The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-14
General Mcclellan and Colonel Niles
1hr Censured tt's,i

| General Halleck to Secretary stanton III
reference to the want Of supplies & G.
for the army shows that nearly all the
lrequisitions had been answered by ths
QuartermasteFs Department but delays
in transportation prevented their arrival
TO the army depots.
A despatch from Mcclellan TO Meigs
exonorates the latter from blame, and
says the idea / have tried TO convey was
that certain portions Of the command
were without clothes, and the army could
not leave till supplied.
New York, Nov. 1O.-The Tribune prints
the report of the Harper's Ferry military
commission and gives the following sy-
nopsis of facts elected, editorially. The
material.facts are as follows:
Col. Miles was in command at Har-
pers Ferry. General White was present
from Sept. IL till the surrender, but did
not assume command. Colonel Ford
took command of Maryland Heights,
| September 9th. General Mcclellan left
Washington for Rockville, Sept. 9TH, most
of his forces having preceded him. The
enemy attacked Maryland Heights on
VIC uOTulnB Ol Dept' JOJHs
The 10th New York broke and fled
disgracefully, and the breastwork on the
Heights was lost. Colonel Miles was
on Maryland Heights that evening for
some hours, consulting with Colonel Ford.
He left between IL and IL o'clock, without
directly ordering Colonel Ford to evacu-
ate the Heights, but with instructions to
spike his guns if compelled TO abandon
them. About two o'clock Colonel Ford
abandoned the Heights.
The enemy did not occupy them, and
the next day Colonel Massey sent over
four companies, who brought away four
guns and a wagon load of ammunition.
After the evacuation of Maryland
Heights, Colonel Miles sent word to Nc
Clellan, then at Frederick City, that un-
less reinforced be could not hold out 48
hours.
Mcclellan thereupon despatched a
messenger to Gen. Franklin, who was en-
gagged with the enemy at Champions
Gap, that he was wholly unable TO give
the needed assistance or to give it in
time. Mcclellan appears to have made
no other effort to relieve the place. The
enemy attacked Harper's Ferry on the
morning of the 18th, and at 8 A. NJ. the
surrender was agreed on, Col. Miles rep
resenting to the Brigade Commanders,
whom he consulted, that his ammuni-
ton was nearly exhausted, and they
concurring in his discretion to surren-
der.
The commission acquit Gen. White,
N,1 81 - &c Ill
blame for the surrender, and praise the
capacity of the former. They find that
Col. Ford was given by Col. Miles dis
cretionary power to abandon Maryland
Heights, but that the exercise of this
discretion was premature. That he con-
Quoted the defense with no ability, and
that this exhibition of lack CT capacity
disqualifies him for command Col.
Miles is convicted of insapacity and
criminal neglect, especially in neglect
ing TO fortify and hold Maryland
Heights, the key of the position, and the
evidence stated in the report concerning
his course with the rebels is such as to
raise the strongest suspicious of treach-
cry. Also Gen. Wool is gravely censur-
ed for placing SO incapable an officer as
Col. Miles in command.
Concerning Mcclellan, the evidence
adduced in the report, and the opinion
expressed by the commission, are most
direct and damaging.
The Generol-in- Chief testifes hat Gen
eral Mcclellan, after receiving orders TO drive
the enemy from Maryland, marched on an
dvarage only si1 miles day IN pursuit, and
that i1 his opinion he 10th could and should
have relieved HarPer's Ferry, In this opinion
the commission fully concur.
We republish, in connection with this
startling statement, an account of the
recent dismissal of Major KEY, from the
United States army:
EXECUTIVE MANSON,
WAsHINaTON, Sept. 26, l362.(