The national Republican., 1862-06-09
OrFiOlAL RePORT
Brig. Gen. saxton's Operati0ns
w at HafpsF's Ferry.

% Hon. E. n. STANTON.
Secretary Of War:
6ir have the honor TO report that In Obe.
disuos 10 your instruotiooe I assumed ooDmand
Of ths foscss at Harpsr's Fsrvy on the ssth Of
with oos company Of The Msryiasd Potonao
Home Brigade. Hs he'd pushed Inward that
morning battalion. composed ee the First Dis.
triot Of Columbia regiment and One Hundred
and Esysn,h psnn'ylv.nia soiSnts:rs, On Sa. ins
they were too late, he having retrsatsd, and
they returned TO Hsrper's Ferry the same eve.
ming. Rsinforcements arrived, consisting Of
the Seventy eighth Ne. York. One Hundred
DsssrsS SS sI sups "sdsr Lieut. D.ns sns oar ~
companies Of the Fifth New York cavalry, from
Winchester. On the 77th other troops arrived
with Capts. Orounse and Rsynolts' batteries Of
the First New York artillery. ,
foocupied Bolivar Heights with my troops,
and Maryland Heights with the naval battery.
On the same evening sent two companies Of
Colonel Haulsby's lst Maryland regiment. uu
der Major Steiner, 10 make reconnaissance
Of Loudoun Heights. where II was reported The
whilst ascending. between and 10 O'Clock In
the evening, by dismountsd rebel cavalry CON
oealed In the bushes on both sides Of the road,
wounding Sergeant nehrlipg Of company !.
not kn3wn. Owing to the darkness OF the night.
Major Steiner returned.
On Wednesday I shslled the Heights from
Battery Stanton, compelling the enemy TO re-.
tire, "a was proven by a subsequent recon
In the course Of the morning recounois
sance In force was made towards Charlestown
BY the lllth Pennsylvanis regiment, Colonel
Schlaudeoser. Is, Msrylsrs CsSysi,y; Major
Our cavalry drove the rebels out Of Charles.
tow, but they were Immediately reinforced,
and opening Are from battery of nine guns,
oomI elled our forces 10 retire, with n loss Of
one captain and eight men captured BY the
The 18th New York and the remaining piecss
of ReynOlds' battery ware at once dispatched
TO cover their retreat, which WAS ehe0ted In
good order and without further injury, the en-
emy's battery following them TO point two
miles distant from Cbarlestown. They report
cd on their return, the enemy advancing. Our
troops were immediately formed 10 line of bat
tie, extending along the crest Of Bolivar Heights.
,cross the peninsuls, from the Potomac 10 the
Shenandoah. A body Of the enemy's cavalry
was seen occasionally emerging from point OF
woods, about two miles distant, u little TO the
left Of the road TO Charlestown. Clouds Of dust
smy were advancing. Our guns shelled the
woods in our front. The enemy made no 70
sponse, but seemed from our movements desl.
rous Of drawing US out OF our position. Our
men slept on their arms.
On the morning Of the 10th, the 5th New York
Cavalry were sent out to reoonnOlter, and were
fred upon By the enemy's infantry and arii
lery, Our pickets being driven In, our forces
we're again formed In. order Of battle. Gen
Cocper's brigade, on Bolivar Heights. to the
right. and Gen. Slough's brigade TO the left ii
the road leading to CharIestown. After two o'
three hours, the enemy not appearing, y squad
ron ot cavalry WAS sent out toward Halltown;
before reaching which, they were suddenly
On the verge Of the word TO ths lef OF
,hs road. A body Of cavalry and some
infantry were seen stationed under oOveI
Of the woods, IN position TO support the battery. 4
Having accomplished their objact, our cavalry
returned. II became evident that the enemy
we're seeking, as on the preceding day. to al
lure US from our strong defensive position. D.
one Of their own selection, where their greatly
superior force could attack us with certainty
Of sucoess.
Learning, In the course Of the evening, from
various reliable sources. that the enemy, fail
ing 10 this. contemplated flank movement,
crossing the Potomac with one division above,
and with another occupying Loudcua Heights
of our communications below Harper's Ferry.
while their tem.ining forces menaced US 10
front. II was determined TO withdraw our troops
from Bolivar Heights, and take up a. second
line Of defence on the heights known as Camp
Hill. immediately above the town Of Htrpers
Ferry. The occupation Of this inner line pre-
sented y twofold advantage: nrst, that being
much less extended. It could be held by \
smaller force, the onen9 from the nature OF
the ground, being unable to bring into action a
larger force than our own secOn' ly. that Il
would enable us TO bring our naval battery, on
Maryland Heights, to bear upon the enemy AZ
they advanced down the deolivity of Bolivar
Heights into the valley which separates II from
Camp Hill. They would thus be exposed, for a
considerable time, to heavy Are from this
formidable battery, whose great elevation
would enable 1t to throw shells directly over
the heads Of our own forces on Camp Hill into
the faces Of the advancing foe.
With the force rende red. by this contraction
OF one part available forlother pu' poses, It was
deemed prudent to occupy the crest Of the hill
above the naval battery on the Mary land shore,
to Illustrate any attempt Of the enemy 10 take
this hill In the rear and Ulrn our batteries
AZ tinst US. The movement having been de-
oided upon, orders were Immediately given for
its prompt execution: this was about midnight
Gen. Cooper's brigade was at once set 10 mo
ton, and by day light had succeeded In cross
Ing The river and occupying the heights on the
Maryland side. Gen. SlOugh's brigade at the
sams time. fell back 10 the nav position Op
Camp Hill, and when morning dawned, Oth bat
tsriss Companies X and l., Of First New York
artillery,) supported by 4 heavy force Of 10
fsntry, were In p sitiOn TO command all the
approaches on front and fanks. the remainder
OF the infantry being posted Ms reserves along
tho brow Of tina hill under cover OF the TIRE ca
and houses. The weak portions uf this line