Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-10-04
Miscellaneous.
The Siege OF Harper's Ferry.
THE THREE DAYS FIGHTING.
ESCAPE OF THE UNION CAVALRY
spondence ofthe New York Herald

The following is statement of M. j.
Coblc, bugler in Captain Hunters COM
pany of the first Maryland Battalion Of
Cavalry, and Peter j. Cauhlin, private
in Captain Colocs' company of the same
battalion, who we're taken prisoners at
Harpors Ferry, yesterday morning, and
paroled:
They stated that our forces at Harper's
Ferry numbered from eight to ten thous-
and infantry and cavalry-most of the
latter, of whom there were about three
thousand, making their escape before the
surrender of the place. They state that
the rebel force which first advanced upon
Harper's Ferry was about twenty thou
sand, under the pommond of Gen. Hill.
Colonel D. II. Miles, Acting Brigadicr
General, was in command Of our forces at
Harper's Ferry, and made good fight,
Notwithstanding the overwhelming num-
bers of the enemy. He retained the COM
mand until eight o'clock yesterday (Mop'
day. morning, when he was severely, if
not mortally, wounded by a piece of shell,
in the left leg. After this, General White
who was present and engaged in the con-
test throughout, took the command.
On Saturday morning the rebels com.
menced an attack on our batteries on the
Maryland Heights and our forces there,
with artillery and a strong force of infan-
try. Fighting continued at this point
through the day, and there were good
many killed and wounded on both sides
About four P. NJ. the rebels were largely
reinforced, and were then in such over
whelming numbers that we were obliged
to abandon the Maryland Heights and re
treat across the river.
During the day the rebels made theil
: appearance upon Laudoun Heights, upon
the Virginia side of the river, with their
signal corps, which attempted to commence
: their Operations from the top of the
Block House. They we're shelled from
Camp Hill, and at the third she'll aisap
peared. They were shelled from Bolivel
= Heights, but did not return the FIRE.
Saturday night passed in comparativ
quiet, our forces lying on their arms. A
. daylight on Sunday morning skirmishinl
. began on the Charlestowl pike, but with
out serious results on either side. Ou
forces maintained firm front, and CAV
= way not an inch before the advances of tn
y rebelG,
n At about 2 o'clock P. M. the enem
n succeed in getting their position on Lou
: doun Heights, on the Virginia side, an
s opened on our position. Batteries wer
also opened upon our forces from the Maj
. yland Heights, but rather weakly, and a
II 80 from tho direction Of the Charleston
y pike, =.
70 The cannonading from this time wa
IT terrible. Our batteries from Bolive
Heights, Harper's Ferry and Camp Hi
,, were in full play in response, ana inc Ver
IS mountains, rocks and valleys seemed to b
Is alive with the detonations Of heavy artil
lr lery. The rebels were in very stron
ii force-not less than fifteen thousand mel
and the engagement was desperate an
4. continuous until about sqndown, when th
IN enemy, repulsed and beaten, withdre
l. from the fight and retired to position o.
is of range.
a After sunset the contest was suspende
r and quiet reigned through the long nigh
- During the night the rebels were not ina
We tive, and at daylight on Monday morni'
ri, they opened with terrible power from Sc
to en- or eight different points In fact, o