The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-10-23

OdubeQ Dy WHuL u AhLhuhlgiOh
and Water.
we are indebted to the kindness Of
Mrs. Marlay for furnishing US the fol-
lowing extracts from apriVate letter Of
her husband, with permission to publish
them for the benefit Of our readers
ED. News. LEA. ..... ..s
CAMP DoUaLAs, NEAR CHICAGO, l
. Sept. 29, 1862.
DEAR WIFE:-This is the first oppor.
tunity have had to give you any ac-
count of the Hurper's Ferry transac.
tion. l will undertake it now, with the
aid of diagram which l send you.
Col. Trimbles brigade, consisting of
four regiments, and Col. D'Utassy's,
consisting of three, we're stationed on
Bolivar Heights, each with battery of
artillery. Col. Ford, with his regiment,
the 32d Ohio, a Maryland regiment, one
or two parts of regiments, aud bate.
ry, was posted on Maryland Heights, to
hold the place aud protect battery of
very heavy siege guns, planted there
during the summer. The 97th Ohio
and some other troops we're stationed
on Town Hill.
Our entire strength was eleven or
twelve thousand, including 1000 caval-
ry. With this force we had line of
five miles to defend, besides the troops
sent to Maryland Heights. Such a
force, stretched out on so long line OF
defence, naturally weakened our defence
in every direction Cavalry, in siege Of
any kind, is of no use)
The enemy's force, from what we
could see, and learn from rebel officers
after the surrender, numbered from IS,
600 to 100000, and was posted as fol
lows: Jackson, Ewell and Hill on ou,
front, Longstreet on Maryland Heights
and Lee on Loudon Heights.
On Saturday Longstreet attacked ou
forces on Maryland Heights, under Col
/, Ford. A severe engagement ensued
lasting two or three hours. In conse
quence of the 126th N. York givin
, way and scattering like pack of COW
ards, as reported to me by Col. For
himself, his regiment was very severeI
cut up, and had to fall back to batter
No. l, his main point of defence. Her
he received orders from Col. Miles t
spike his guns, throw them down tn
mountain and return to town, which b
did. He told me that he besought Co
= Miles, Saturday night, to let him hav
e the Goth regiment and he would yet G
back and retake the Heights, but Col
, Miles refused.
9 The spiking Of those guns on Satur
day, aud the withdrawal of our forces
we considered virtual surrender of tn
place, and all that might follow wa
mere nonsense. The day we arrive
there remarked to Col. Hixson tha
we were in the wrong place. Marylan
: Heights was the true point of defence
because it commanded all others, bu
instead of being sta toned there, "
we're placed at a point commanded b
all others. lr
Saturday night all was quiet, but
was a night of terrible suspense, for "
5 could see the rebels making signals |
Q each other in all directions, from LOT
d don Heights aud from all their lines i
front of US. Every now and then the
changed tho motion and color of the
D flags, showing by these signals that the
u were drawing their lines closer iu upo
{ US aud changing the position of the
batteries. In fact, by these signals di
tant points can communicate with eaC
G other as we'll as by telegraph. Our aru
has signal corps, by which they con
is munieate as far as they can see, and
y night when they cannot see, they ser
j. up kites, rockets, and transparencies
is different shapes and oolors, every vari
ton in form and color having some pa
81 ticular Specification. orrs
/" staid up all that night, wutching
: all directions, for we expected hot ba
- tie in the morning. x **I
Sunday morning came, yet all W
quiet but with the naked eye aud |
!. the aid of glasses We could ses that Il
|. rebel lines wore drawn in upon us, az
e very soon, to all appearances, We wou
% be In deadly conflict Time passed {
AZ until about IL o'clock, when our Bri
\. ade Adjutant came riding up to me
great haste, (Col. Hixson being fel
officer of the day, left the regiment
y, my command) and stated they had i
], formation that the enemy was advancil
: rapidly aud In forcc--that I must ia
= the Goth to tho support Of Rigby's b.
terry. In a few moments the regime
was formed aud moving rapidly to {
r. place assigned it. ''a' '. 20. -
\ On arriving there, we went to wO
or with picks, shovels and spades, to thr,