The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-03
HARPER'S FERRY,
and the Part the asd Ohio Volunteers Played
There.

~ TIE GD4AChs
have been reading with great interest the
" "reminiscences OF General Howard, Saving
the Nation" the Shiloh Campaign" and, in
fact the experiences Of all the brave boys who
write for TIE TRIBUNE. / have been waiting
and watching for letters from some of the SD
Ohio boys among whom there were SO many
accomplished scholars. The captain of com
pany A used to say that about all the men in
his company were 1T for Congressman, and
hence they were called the Congress COM
pany" Why don't some Of them open up their
batteries and let the world know that the old
Sd Ohio was engaged in deadly strife on many
bloody field?
Now, any one, upon reading the account of
the capture OF Harpers Ferry given by Gen
erai Howard and Z" Carleton" would naturally
infer that it fell without struggie-that the
II, 500 troops stationed there hadn't the courage
TO fight; and as / was there and participated
in the engagements, would like to have it go
on record that a part of the force, at least, did
fight and that goodly number of brave and
true men were killed and wounded. On the
11th of September, 1862, our pickets at Solo
mons Gap, six miles above, were driven from
their post by the rebel shells. In the evening
the valley over the Blue Ridge was grandly
illuminated by the camp-fres of Jaekson's
host. On the 18th our pickets near the gap
were again attacked, soon after taking their
post III the morning. The rebels were slowly
aud surely making their way along the crest of
the Blue Ridge. Three companies of the 32d
Ohio We're sent up to re-enforce the pckets,
and had sharp skirmishing all day. Early ON
the morning of the 18th, the 18Th and 126th
New York, 1st Maryland, and six other com
panies of the 32d Ohio, climbed the mountain
and engaged the enemy IN lively skirInish
until about half-past eight, when the ball
opened In earnest, and for three-quarters of an
hour we peppered them lively, but, being
1aDked by superior numbers, we fell back 10
post Lookout. Here we entertained them for
half an hour longer on the sharp summit Of the
Blue Ridge. But this time the enemy came on
IN overwhelming numbers, and we were obliged
TO fall back again. Two mountain hOwitzers
were brought up and did some excellent work,
and the heavy siege guns shelled the mountain
side. Colonel Miles had ordered Colonel Ford
who commanded the heights, TO fail back across
the river, and we understood at the time that
he had sent the order three times before Colo
mel Ford obeyed. If we had been properly for
tifed-and then shot Colonel AIiles-yTe might
have held the place till the promised re-en-
forcements came. Finding we could not hold
the enemy, we fell back, spikiag the siege guns
and dumping them down the mountain side as
also a battery of twelye-pounder brass guns
After eyacuating the Maryland Heights a party
went back and brought down part Of the
battery. The rebels soon after planted their
batbCI-6s oI INC l2lue hEuSt SHululI. IuFlGg
these engagements the 32d was in the front.
and bore the brunt Of the onslaughts Of the
enemy, losing over fifty men. The 126th New
York also lost many. think a portion of the
Garibaldi Guards also assisted in trying to
check the advance of the enemy on the heights.
BOLIVAR HEIGHTS.
We now took a position on the Bolivar Heights
from which Sc could see the rebels planting
their batteries on the Loudoun Heights, and
shelled them all the afternoon. at night the
rebel camp-fires were visible in every direc-
ton. Sunday, the 14th, cannonading from
our side began at 6 o'clock Re-enforce-
ments were promised at noon, but none came
1t was said a messenger had arrived from
Mcclellan, saying that if We could hold out
he would relieve US before night. We heard
heavy cannonading in the direction Of Fred
erick City, and supposed our re-enforcements
We're meeting with opposition ON the way. At
O'Clock p 10. the enemy opened upon us with
battery from L0udoun Heights, and soon after
from several guns on the Maryland Heights.
This was kept up till o'clock. when the rebel
batteries from every point of the compass
opened, throwing shells in every direction
through our camps. AT sunset the rebels on
our right advanced upon the Goth Ohio and
9Th Vermont, but were repulsed The 32d
Ohio was sent to the right of the 9th Vermont,
and just before dark the rebels attempted TO
behind rail fence gave them yoiley which
sent them back under cover. Finally, at dark,
they suddenly arose from their cover, and, with
yell like 10000 demons, advanced their line
extending far beyond our right flank, and
poured in well-directed volleys OF musketry.
/ The right Of the regiment, which was beyond
the fence, suffered very severely. We were
obliged TO fall back somewhat in disorder but
the line was reformed on road a little to the
rear, where we remained all niobt the rebels
being satisfied with their days work About
8 o'clock at night the 115th New York and
another of our regiments mistook each other
Tor the enemy and exchanged several shots.
September 10, at sunrise, the ball opened from
both sides with heavy cannonading. The rebel
batteries all along the summit Of the Blue
Ridge and on the hills in our rear and on the
TANKS opened up one Of their grandest can
nonades of the war, and until about 8 o'clock
1t seemed as if the whole heavens above were
breaking loose with a Thousand thunders, the
solid shot and bursting she'll flying in every
direction, killing and wounding men every
where within our lines At 10 O'Clock a short
council OF war was held, and Colonel Miles,
who commanded the post mounted his steed
and pranced down the lines, waving q white
flag. Soon the rebel batteries ceased firing
one after another, and the advance of Jack
sons army entered Harper's Ferry. Ten thou
sand men marched out and stacked their arms,
a general parole was given, and at o'clock at
night we marched to the bridge, where we
awaited the crossing Of the rebel host.
would like to hear, through THE TRIBUNE.
from others who were there As stated in
" Cartoons letter, Miles was killed, and our
cavalry made their escape, capturing part of
Longstreets train.--C. T. SMITH, Co |. 32d
Ohio, Tanktown, Ohio