Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-26
LATE NORTHERN MfWg,
We lnake few additional selections this
morning from papers froIu YsnkeeduIn, bear
ing date OF the evening of the Goth inst:
FROM the New York Times.
HHO rs RESPONSIBLE?

Ing uate VI Iie evening OF Tue ZULU lnSL
IFros. the sew York Times
FH0 rs RESPONSIBLE?
It is clear, from the narrative of our cor
respondent, published in the" Times" Of yes
terday morning, thu: the evacuation Of Mary
land Halghts, on Saturday afternoon, in fact.
compelled Ill. surrender of Harper's Ferry, al
though Tho battle did not take place until
Monday morning. AS long as those Heights
remained In our possession it wa utterly in1-
possible for the enemy to SEIZE the Ferry. IN
hs gsstertay's report, our correspondent ao-
stained Irr;u anT attempt to fix the rsspnnei-
blity Of :ims snr'rE'icr either upon Col. r. II.
Ford. NJ ohio, ",rp commanded orr forces on
the delights, or upon Col. Miles, whn COLI
handed him. We nave, however. since re-
ceived the following note lrOm him Gil that
sub iect:
TO Tho Editors oil The n I. "fimes -
B., WHOM tha order for the evacuation Of
Mary land Heights, ny which Harper's Ferry
WAS lost WAS given, is point to be deter
mined hereafter. | saw the order to Capt.
AlcGrath commanding him TO spike The guns,
and II .rnS acT'ttten by Colonel Ford, who WAS
in command Of the Heights. His friends a.
lirmed lnost explicitly 1hnt il c,nenated from
hesdo uarters. On the other hand, a L:eaten-
ant i'll tho 18th New York Regiment, who
stood cunyersiIs with Cuiunel Miles 1T The
time the retreat began, niJrIned LIE distinctly
that when be cast his eve up the mountain
End Saw our u.er sp:kiag the guns, 10 ex-
claimed, "GVod God, he is giving up the
Heights !" that hu resled in his saddle, and
pAa apparently almost overcome.
Coloae Miles evidently had confidence in
our ability to hold them. In conversation
with hin on the Wednesday previous he
stated to several Of lis that he could mud
them nyninst amy force. THE s.emy can
never take shoul," he Affirmed.
,'G the day after the retreat Colonel 13.i!le'
rode up u, the Captain If the isomG;;sserv, rs
several of us 'TIre standing around hiu, suJ
sad in AT abrupt munneT: 'Captain, yo,l
.7c irj;i-ing I1t greatly ty reporting about
| town inaI t::;!rred tbs. Maryland Trigh:n to
br evacuated" The charge Was denied IN
tot"
Later il. The dry anothsr officer rode up to
the Colonel '.ad put the question to him point
hin,h.: Did YOU, or did Won not order tbs
Heighs 20 be evacuated lie said solnu-
| hing in reply about discretionary powers:
orr nnthirg that could learn in regard To-
Tritton orders.
Passing Colonel Ford's quarters on The
| Heights, not long after noon, he called me in,
| re,narking, in the presence Of several others
| sThr 18th New York mas acted disgracefully;
they ran back over my own regiment and
| completely frustrated ny Plans" This
would ip ply thIt crisis had been reached
which must be met Immediately. Did he
than decade on his own or 81 anorher'> re-
spi.nsihiity 10 have the big guns spiked, rarha7
than c:,n.it.ar longer igbting. and ,Gcar the
risk Of their being captured before being rau-
d-red useless sud turned upon the Ferry
Culnuci Miles WIS on the sTour,, much Of
TIE day, apparently directing oPeratious.-
| rhs movements Of the enru,y at other points
doubtless prevented his being there all the
time. On Ole or another Of two parties rests
The responsibility. Colonel Miles is in his
grave. Colonel FoTr: alooe can solve TIE dis
cn:ph point These statements--in publish
| ms w:,i..i. violate no private trust. having
br-li tnaJc in the presence OF numerous par
tirs-It, called cut by the poeti.e drSsara-
! ton Of a wrii-r tina: Colonel Ford surrender
| 81 The sLrnng ,.,Il al has own discretion. una
! Is y desire t., throw that hight We cen upon
! ,he unsettled point. THE IIaEs REroprEs
While luis is nv 10 Means Conclusive, it
| leaves little room 10 doubt that C1lnEr; Ford
surrendered the delights, either without any
orders a; all (and there is no =videncu that DC
| bad ..,.,n prsE:sSlon 20 abandon t1em under
| .ry ,;ircunStapcesi or in the premature and
| inus, Gu; p..tle exercise Of discretion given
! him hy his commanding officer, IL eft her case.
hs WAS apparently guilty OF NEST DISASTROUS
| and criminal desertiaii nf his post.
We ,r,;=s that 90 exigenci-s of The public
| service " Ill 10. iu-corG:d which vi!i render
| It inronv.nleI;, for the governments To max.
this surrender the sunjoct Of inqoir;:;. L"io-
mel Fnrd Dies not seem ~ h- especially
n=~'ied in any part of the field, just q. pre-
s.nt: er3, indeed, his perole Tenders it ir'
l,"ss!rle Tor H.: gDverhu:ent IT, AVA! 0: biz
services anywhere r,crpt against tbs Indians
ami ". hof.o he IDuy re spured from that
ri:id. without serious drriruent, Dntii 1t cen
e. determined under what Inspiration his
early surrender OF this key TO tho positions OF
nj. ;.',nI,s ~as made. I've p-esume that
Camera! HcCinllan can spare him Tor such H
putPoar.