The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-11-18

to buiIJ aaoIet hoac unless
ygu boall liyc long than most man
kind ~ p Farmer
The Rrrorr OF THE lIARrER's
FgRGy INVESTIGATING CoumssioN.
This commission, consisted Of Ma
jor.Gen. 6 Cadwalder Brig Gen. G.
&. Aagur, Major Dom Piau, Capt
f. Bah, Col J. holt Judge Advocate
Gen.
The following Is a synopsis Of tie
material facts reported, ani Of lhe
conclusions arrived al by the Commits
sion:
Col Mics was IN command 1T Ilm-
pcr's Ferry Gen. White vas pres
ent from Sept. II I'LL the surrender,
bat did not assume command. Col
Ford took command Of Maryland
Heights Sept ). Gen. Mcclellan left
Washington for Rockville Sept. Z,
most Of bis forces preceded him.
Tie enemy attacked Maryland
Heights on the morning Of Sept. Is,
The l2Gth New York broke and fed
lisgracefully, and the breastworks o.
the hill was lost. Col. Miles was on
Mary land Heights that evening for
some hours, consulting with Col. Ford.
lie leG between II and II O'clock,
without directly ordering Col. Ford
10 ey cuats the Heights, but with d.
rocjioa, 70 spike lIis guns if compelled
10 ~ aadon. About 8 O'Clock Col.
Ford abandoned the Heights The
enemy lid not occupy them, and the
next day Col. Duiassy scntoycr four
companies, WHO brought away four
guns aud a wagon load Of ammunition.
AGcr the evacuation Of Maryland
Heights Col Miles sent word 70 Cen.
Mcclellan, then al Frederick city,
that unless reinforced he could not hold
OF IS hours. Gen. Mcclellan there
upon dispatched a messenger 10 Gen.
Franklin, who was engaged with The
enemy at Champions Gap, wholly
unable TO give tic needed assistance,
or to give tin time Gen. Mcclellan
appears 70 have made no o.hor cfort
t3 relieve the Le'eagured stronghold
: The enemy attacked Harpcrs Ferry
itself on tie morning Of the l5lh, aud
At 6 n, N. the surrender was agreed
Of, Col Miles representing to the
brigade commanders whom be com
suited that his ammunition wa nearly
exhausted, and they concurr.ng in his
decision TO urrcn Ter.
The Commission aoguit Gen. White
Col. D'utassy and Col. TrimbIe ofalI
blame for the surrender and praise
de capacity and couraga ottha former
They find that Col. Ford was given
by Col. Miles, discretionary power tc
abandon Maryland Heights, but that
the exercise Of lis discretion was pre-.
mature; lie conducted Tic defense
with no abiiily,and that lis exhibition
81 lack Of capacity was such as to dis
quality him for command.
COL Miles Il convicted Of incapacit,
ana criminal neglect, especially il
neslecting 10 fortify and hold Mary
land Heights, the key Of the position
and the evidence stated in the repor
concerning his communications witl
the Rebels is such as 70 raise iht
strongest suspicious of lrcachery also
Gen. Wool i grayely censured io
placing 50 incapable an officer as Col
Mile. in 90 nmaud.
Concerning Gen Mcclellan III
evidence advanced in tie report, an'
the opinion ezpres Cd by The Com
mission. are most direct and damag
ing. Tie Geaeral-iu-CLef tesihe
tbat Gen. Mcclellan, after recei,ia,
orders io drive the enemy from Mary
land. matceed On al average Of onlJ
SIX miles . day IN par uit, ard that j.
. lis opinion be both could and Shout,
lave flc - al projected I.ar
Ferry an1 ts .4 CON
fully e.a
TI 7r Says there aiIi b ~
B 3laius aeaias. .aa aA5te
ruaiae I h ara q