Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-20
Particulars Of the Capture Of HarPer's
Ferry.

ticulars of the capture OF Harper FERRY
by the rebels. The evidence presented in
these facts clearly points to the most blum
dering generalship and incapacity as the
cause of the surrender of the position
which was Of vital Importance to us:
HARPERs FERRY, Sept. Is, 1862.
Now that the seige Of Harpers Ferry IS
over and the rebels have learned every
thing about the situation and the forces re-
Gently there, by capturing both, deserip-
ton Of the Notifications will not be contra
band, and may prove interesting.
Harper's Ferry is situated in the angle
formed by the confluence Of the Potomac
and the Shenandoah rivers. The town it.
self is literally buried in the surrounding
hills. Stretching across the base of the
triangle, is the ridge known as Bolivar
Heights, which, rising quite abruptly from
the town, spreads out into plain, and
then rising again, forms a kind OF
parapet, slOping down to the surrounding
country, the level of which is Of lower
grade than the plain. This formed the front
Of the position, and was occupied by the
lst brigade, Colonel F. G. d Utassy (39th
New York; commanding composed of the
ll5th New York, Colonel Scammon, Svth
New York lGaribaldi Guard), Major Hill
dehrandt 111th New York, Colonel SegOin,
and Captain Won Schleim's 18th Indiana
battery, and by the ID brigade, Colonel
Trimble, C60th Ohio Volunteers command
ing, and composed Of the Goth Ohio Vol
unteers, 9Th Vermont, l26th New York,
! Colonel Sherrel, and the Potts battery.
The hill rising Immediately from the
| town is designated as Camp Hill, and sur
rounded by an inner line of fintrenchments
to fall back upon in the event Of being
/ driven from the more advanced position Of
Bolivar Heights. Here was posted the
reserve known as the Fourth Brigade,
| Colonel W. G. Ward, of the New-York
| 18th. commanding, composed of the 18th
| New-York, S7th Ohio, Captain Rigbys
| Company of Artillerists and Company A,
| New-York Heavy Artillery, Captain Gra-
| ham. There were mounted along the in
| trenchments some dozen hOwitzers, under
charge of Captain Rigby's company, and
to the left, upon the precipiee overhanging
| the Shenandoah, and commanding the az
proaches by the Shenandoah road, and
/ also I'D the Potomac from Sandy Hook,
we're placed two twelve and two twenty
| four pound ParrOtt guns and howitzers,
under charge Of Captain Graham. This
battery commanded the position on Boli-
var Heights, and raked the whole plain,
| across which troops must approach to the
inner intrenchments. It also had range
Of Maryland Heights and London Heights,
| and was emphatieally strong position.
On the Maryland side of the Potomac,
| in the angle formed by the bend of the
I s0l,F 1
! feet elevation. A little more than half
the distance up the mountain was placed
the battery which commanded all the other
| batteries and the surrounding country
for miles around, and was the key to Har-
pers Ferry. This battery consisted of
two 11-ineh Dahlgren guns, one 50-pOund
rifed gun, and two light howitzers, under
command of Captain McGrath. A shot
from one Of the 11-inch Dahlgrens has
been thrown into Halltown, between four
and FIVE miles distant, and through q
house there located. To support this bat
terry, the Sd Brigade, Colonel Ford (32d
! 0hio). was posted on plateau to the right
of the battery, and low enough to be out of
range of the guns The brigade cOmpris-
1 ed the 32d Ohio battalion Of lst Mary
land Potomac Home Brigade, Major Stein
| er; squadron Of the Rhode Island Caval-
ry, Major Corliss; two companies lst Ma
ryland Cavalry, Captain Russell, and the
9Th New York Heavy Artillery, Captain
McGrsth.
To prevent surprise or to repel attack Hp
the back side of Maryland Hights, and
also to guard the approach to the Ferry
around the bend of the Potomac, a force
was stationed at about Sandy Hook, un-
! der command of Colonel Maulsby Of the
lst Maryland Regiment, Potomac Home
| Brigade, consisting Of the regiment just
named, Captain Coles Maryland Cavalry,
/ and part Of the 87th Ohio Volunteers
Two cannon were also with the command,
! served by Captain Graham's men. Up the
Potomac, at Shepardstown, Colonel Dow
ney was stationed with the Sd Maryland
Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade. Colo
mel Davis, with the 8th New-York Cavalry,
was encamped in town at the old rife fac
! tory. The positions given above are those
occupied by the troops prior to, and at the
commencement of the siege. The changes
of position are noted in the detailed ac-
count of the incidents General julius
! White brought with him from Martinsburg,
| the brigade composed of the l25th New
| York, Colonel Willard, 65th Illinois, 29th
Pennsylvania, 18th Illinois Cavalry, Col.
Voss, and Captain Phillips's Illinois Bat
terry.
On Friday morning the actual conflict
began by an attack upon Maryland Highs
at Solomon's Gap and in the rear from
/ Pleasant Valley. Capt. Cole, who was
thought to have been captured, came in
from near Frederick. He reported but few
of the enemy near that place, but had as
certained that force of 10000 had been
left in Pleasant Valley; this force was to
be divided into two columns; one Of20,00O
was to attack Maryland Heights, the other
Of like number was to cross the Potomac,
occupy London Heights and pass around to
our left This story, which at first was set
down as one of the magnifed rumors, soon
found confirmation in the reports received
from Maryland Heights that the woods were
swarming with rebels, and from our left
that our pickets along from the Shenan-
doah to the HalltOwn road had been COM
PEELED to retire from an advance move
ment Of the enemy. The sharp crack Of
\ rifles at first heard from the other side Of
Maryland Heights grew nearer and nearer
as though the enemy we're pressing ouI
troops back A detachment of the 39th
New-York, under Major Hildebrant had al.
ready been sent over to re-enforce Colonel
Ford, and some light mountain hOwitzer:
were also taken over. The rebels cOntinU.
ing topush our troops with vigOr, the l26tl
New-York were ordered over to their as
sistance.
In the direction of Sandy Hook and Pc
tersville the rebels also showed in force, in
creasing as night approached, and, fearful
that the small body of our troops there
might be run over by the masses of rebels
preparations were made to withdraw. Cap
tain Potts placed two of his guns in posi-
ton under the hill, to cover the retreat