Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-25

burg next morning. While this move
ment Was in progress hs learned Of the
fall Of Harper's Ferry, and ordered the
concentration Of his whole army behind
the Antistam.
Let us turn now 10 operations about
Harper's Ferry. According to General
Lees captured order McLaws was to pos
sess himself Of Maryland Heights by Fri
day morning, September 10Th; Walker,
at the same time, Was, II practicable, to
be in possession Of Loudoun Heights (;
Jackson, by Friday night, September
18th. was expected to be in possession
Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
and "of such Of the enemy IS may DO
at Martinsburg." Jackson had by Tar
the longest march to make to reach
Barper's Ferry; it amounted to about
fifty miles. He was at Martinsburg,
according to orders, on the night OF the
18th, and had driven the Federal troops
from that place towards Harp0s
Ferry. About IL o'clock on the morn
ing Of the 18th the head Of his column
came in sight Of the enemy drawn up
on the Bolivar Heights. Thus Jack
son was fully on time. McLaws. who
had not half the distance Of Jackson to
march, entered Pleasant Valley on
the llth, and on the 18th pro-
ceeded towards Maryland Heights.
The way was rough. The Heights
themselves were not strongly guarded
by q small force, I think, Of two regi-
ments. 1t was about half-past A on
Saturday evening the 18th when Gen.
eral Kershaw succeeded in carrying the
Heights. The Confederate loss in this
operation was eight, which shows that
the resistance was not very deter
mined. 1t was so difficult to get artil-
lery upon the mountain from the Plea.
sant-Yalley side that General McLaws
had to haul them up by hand, and it
was 2 O'Clock P. NJ. Sunday, 4th, be-
fore McLaws's guns were in position to
cooperate with Jackson in the reduc-
ton of Harper's Ferry. Thus the cap
ture of Maryland Heights was ac-
complished not on Friday morning,
but some thirty hours later, on Satur-
urday evening, and when McLaws
got possession Of the Heights Jack
son had been for some hours at Bolivar.
Walker, who crossed to the Virginia
side at the Point of Rocks, reached the
foot of Loudoun Heights by 10 O'Clock
on the 18th, and took possession Of
them without opposition by 2 p. M. of
that day. By 8 o'clock on the morning
of the l4th his artillery was up and
ready for action. Thus Walker was a
full day later in taking possession Of
Loudoun Heights than was expected.
Thus the statement by General Long
street that McLaws made a hurried
march and reached Maryland Heights
before Jackson could get in position,
end succeeded in dong so, gives an en-
tirely erroneous impression. We have
nothing to say in derogation Of the
brave and skilful part performed by
General McLaws and General Walker
in the reduction Of Harper's Ferry
all honor to them for what they did
but it is evident that if McLaws made
a hurried march Jackson must have
made one more than twice as much hur-
ried. since in the same time he marched
about fifty miles to McLaws's twenty.
Nor is it true that McLaws reached
Maryland Heights before Jackson got
in position. 1t was General Lees in
tention, evidently, from his order, that
both McLaws and Walker should be in
position before Jackson, as it was like
~ that the enemy when alarmed would
attempt TO escape through the avenue to
be guarded by their commands, but
Jackson, as we have seen, was in front
Of Bolivar before either Maryland or
Loudoun Heights were occupied.
After the various commands were IN
position the intervention Of the rivers
between jackson and his colleagues
made it difficult to communicate with
them. The only means Of communica-
ton was by signals, and some hours
were consumed in learning the condition
Of affairs and transmitting the orders
for attack. General Walker opened fire
from his guns on the afternoon Of the
18th. jackson then followed suit, and
McLaws Joined in little later in the
afternoon. The fire from Walker
guns was effective, as it was plunging
fire at no great distance. McLaws was
too far off to accomplish as much, butthe
moral effect of his shells plunging from
the mountain.tops was no doubt great.
Jackson's troops were the only
ones who could come in contact
with the garrison, since the Po-
tomac separated the Federals from
McLaws, and the Shenandoah separated
them from Walker. Jackson made dis
position, therefore, to attack the Federal
works. General Walker, in his inter-
estiDg article in the June Century, says
that as late as midday on the 18th Jack
son had no know ledge Of the importan,
events transpiring at the South Mountain
passes, and thought the fight going on
there was simply cavalry affair. tie
therefore spoke at that time Of resu'
larly summouing the garrison to sur
render, and of giving time for the re-
moval of non. combatants before opening
his batteries. Later in the day Jackson
learned from General Lee Of the grest
danger threatened by McClellsn's unex'
pected rapid advance, and was informed
Of the urgentnecessity for completing the
operations at Harper's Ferry. Jackson
set TO work with all bis energy on the
night of the l4th, and accomplished the
object in view. During that night A.
P. Hill, who was next the Shenandoah
was thrown forward until some OF bis
troops were on the right and IN the
rear Of the Federal line OF defence,
Jones's division, near the Potomac,
vas thrown forward to attack the por'
ton Of the Federal line in its front.
Ewelrs division was moved forward on
the turnpike between the two. During
the night Colonel Crutchfeld took ten
guns over the Shenandoah and esta'
bli.hed them near the foot Of Lcudouu
Heights, 80 as to attack the formidable
Notifications Of the Federsls in reverse.
Colonel Lindsay Walker and his gallant
adjutant Ham. Chamberlayne brought
7 -, . 1..ro ~,,,h. of H,lI,o hattariea IN