The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-10-03
4 GIury nn0mt GaaIper,s Ecrry

Stuty SbSdt hAdtpcf's lcfIy.
The Philadelphia Press of Saturday
publishes the following letter, giving
come curious statements concerning the
surrender OF IIarper's Ferry:
FREDERICK, Mn Sept. 10, 1867.
In my communication dated at m.ddle-
town, September IL, you will reeollocl
that stated il you should hear otihe sur
render OF Harper's Ferry, be not aston
ished; | will furnish yIu with key to
the secret. These were, as nearly as
can recollect, the words used. Now for
the clue: On the morning oi the nth,
While taking breakfast in company with
some rebel officers, got into an argu.
ment with one of!h,m Ga Maj YosD IN
regard TO the ability OF the rebels to cap-
tucc Harptr's Ferry. Insisted TINT one
hundred thousand men could hot capture
it ii properly defended; upon which the
Major asked me how mlny troops | SUI
posed were defending i'll answered, not
less than ten thousand, who, ii they were
not sheer poltroons, could defend it
against th3 whole rebel army.
| He insisted there were not 80 many
ana ! as stoutly maintained that there
were, adding that was there myselfbul
four duys since. AZ this point his vanity
perhaps, oyercdme his prudence, Tor being
determined 10 muinlhin the position lac
had ass unlod, he said, at is but two days
since ] lelt ~" Beng astcuLdod at this
revelation, aud willing 10 hear more, ]
moderated, when he went ON and said
that he was IN company with General
Miles two days before, (Which must have
boen oa.Monday or Tuosdny,) that h i, had
in company with that oihcer, walkd al
through the camp, and hud soenthe force
and he did not believe there were NOR,
than five thousand.
lie then began TO repoat some conver
sation b,iwtGn him aud General Miles
and stated that M les said he did not know
what the d. he was kept there for; tina
he was OF no use, aud II attacked, that IA,
would surrender. The Major then care
lessly added that "hiIes wss first rat
fellow, but that it he has bottle OF his
ky beside him, everything might, Tor al
he cared, go TO the ID"
/, had already heard something at th
} Point OF Rocks in relation to Gen. Mile
! having gwen orders TO destroy the store
ut that place, aud spike the two guns
: which astonished every one, and ther
: seemed to be no occasion Tor ury suc
, desperate measures. was present on
aided in the removal Of the two piece
} OF artillery aud the commisary stores tw
I. days alter, and there was not an enem
nearer than six miles. Many hints wer
thrown out Gt the time as TO the cause G
such extraordinary orders, which genei
ally resulted in the conclusion thar Mile
was not to be trusted Accordingly, a
ter having heard what has been alread
reluted, | concluded il to be my duty I
trarsmit what ! knew,to 70 some one wh
/ had sufficient power to remove or super
!, sede him, and finally concluded the bes
!, thing 10 be done was TO write to his ES
J cellency the President, acquainting hiI
J with what heard.
: ! accordingly wrote letter, addresse
! to the Preident of tho United States, bu
!, aiter having wricn il, had no means {
n tremsmiting II. craved few of III
!, citizens of Middletown, whom knew {
5 be Uhion men, TO ride with the letter |
3 the next town, 10 any direction, I care
not what, which had a mail co;nmunief
! tion with Washington; but all 10 no bun
h pose; they were either afraid OF aputhei
lie.