maryland Heights b
y. cause his regiments uoutd not tight. 1t WI
- only when the order came for the second tim
: declaring they were going to shell the woo'
l. that we withdrew slowly, without being fo
e lowed The fact is, that we were animated
IL. ,a,s.. hat ha1h a.fa n