Daily national Republican., 1862-11-12
REPORT or THE INVESTIGATING coMMIssIoN-RE
MARKABLE STATEMENTS.


ed to investigate the circumstances of the sur
render of Harper's Ferry, has made the follow
ing report!
The Commission, consisting of Major General
D. Hunter, United States army of volunteers
President; Major General q. Cadwalader, Uni
ted States army of volunteers; Brig. Gen. c. c.
Augur, U. 5. army Of volunteers; Major Dom
Piatt, Assistant Adjutant General of volunteers;
Capt. +. Ball, Aid-de-camp of volunteers Colo
mel q. Holt, Judge ocatc-General-called by
the Government TO investigate the conduct of
certain officers connected with, and the circum-
stances attending, the abandonment of Mary
land Heights and the surrender of Harper's
Ferry, have the honor to report the following:
On the ID Of September, General White en-
tered Harper's Ferry with his force from Win
chester. The next day he was ordered to Mar
tinsburg, to take command Of the forces there.
On the l2th of September, he again returned to
Harper's Ferry, where he remained until the
surrender. without assuming the command.
On the eth of September, Gen. McClellan-the
most of his,forces having preceded him-lcft
Washington under orders issued some days
previously, to drive the enemy from Maryland.
That night he established his headquarters st
Rockville, from which, on the llth of Scptein-
her, he telegraphed tosGsneral Halleck to have
Colonel Miles ordered to join him at once.
On the 5th Of September Colonel Thomas II.
Ford, Thirty-second Ohio, took command of
IHt tOTCts On MuFNlunu t1tlHnts. were
placed at Solomon's Gap and at Sandy Hook.
Those at Sandy Hook. under Colonel Maulsby,
retired by Colonel Miles's order to the eastern
slope of Maryland Heights, two or three days
previous to their evacuation by Colonel Ford.
On the 11th of September the force at Solomons
Gap were driven in by the enemy. Colonel
Ford called upon Colonel Miles for reinforce
ments. The One Hundred and Twenty-sixth
New York and the Thirty-ninth New York
(Garibaldi Guards) were sent him on Friday,
the 18th of September, and on the morning of
the 18th he was further reinforced by the One
Hundred and Fifteenth New York and portion
Of = Maryland regiment under Lieutenant Col
onel Downey.
Colonel Ford made requistion for axes and
spades to enable him to construct defences on
the Heights, but obtained none. With ten axes
belonging to some Maryland troops, hiring all
that could he obtained, slight breast-work of
trees was constructed on the 12th, near the
crest of the Heights, and slashing of timber
made for a short distance in front Of the breast
work.
The forces under Colonel Ford were stationed
at various points on Maryland Heights. the
principal force being on the crest Of the hill
near the breastwork and look k-out. Skirmsh-
ing commenced on Friday, the l2th, ON the
crest of the hill.
Early on the morning of the 18th the enemy
made an attack on the crest of the hill, and ai-
ter some time the troops retired in some con
fusion to the breastwork, where they were raj
lied. About o O'Clock a second attack was
made, which the troops behind the breastwork
resisted for short time, and until Col. Sheriff.,
of the One Hundred and Twenty-siXth New
York, was wounded, and carried of the field.
when the entire One HUNDRED and Twenty-sixth
regiment, as some witnesses testify, all but two
companies, Major Hewitt states broke and fed
in utter confusion. Men and most of the OIL
GERS all fed together, no effort being made to
rally the regiment, except by Col. Ford. Lieut..
Bsrras, acting adjutant, and some officers of
other regiments, directed by Colonel Miles. then
on the Heights.
Soon after, the remaining forces at the breast
work fell back, under supposed order from
Major Hewitt, who himself says that he gave
NO such order merely sent instructions to the
captains of his own regiment that, If they were
compelled to retire, TO do so in good order. Or
ders were given by Colonel Ford for the troops
TO return to their position. They advanced
some distance up the Heights, but did not re-
gain the breastwork.
That evening Colonel Miles was on MARYLAND
Heights for some hours, consulting with Colonel
Ford. He left between II and 12 O'Clock, with
out directly ordering Colonel Ford to eyacuate
the Heights, but instructing him, in case he was
compelled 10 do so, TO spike the guns and throw
the heavy siege guns down the mountain.
About 2 O'Clock, perhaps little later, by the
order of Colonel Ford the Heights were ahan-
doned, the guns being spiked according to in
structions.
On Sunday Colonel D'Utassy sent oyerto Ma
-ryland Heights four companies under Major
Wood, who brought OIL, without opposition
four brass l2-pOunders, two of which were i'm
perfectly spiked, and wagon load of ammuni-
tion.
General White, on his return TO Harper's
Ferry on the 12th of September, suggested TO
Colonel Miles the propriety of contracting his
lines on Bolivar Heights as TO make n better
defence, but Colonel Miles adhered TO his origin
al line of defence, stating that he was deter
mined to make his stand on Bolivar Heights
General White also urged the importance of
holding Maryland Heights, even should Il re.
qure the taking the entire force over there from
llarper's Ferry. Colonel Miles, under his orders
to hold Harper's Ferry to the last extremity,
while admitting the importance of Maryland
Heights, seemed TO regard them as applying to
the town of Harper's Ferry, and held that to
leave Harper's Ferry even to go on MARYLAND
Heights, would be disobeying his instructions.
Gen. Mcclellan established his headquarters
at Frederick City on the morning of the 18th of
September. On the night of the 18th, after the
evacuation of Maryland Heights, Col Miles
directed Captain (now Major) Russell, of the
Maryland cavalry, 10 take with him a few men
and endeavor to get through the enemy's lines
and reach some Of our forces-Gen. Mcclellan,
If possible--and to report the condition of Har-
per's Ferry, that 1t could not hold out more than
foty-eght hours, unless reinforced, and TO urge
the sendlng OF relnforcements. Capt. Russell
reached General McClellan's headquarters at
Frederick at nine a. IN. on Sunday, the 18th of
September, and reported as directed by Colonel
Miles. Immediately upon his arrival General
Mcclellan sent off a messenger, as Capt. Rus
sell understood, to Gen. Franklin.
At 10 a. m. Capt. Russell left for Gen. Frank
Inns command, with communication to Gen.
Franklin from Gen. Mcclellan. He reached
Gen. Franklin about O'Clock that afternoon,
and found him engaged with the enemy at
Crampton's Gap. The enemy were driven from
the Gap, and the next morning, the 18th, Gen
Franklin passed through the Gap, advancing
about mile, and finding the enemy drawn up
in line of battle in his front, drew his own |
forces up in line ofbattle. While thus situa-
ted, the cannOnading in the direction of Ilar-
per's Ferry, which had been heard very dis |
tinctly all the moning--lIarper's Ferry being |
about seven miles dstant-suddenly ceased, |
wherenpon Gen. Franklin sent word to General |
Mcclellan OF the probable surrender of Harper's |
Ferry by Col. Miles, and did not deem 1t neces-
sary to proceed further in that direction.
The battle of South Mountain was fought on
Sunday, the l4th.
On the same day, Sunday, during the after
noon, the enemy, at Harpers Ferry. attacked
the extreme left Of the line on Bolivar Heights.
but, after some time, were repused hy Inc