Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-20

The Surrender Of Harper's Ferry,
Report Of the Investigating Commission.

The Commission, consisting OF Major Gen.
D. Hunter, u 5. A. OF Vols. Pres Major
Gen q. CadwuIader, u. 5. A. OF Vols. !;
Brig. Gen C. z Augur. U. s. A OF Vols +;
Major Douu Piatt, A A u. Of Vols Capt.
T. Ball A. d. c OF Vols Col. j Hot,
Judge Advocate General, called 10y the Gov
ernluent to investigate the conduct of certain
Officers Connected with and The circumstances
attending the abandonment OF Maryland
Heights aud the surrender of Harper's Ferry,
have the honor to report the following:
On the Sd of September. Gen. White en-
tered Harper's Ferry with his lorce from Win
chester The next day he was ordered To
MartluSburg 10 take command OF :he forces
there On the 10Th OF September he again
returned to Harper's Ferry, where he remain
ed uutil the surrender without assuming the
command
On the 7th of September, General McCel
lam the most of his forces having preceded
him, lett W 4shington under orders issued some
dsYs previously. TO drive the euemy from Mary
land That night be established his head
quarters at Rockville, from which place, on
the llth of September. he telegraphcd to Gen.
HaIIcck to have Col Miles ordered to JOIN
hlm at once
On the 9th of September Col. Thomas II
Ford SD Obio, took command of tue forces
on Maryland Heights. Forces were placed
at SOlomon's Gap aud at Sandy Hook. Those
at Sandy Hook, uuder Col MauIsby, retired,
10y Col Miles oruer, to the eastern slope Of
Maryland Heights, two or three days pre-
Yious to their evacuation by Col. Ford On
the llth Of September the force at Solomon :
lniu in, fIn fN,ln
Ford called upon Colonel Miles for reinforce
merits The l26th New York aud the 39th
New York (Garibaldi Guards} were sent him
Oh Friday tue l2th of September, aud on the
morning Of the 18th he was further reinforced
by the 18th New York and a portion of IL
Maryland regiment unoer Lieutenant Colouel
Dowu2y.
Colonel Ford made requisiton for axes and
spades to enable him to construct deIenceS on
the Heights, but ebtaiued none. With ten
axes, belonging to some Maryland troops.
hiring all that could be obtained a slight
breastwork OF trees was constructed on the
18th, near the crest of the Heights, and a
SlaShng of timber made for d short distance
iA front OF the breastwork The forces under
Colonel Ford were stationed at various poiuts
on Maryland Heights, the principal force be
Ing on the crest of the hill near the breast
work aud look cut SkirmishiDg commenced
on Friday, the 18th, OH the crest Of the bill.
Early on the morulng of the 18th, the ene
my made an attack ou the crest Of the hill
and, after some tune, the troops retired III
some confusion TO the breastsork, where they
were rallied. About nine o'clock, u second
attack Was made, which the 'roops behind the
hrpa I'D Eor md
I'll Colonel Sheriff., of tue 10th New York
was wounded, aud carried of the field, when
the entire l2Gth Regiment, as some witnesses
testify, AL but two cOmpauIes, Major Hewitt
states, broke aud fled in utter ctnfts on. Men
and most OF the officers all fed together, DC
effort being made TO rally the regImeat ex
cept by Colonel Ford, Lieutenant BlrraS, act
Ing adju,ant, aud some officers of Other reg
meuts, directed by Colonel N les, then on the
Heights. Soou after the remaining forces al
the breastwork fell back under supposed
order from Major Hewitt, who himself say.
that he gave no such order, merely seat III
struc;iouS 10 the captains of his own regimen,
that, lfthey were compelled to retire. TO d.
SO 10 good order Orders were given 10y Colo
mel Ford for the troops 10 return to their po
SltIon. They advanced some distance up tht
delights, but did not regain the breast~ork
That evening Colonel Miles was on Mary
iand Heights for some hours, consulting VIII
Colonel Ferd. He left between ii aud Il
O'Clock, without directly ordering COlone
cord to eRacuate the Heights, bat nstructin4
HIN, IN case be was compelled to do SO, t,
spike his guns. aud throw the heavy siege gun
do"u the uouulan. About 2 O'Clock, perhaps
little later, by the order of Colonel Ford
The Heights were abandoned, the guns bsing
spiked according to Instructions
on Sunday, Colonel D'Utassy sent over te
fae Maryland Heights four companies, uudel