The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-14
The Harper's Ferry Surrender.

NEw 4oRK, Nov. 1O.-The Tribune prints
The report of the Iiarper's Ferry Military
Commission and gives the following synop-
sis of the facts elected editorialy.
The material facts are as follows:
Col. Miles was in command of Harper s
Ferry. General White was present from
September 18th until the surrender, but did
OF assume command Col. Ford took com
mand of Maryland Heights, Sept. Gen.
Mcclellan left Was hington for Rockville,
September 7th. most Of his forces having
preceded him. The enemy attacked Mary,
land Heights on the morning of September
18th. The I26th New York broke and
fled disgracefully and the breastwork on
the hill was lost. Col Miles was at Mary
land Heights that evening for some hours,
consulting with Col. Ford He left between
II and 12 O'Clock without directly ordering
Col. Ford TO evacuate the Heights, but with
directions to spike bis guns If compelled to
abandon them About O'Clock Col. Ford
abandoned the Heights. The enemy did
not occupy them, and the next day Colonel
D'Utassey sent over four companies who
brought away four guns and wagon load
of ammunition. After the evacuation Of
Marylan Heights Col. Miles sent word to
Mcclellan. then at Frederick City, that un-
less reinforced he could not hold out forty
eight hours. Mcclellan thereupon dispatch
ed messenger to Gen. Franklin who was
engaged with the enemy at Champion Gap,
wholly unable to give the needed assistance
or to give it in time. Mcclellan made no
effort to relieve the place. The enemy at
tackled Harper's Ferry. On the morning of
the 18th at s A. NJ. the surrender was
agreed on. Col. Miles representing to the !
Brigade Commanders. whom lie consulted, 4
that his ammuni ion was nearly cxhausl ed, /
and they concurring in his decision 10 sur
render.
The Commission acquits General White, |
Colonel D'Utassey and Colonel Tremble of
all blame for the surrender, aud praise the |
capacity Of the former. They FIND that Col /
Ford was governed by Col. Miles, discre-
tionary power TO abandon MARYLAND Heights,
but that the exercises of this discretion was
premature, that he conducted the defense
with no ability. and that his exhibition of
lack OF capacity disqualified him from com
mand. Colonel Miles is convicted of inca
pacity and criminal neglect especially in
neglecting TO fortify and hold MARYLAND
Heights. the key OF the position and evil
dence given as 10 the report concerning his
course with the rebels is such as to raise
the strongest suspicious of treacherv. AL.
20 Gen. Wool is gravely censured tor plac I
ng so Incapable an officer as Col. Miles in
Concerning Mcclellan the evi.
ience ELECTED in The report and the opinion
by the commissioner are most di.
'ect and damaging. The General -in Chief +
estihes that General Mcclellan, after re.
'eiving orders to drive the enemy from
Maryland marched on an average of only
TX miles day in pursuit, and that in his !
opinion he both could and should have re-.
eased and Yrotected&H arper's Ferry in this
opinion the Commission fully concur :.
This. taken by itself, would be danasinp
o Gen. Mcclellan. But the whole country +
inows that however slow the march. it was a
asst enough to overtake the enemy; and the !,
)ommi sion, with An apparent unconscious 6
less of the effect OF their language, proceed
o say that Harper's Ferry Is well as e
daryiand Nights. was prematurely surren. p
erred" They say: r.
90 The garrison should have been satisfied \
hat relief. however long the delay, would
ONE at last, and that thousand men killed 3
, Harper's Ferry would have been a small q
,ss had the post been secured, and proba-
ly saved two thousand men al Aniie,am. ~
low important was this defense we can now :,
ppreciaie. OF the ninety ssven thousand .,
len, comprising At that time the whole of v
ee's army, more than one-third was at m
'ckipg Hsrper's Ferry, and Of this the
'ain body was in Virginia By reference =
the evidence it will be seen that q, the 5.