Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-09-26
che tl)ar Mems.
THE BATTLE OF HARPERiS FERRY.
THREE DAYS FIGHTING.

psr's Ferry The following, as sketch
ei b tue writer, though from a Union
qatco. viii be read with some interest !;
gae sas &c eldas.
Oh the lnol8i slF fie ene a4v
ad begun to make tDeir appearance,
rec miles away, ON the Maryland
Heights, near Solomon's Gap, having
aseeuded from the rear. During the
week we had advanced to the extreme
top Of the mountain, and constructed
barricade Of trees, four hundred yards in
trout of what is known as the . look
out, and not far from an open clearing
Colonel Ford, Of the Thirty-secoud
Ohio, appointed to guard The Heights,
desired very much to make the fight at
Solomon's Gap, through which they
would have to enter, believing that he
could hold it successfully. Being, how
ever, oyerruled in h:s wish, he deployed
on Friday afternoon portions Of his own
aud the One Hundreth and Twenty
sixth New York Regiment as pickets,
under Maj. Hewitt, Thirty-seeoud Ohio,
along the mountain, this side of the
Gap Skirmishing commenced at about
half past three o'clock, continuing until
sandown. Owing to the thick under
brush. the skirmishing was Of bush
whacking character, as, indeed was all
The lighting on the Heights The Carl.
tadI Guards, Thirty ninth New York,
were, 10 the meantime, scouting still
further to the left. Under cover Of
night Major Hewitt deployed his men. as
yickets from one side to the other Of the
mountain, and then went down to head
curriers', to ask for reinforcements, be-
heving that the enemy would attack him
10 force on the morrow. He was prom
issd two or three regiments as soon as
sAev could come up in the morning -
gov slept that night.
Ihe Fight on Saturday.
9. .as.s Z -..arss. -i-ss-se -4ss.,l-l-s- n.as
fi4,l about three hundred yards ia
ssJai d our barricaie, as follows Com
BARNES X and b, First Maryland Home
atae, held the extreme right, the
ore ndudreth aud Twenty-sixth New
! ofk next 10 order, Thirty Ohio
aout and Centre, Garibaili lfuard ex-
IRENE left. Tae ofeements were
gent up late, eight companies Of the
THIRD Maryland Home Brigade not
reaching the field until s o'clock, ana
tie One Hundred and Eleventh New
I rs not until near nonu, too late to
teaacr any assistance to Companies /
h4d II Of the First Maryland Cavalry.
/" ..assell's R0ughs" advanced On foot
gUA revolver and carbines in band, IN
i.6at OF the line Of batlle near to the
clearing The enemy appearing 90 the
5.her side they fell back. The Rebels
b4e4. about seven o'clock, opened with
lnisae,ry on tie front and right, aud
made TWO partial charges, ia winch they
were handsomely rePuised Figbtiug
beaame general along the whole line,
eoauuuiug about ono hUur. Al tie end
o. THIS time the Rebels received rein
folcemerts and advanced with the most
torsic yells, at the same time beating
tls long roll. Tue l26th New York
,hsa became dIsorganizcd, md the whole
lite fell back TO the barrcade, fighting
IS hey reeeded Having reached the
barricade, new stand Was made, Col
Sasrrill, Of the 1z6'h, galiautly dis
mounting from his horse, aud with re-
volver in each hand, rallied his waver-
lax troops The balls fell thick and fast
around him, but he never ainched, call
~ upon +is boys 70 stay By him, uati
II was shot 10 The mouth 81 a musket
ball. aud borne 70 TIE rear Two-tbiids
81 tho regiment rallied and fought we'll
as-iug tie rest 81 the engagement We
malalalued our position for several
hoors, company K of the First Mary
land Home Brigade with its handful Of
men, preventing flank movement Oh
the right But the enemy turning our
lett flank, 70 were obliged to fall back
again for some distance The eighth
company Of the Maryland Home Brig
AIDE then coming 10 the support, VIC adj
vanced, re-occapying the lookout. -
Again, however, the enemy succeeded 10
fauking US on the left, and we were
obliged to fall bach, first to the guns, and
af.rrward down tht mountain
Our large guns o. the Heights com
meuced shelling the,woods 10 their rear
al 10 O'Clock, and 1kept it up until 81
O'Clock p. NJ, (oueO hour aud twenty
minutes after the oter to spike them
had been givon.) They were then dis
mounted, spiked aud Otherwise rendered
ineffective. Too much lraise can not be
awarded to Capt. McGtrh when com
handing the gus, for ca akillful man
n~r n Which he manned Nom A de-
,arbnent Of Fremon's, moe Familiarity
knowp as "jackass" guns were taken
~ tho Heights during the DAY aud rem
5ered valuable assistance. Whey we're
manned by company J. I"a-sth Regi-