The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-30

DEF OF HARPERS FERRY.
prom The New YORK rribunes IIupers retr cor.
rr-iwudcncc, sept Us
On Saturday, Colonel Downey, with
the Third Maryland Regiment, was or
dered TO Maryland Heights, and subsc-
quenlly the 10th New York was sent
over. There was some brisk fighting
during the morning, the rebels slowly
working their way over the crest Of the
bill and our boys disputing their way
courageously Here the 126th behaved
very badly, aud the fault lies with some
OF the officers as well as the men. They
broke ranks aud ran, some even throwing
their guns away, and the two companies
never stopped till they reached the pom
tOOn bridge. There Lieutenant Binney,
Aide de- Camp 10 Colonel Miles, succeed
ed in stopping The rout with drawn sabre,
and sent the fellows back 10 the hill
Colonel Sheriff. urged his men not to
disgrace themselves in running, and did
all in his power TO rally them, while do
ing which he received a ball in his Jaw,
inliicting severe wound. Adjulant
Barras also distinguished himself by his
gallantry and eXertion TO stop the panic,
and received the thanks of Col. Miles
for his conduct In their haste to flee
from the mountain, the men ran over the
Thirty ninth New York, and also the
Third Maryland. The officers of both
these regiments ordered their men 10 stop
such proceeding at the point of the BAY
onet' The other New York regiments
are ashamed of the conduct of the l2Gth.
The excuse that they were green troops
viii not suffice, as the 10th is also a
new corps and stood their ground, fight
ing manfully.
AS the fight progressed our troops con
centrated nearer the battery, when Cap
tain McGrath and Captain Graham both
opened upon the woods with shells, aud
succeeded in etlectually Smelling the
rebels back again. The positions of
Captain McGrath's and Captain Graham's
batteries were such that,they could pre-
vent any large force from advancing i'm
a body upon the guns. The firning of
musketry had now ceased, but the bat
teries continued Smelling the woods,
making them very uncomfortable for any
human being Judge with what surprise,
then, the occupants of Bolivar Rights
saw long column of infantry marching
from Maryland flights TO the Ferry. Can
it be that they are evacualing was the
query on every ones lips.
Looking over to the camps the arlilIer-
lists were observed at thoir posts. and
each tried TO persuade the other that il
was only some THse. But, alas il was
too true Colonel Ford had ordered the
evacuation for what reason the men
could not learn. Captain McGratb, az
true and brave soldier as ever walked.
upon receiving the order TO spike his
guns, was SO astonished that he refused
TO obey it, and not until he saw infantry
deserving him, could he be induced 10
perform the disgraceful task. He sat
upon his guns-hs baby walkers, as he
called The Dahlgrens and wept like a
child, telling Colonel Ford that " no ma
Ter by whose order il was done. ii was a
piece of treachcry."
This Abandonment of the KEY TO the
whole position certainly requires the most
cariul investigation at the hands Of the
proper authorities. Colonel Ford had
positive and written orders TO hold the
place TO the last extremity. Five thous-
and troops and all our batteries were TO
aid him. Colonel Ford had remarked
that che had looked the hill all over.
and made his mind up to stay there ="
that "nOt man should come down until
they had been whipped from it" Suisse
quent action certainly gave the lie TO his
words. Colonel Miles, who was at the
extreme left, upon learning that the
troops were leaving, rode hastily 10 the
spot but met the men on their way up
the hill, and learning that the guns were
spiked, did not order them back as he
intended doing. As there was much
talk as 10 whom belonged The response
bility of the evacuation of this battery
and position, your correspondent asked
Colonel Miles If il was done by his or
ders. No, sir; but in direct opposition
TO them was the unequivocal reply
The Dahlgren guns were thoroughly
spiked, and tipped oil the platform into
the dirt. Had the infantry remained 10
assist, they would have been precipita.
ted into the canal. The rilled gun and
the Napoleon hoWit2ers were also render
ed useles. Officers and men were thun-
derstruck at the performance, and Colo
mel d Utassy, commanding the first brig
AIDE, offered 10 retake and hold the posi-
sition, but Colonel Miles refused.
The evacuation received the meriled
condemnation of officers and men. Every
one saw that the way for the rebels was
now open; the door locked il is true, but
the key hung outside. Hardly had the
hill been deserted ere the rebels reap
peared on London Nights in consider
able force, and commenced signaling.
Captain Graham opened his batteries
upon them and made three excellent line
shots, the third scattering the party, and
driving the signal-hag into the woods.
Captain Won Scheleim's battery also
commenced firing upon them and did
execution. No notice was taken by the
rebels Of our firing that they were
bnsily at work getting a battery into po-
sition was apparent To whom they
were signaling could not be seen. Our
batteries fired upon them occasionally
during the afternoon, and must have
done some serious damage, as the shells
fell right in their midst
During the day General Whites troops
assigned positions. Phillips Battery was
ordered 10 the extreme right, the Sixty
fifth Illinois supporting IT, These Joined
the first brigade, a. Utassy. The 10th
New York was assigned 10 Colonel Trim
Bile commanding the second Brigade.
The battery Of Captain Won Scheleim
occupied the center and that OF Captain
Rigly the left. The left was clearly our
weakest point, and a brcastwork was
thrown up 10 protect the guns and men
under the direction Of Captain Powell OF
the Engineer Corps Captain T., with his
" brigade OF Contrabauds,' did excellent
service in making other earth works aud
digging rifle pits The fertilization of
the Left mas good as tar ss IL went bat