New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-01

SONS processing more or less-princinallv less-
knowledge Of the facts in the case. that ous fee,s
some hesitation in again writing upon the tonic lest
he may be regarded as one Of theft not n. ali.
able gentleman" who has been 20 instrumental in
making middle Of war news during the psst year
or more. A statement Of facts, isolated from thu
general account of the affair." by one who was present.
may explain away some Of the prejudice which
exists against Col. Miles, and tend to soften tie
hsrsh epthets applied to one who, MORALLY wounded
Oh the field of battle, now rests n soldiers grave.
All accounts agree that the evacuation Of Maryland
Heights was the real cause of the ultimate surrender
That evacuation has been set forth as the act Of COL
Miles, that is to say, it is made to appear that it
was done BY his orders The writer of this was pre-
sent at conversation between Col. Miles and Col.
Ford, on the occason Of visit By Col Miles to tho
battery and camps on Maryland Heights. AT that
time an attack was expected the next day. Col.
Miles spoke Of the strength and Importance Of the
position, and told COL Ford that he expected him 10
hold il to the last extremity, to which end such re-.
endorsements as were necessary should be sent hin
and all assistance rendered that the exgeuces of the
case might require. Col Ford, in reply, said cell
hell cant drive me from it. ! know nv men will
tight and | do not mean to be whipped out, no, @
shall come down to tell they have been
whipped away from it. / don't want any REINFORCE
ments, think that you (ueaning Col. Mies and the
force the other side will have to come no to ne
for protection" and more of the same tenor. Col.
Miles answed that he didn't think rhetorical flourish
would do much toward it, but believed COL Ford
and his troops would be able to give good account
of themselves The impression then seemed to 10
7 ~ al al
where Col Ford said he had strong pickets, and sug.
gestons were made by Col. Miles as to incgea,ed
vgance in that quarter. At the time of this yisit
Capt McGratb, commanding the battery, was n.
formed of the expected attack, and answered tha, he
" was ready" Inquiry was then made by Col.
Miles as TO whether one Of the heavy guns could lie
brought to bear upon certain points for the purpose
of sheling out any Rebels who might intiude Capt.
McGrath replied that he could place the gun as to
have the desired effect. The Captain also remarked
that bis men rusting out, and he hoped that
an opportunity would be offered soon to take some
OF the rust of.
Subsequently Col. Ford remarked to Major Steiner
and your correspondent that he had looked the bill
all over, was satisfied that it was a strong position
and meant TO sag there" that he thought q email
force ought to keep dsproporionatey large one ut
bay. 1t was afterward subject Of comment between
the two listeners, that they glad to hear Col.
Ford say so, as they thought be meant it, and would
fight. a9
Aside from these verbal orders given bv Col.
Miles, and the remarks as to the impregnabity and
Importance Of the position, it was known and &C.
knowledged by officers, men, and citizens, that
Mary land flights was the key to the whole position,
and the imperative necessity Of holding them was
felt by ALL In addition to verbal orders Col. Miles
sent Col. Ford a written order, az follows:
HARPEK's FxRRr. Sept IL, lec2.
c roTp 10 ~. ss Sa cS.. te
your position deensbe than spears when at your
station covered e s al points By the cannon Of Camp
bill You VII hold aud chm hodon until the cows tAs
'''' D. 5. MILES. Colonel I'd Infantry.
Col Ford Il is understood, bas denied receiving lis
ORDER The order could hardly have missed him, as
The orderlies were always required to bring back the
receipt for messages dispatches sent, ndorsed up
on the eu'oiVrs, I'D any emission upon 90 inlpor-
tant an order woAid have been noticed. rurlIrI-
more the remark of Col. Miles which will be found
below, in reference to Col Fords reply settles tie
point to its receipt by the person to whom it Was
addressed.
After the evacuation, your correspondent told
COL Miles that there seemed to be diversity Of.
opinion as to- who was responsible for tho
evacuation, and asked him frankly as to whether
it was done by his orders. No. Sir, but IN direct
opposition to them" was the reply already recorded.
Allusion was then made by COL Miles to the con-
versation before mentioned to which your cor.
respondent was listener, and also mention made
of tie order to hold on till the cows tail comes
off," Col. Miles remarked that Ford's reply 10 that
order did not indicate that lie had the slightest in.
tenton Of giving up the Nights. This certainly
proves the receipt of the dispatch.
The statement has also been made that Col. Ford
had f" discretionary powers" Admitting his,
which iO than improbable, then the necessity
Of the evacuation must he proved. Az .hA time the
troops retired, the Rebels bad been sheled back
from the woods by Capt. McGraths and Capt. Ora.
hams batteries, which were both firing the troops
marched down. Officers and men who were in the
most advanced positions the Nights say not =
Rebel was to be seen, though their presence or TIE
other side Of the mountain is not denied fhe asser.
ton that the High.s were not surrendered until the
ammunition gave ont, made in The Herald TO
doubt arises from the happy faculty Of that sheet Of
making parts of two or three stories dove-tail into
each other. As this Is often done in q tolerab,y
workmanlike manner, the incongruity Of the MARIA
tive ia not readily detected by tie reader The as
ssron is clearly dsproved by the fact, that on Sum-
day the expedition sent up Maryland lights by
Col. Utassy, brought down quantities Of smmuni-
tion which proved Of service on Monday, and left
some still behind.
That Col. Miles was remiss in his duty in net
arrestiug Col. Ford and ordering re-occupation Of
the Nights if only to prevent the Rebels from plant
inn a hatfarx fhare In not denied That ha nlso