The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-17
Surrender of Harper's Ferry to
the Rebels.
5000 FEDERALS TAKEN PRISONERS.
COL. MILES BADLY WOUNDED.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.
Harper's Ferry was surrendered TO the
rebels at 10 o'clock yesterday, after Col. Miles
had been severely if not fatally wounded. The
officers and men, supposed to be about 5000
strong, were parolled.
The Empire State and John Brooks arrived
at Annapolis this morning, with 1000 parolled
prisoners from Richmond. They were placed
on board these vessels on Sunday. The pris-
oners were captured by the enemy at various
places during the past four months; among
them are f. A. Lamb, Drummond, c. W.
Moore and ii. G.. Buell., military telegraph OPP
orators, who were taken in the latter part of
May N the valley. They assisted at Belle
Island in concentrating the parole of their
companions. They had no opportunity of as
certaining the condition of affairs at Rich
mond. About sixty civilians captured on the
peninsular and on recent battle-flelds, having
gone thither to attend to the wounded, are
confined in the Libby prison. They are not
regarded as prisoners of war.
BALTIMORE, Sept 10.
The following is from a special dispatch to
the American, from Frederick The combined
forces of Loring and jackson storlned the
works at Harper's Ferry yesterday morning,
and captured the position. Miles is said to
have made a desperate resistance. Accounts
differ, as some say he was wounded after he
hoisted the white flag, and other accounts are
that he was killed or fatally wounded before
the surrender. All our iorcers were parolled,
numbering 5000, some of whom have arrived
at Frederick. When the parolled men lett the
enemy were preparing to blow up the three
spans of the iron bridge. Reports were circu-
lated to-day in Frederick that Gen. Mcclellan
had retaken Harper's Ferry, but they were not
deemed reliable.
FREDERICK, Sept. 16
regret to have to announce the surrender
of Harper's Ferry with all the forces aud
stores there to the enemy at o'clock Monday
morning. Enlisted men and some officers have
been paroled, and arrived here from there.
gathered the following particulars from them:
The rebels commenced the attack on Friday
noon on our forces on Maryland heights
Skirmishing continued through the day and
renewed on Saturday. The enemy was driven
back with considerable loss. They came up
several times and were repulsed, when il was
discovered that they were approaching in an
overwhelming force, and the order was given
to spike the guns and throw them down the
mountains. The whole force from the heights
then returned in safety, the guns from Camp
Hill Smelling the enemy when they attempted
to pursue our retreating men. On Sunday
morning party of our men assembled the
heights and brought away their field pieces
which they had left unspikcd. Sunday, at
noon, the rebels appeared in great force on
Loudon heights. Miles shelled them from
point to point Sonic of their guns were dis
lodged, but they still managed TO keepup a brisk
fire from some of their batteries, which were
run back out of sight and loaded The can
nonading was kept up all day without doing
much damage. The firing ceased at dusk
Sunday evening, and was resumed again Mon
day morning at daylight, and kept up till 0
O'Clock, when Colonel Miles ordered the
white flag to be raised. There was consdera-
BILE fog and smoke, and the enemy, either did
not see the flag or would not see it, and kept
up a heavy fire for three quarters of hour.
About ten minutes after the flag was up, a
shell struck Col. Miles, SCATTERING his leg, aud
it was amputated before the prisoners were
parolled. There were 300 cavalry in the
command, all of whom but about forty escaped
about s o'clock Sunday night, and cut their
way through to Greencastle with but little
| loss. The balance of the troops. numbering
from 5000 to 5000, with Gen. Whites com
mand from Martinsburg, were all surrendered.
| Gen. Howe captured an aid of Gen. Stuart's
Monday afternoon, who was making his way
| from Harpers Ferry to Boonesboro, with IL
! dispatch from Gen. jackson to Gen. Lee, an
nouncng the capitulation of the place. The
aid supposed Lee was at Boonesboro, which
| place was in our possession. This was the
first intimation of the surrender that our grn-
erals received. At this time Gen. Franklin
was within three hours march of the Ferry
| going to the relief of the beleaguered command
whittier il had been sent by Gen. Mcclellan rs
soon as he received the dispatch from Col
Miles on Monday morning that he was in dan
| ger.