The New York herald., 1862-11-15
The One Hundrcd and Twenty.sixth New
York mt Harpcr's Ferry.
REPLY TO CHARGES THAT IT WAS GUILTY OF BAD
CONDUCT.
The One II


CAN'T DoreIAs CAcAGo, H., Nov. IL, 1882
In several communications respecting tho
Harpers Ferry tho One Hundred and Twenty sixth regi
ment Of New York Volunteers has been stignatized
having acted In a shameful manner That statement has
now gained importance not hitherto belonging il
from the report Of the Harpers Ferry Commission
decarss-f newspaper accounts to be trused-that
the regiment broke aud disgracefuy fed regard for
our own reputation and the reputation Of the men We
command, demands that we shall be longer silent
under imputatlons equally injurious and unfounded
Therefore all the line officers of the One Hundred and
Twenty regiment living who present ut
the engagement Maryland Heights, do declare upon
our honor as gentlemen and soldiers that the following
statements are I,
1. That in the fpst assault early in the msrning Of
September IS, eight companies Of the Hundred and
Twentysixth regiment with part OF the Thrtysecond
Ohio were drawn up in the advance In line oftbstts
Maryland Heights and though in position strengthened
by no Defence either Of OF exposed
the attack OF vastly superior force they did not
TO the breastworks
2. That tho whole regiment in the engagement a,
the breastworks excepting company that compa
ny abandoned those defences before the regiment
did excepting three companies ordered the left 70 re-
pei flank attack. This they did eiectually.
Ihat after the wounding OF Colonel Sheriff. field
or sn ocer OF our regiment was present 10 know
edge that orders Of the contradictory character
constantly followed one another and that after the fall
OF our Coionei no field officers Of any regiment
by1 any one of until we had ialcn back from the
breastworks at least three quarters Of mile.
T. Tha an order, unnecessary, il not criminal.
abau don the breastwcrks, given BY member Of
Colonel fords stan to Captain Phillips, appointed by
Colonel command of our left wing that tho breast
works could have been held and in our opinion should
have been held, for long time altogether by the
force there present. and that the order abandon them
was based upon the ground that the woods 10 be
shelled by our guns.
s. That this order Captain Phillips refused to communi.
cate TO the men until the abandonment OF the position by
the other regiments rendered il no longer tenbe Iud
viduals may have fled previously but neither the rcg
menr nor any company OF it, left the breastworks until
the Thirty second Ohio and the Garbald Guard had in
obedence 70 commands, retired from those dciences
o. That tho regiment then retreaed in good order
any other on the ground, then drawn up line OF
battle. and in that position remained unmocsted until
ABOUT half past three o'clock p when IL received the
command 10 leave the heights.
T. That, in the engagement on MARYLAND Heights the
One Hundred and Twenty sixth regiment men
together
10 the truth of the above we are willing to
bear witness anywhere and however much
the conduct OF the regiment have misrcpresent
Cd by officers who early from the
IN nrs reaching The reporters by officers interested
our charge tho blame Of defence badly pianned and
badly maintained. All ask OF our countryInen s us.
nee hat having done as much and suffered than
the odum Of result for which responsible
wM. A. COLEMAN, Capt. Co b.
r. A. BAssErr, let Lieut.. Co. B.
WINFIELD SCOTT, Capt Coo
7. r L0UNSBURG, LIST Lieut. Co. A.
ID. PHILLIPS, Capt. Co. ID.
CA. RICHARDSON. list Lieut.. Co. D.
=. +. LINCOLN, ID Lieut. Co. u.
HENRY ID. MPP. Capt. Co. Y.
GEO +. PRlTCHErr, LIST Lieut. Co f.
JOHN ii. BR0UGH, ID Iicut. Co T.
ISAAC SINNER Capt Co. +.
IRA MUNS0N, 1st Lieut.. Co. +.
7. H. MUNs0N, I'd Lieut. Co n.
JOHN f. ATKINS, Capt. Co. q.
SANFORD II PLAT, I'd I,e1t. Co. G.
q. J. HBRENDON, Can't. Co. II.
BENZ i. LEE, Capt. Co. !.
GIDEON SKAATS. 1st Lieut.. Co. !.
CHAS. M. WHEELER, Capt. Co X.
H. c. LAWRENCE, 1st Lieut.. Co X.