The National tribune., 1891-10-22
FIGHTING THEM OVER
Whal0Hr Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
WAS MILES A TRAIToR7
NV fork ComrHdr Shows COucluslFcy that III
wl.FFtGzs IA

Maryland Rights, and 10 he best Of my rec
OllectioH did not the affair in exactly the
same light rs the aforesaid comrades though 1t
does NOS by any means prevent me from be-
leVnr that Miles was a traitor or n lunatie.
lis orders from Washington and from Gen.
Mcclellan were 10 "hold ilarpers Ferry At all
hazards" and Mcclellan sent word by three
different scouts To hold on and he would re-
lieve him; bus ID il not known II either of the
scouts reached Miles but the orders 10 hold the
place were his guide. and sRch being the case,
why did ne ahandan its dplenses without an
effort 60 hold them2
Comrade Williams asks some pretty hard
questions, which ] think will be very hard TO
answer in Mics's q Tense, though the sixth and
seventh propositions think are incorrect.
was member of Co. X, ll5th N. y. Cos
and II If any regiment with other troops, were
on Maryland Nights 40 the time the trouble
began, the balance of the regiment being en-
oAmped on Bolivar flights. ON the morning
OF the 18th OF September, lsG2, while my COM
pany was in line aud getting breakfast, the
rattle OF mn-Eetry on Maryland Nights, soon
followed by firing from the battery, caused no
little excitement, aud ia a few minutes (briuTe
my turn at the cook had Gomez the order was
given 10 "iall in" aud in few minutes we
on our WAY 10 the Highs via Bolivar
and HarppFB Ferry.
Arriving 81 the summit near the battery VIC
were hailed some little time. Some Of the
boys of Co. II told me here hat they had had
SHARP fight out in the front. Ia a short time
my company and, think, an of the regiment,
and perhaps others went forward, the battery
keeping I'D deliberate Smelling. Arrived at
or near the scene Of the conflict, as we depoycd
BY che left into line my Captain was wounded.
We few Of the enemy, and several shots
were exchanged In little while we got or
ders 10 fall bAck. and the firing from the bat
terry ceased before we reached H. when we found
some Of the guns dismuuu ed and some spiked,
and one, i think, WAS thrown down the bill.
We then returned by the way we came 10 our
camp a Bolivar flights, arriving some time
In the afternoon, when. on looking toward
Maryland HiRhts, we could see the enemy at
work putting our artillery into position for
our destruction.
The next day the battery on Maryland
Nights throw some missiles down into the
batteries al Bolivar and the Ferry, bnt with
the exception Of one mortar, believe, we were
unable 20 get elevation enough 20 reply. Sig
mailing from Loudoun II ghts was going
briSkly during the forenoon, and about 2 p. m.
they opened FIRE on us, also on the batteries la
the valley which, on account of elevation, could
NOT do them much damage, though the guns
within our vision at Bolivar were plucky
enough 20 keep trying The guns on Bolivar
Rights now opened on the enemy on Boudoun
flights as well az on the enemy coming from
the west. About p. NJ. Bolivar Nights was
receiving Ere from the three different points
During bis time the cavalrymcH came among
us, SAYING we would all be captured ID we didn't
get away; that they were going 10 cut their
way oHt that night, aud urged ms TO follow
them. At 4 p. M. my regiment aud don't
know how many more moved into position
on the west side Of Bolivar flights to the right
OF the road uhat leads % Charlestown, thus af-
fordinE us partial protection from the guns on
L0Bdoun and Maryland Rights. aud enabling
our own guns on Bolivar Higbts 10 ERE over
our heads. The shells, solid shot aud railroad
iron. dropped IN our vicinity pretty lively till
dark. During this time Col. DUtassy, com
mandiHR our brigade came along on his horse,
saying, font pc airait poys; de she'll vot
vistles viii METER do you haarm." when one
came alonF from BoudOun pretty near him,
when ia WAS seen that be could dodge As quick
Es the most expert EHd artiu dodgeF we had.
This shell hurried itself in tho hard ground. and
hbOut minute later exploded, piece striking
me Oh the cartridRe-hOx, but aside from MASKING
that somewhat DID no harm.
About dark the firing ceased, and we Law
down IN line. ] had got asleep. a. well as had
maRg Others. when someone woke me aud said
the Febs were coming. Just as had got lily
awake the GOOnel came along, telling Us not 90
Gre till he saw what Was in front OF US lie
ran down towards the enemy. whom we could
hear. Presently he came back aud gave the
order o. commence firing ON The left. We could
not see anything distinctly. hut blazud away.
] remember ] Cred five times, aud wondered
bow long n would lake me 10 use up the 90
rounds ] had.
TIE next morning, the 18th. we had short
respite after it WAS light. Opinions differ ~ to
the time the firing began. 4 81. Brnckeubrough
iDouieaeratel says daylight; ] thHk about
O'clock. Firing began from ll sides. and a caisson
the Highs behind us was blown m To
my recollection, about $50 a. 40. my attention
was directed To the ridge, or Bolivar Highs,
where or camp WIS, and J saw the fy Of a
tent in d tree At token 81 surrender. 1 there
saw q man whom ] was told WAS Col. Miles
mounted Orderly near him. holding small
white Gag, aud while j was looking At him
hiul iali.
Ii this was Col Miles, then Conrade viii
llHms's seventh proposition IL way of. for il
WAs upar the cals-oB TINT had been blown IN
and which ] visited after. and certainly WAS
lcss tHan 900 yards from where n rebel shot
tell. as it Was not over 80 yards from the cx-
plOdrd caiss0n.
A. 10 his sixth proposition. regarding Col
Miles taking his place "a conspicuous posi-
ii0n, cau only say that under while Gag WAS
certainly the safest place he could Dc, Ordi-
nhrly considered
Soon after this or ~ * appeared 20 me about
% o.aonk my regiment moved by the right
hauk back 20 our old position, we understand
ing We bad surrendered, and the men wonder
ing why we didn't fight some FIRST On the way
back 70 thls position late Assistant Secretary
81 the . reaeurp, Gen Bafchelisr then Our
aforementioned, broke hs sword bv run
ming the point into the ground aud bending Il
lll q broke, saying: +" No rebel shall ever
have Ubis"
We reached our old position, stacked arms.
hnd Still they kept up tie FIRE from the west
rehci officer came along, when Col Summons
Eocosled BAN aud demanded Why they dad not
slap huuR, saying b. would order h 4 men "a
take hruls again and charge their battery. The
Ftilel toto BAN 10 take his regiment back be-
hlud tue brow 81 the Hlghts out Of rnnp. titl
DC could reach them aud stop them, and that
he bad ALREADY sent two Aids 20 sion a.
think we lost more men from this fire than an
Che rest 81 the time. Tire Colunels ueube,,
land Orderly wac wounded, and subsequently
died from the effects Of about the last shot Thai
Nas fired.
"a was q current topic OF conversation amonr
Che IHuk and Ole, aud % d certain extent
among The field aud staff, that Miles was ,
traitor and got, or was 10 lrlyo $4,000 ia gold
a. surrender the place aud stores. which II 20
answers COmrade MilliamsE eighth and 70 a.
extent bis second, third and fourth PROPOSE
tiuus
That night after the surrender the sick nDe
wounded Of ourreRimnnt were carried from tht
heEimental Hopitu 10 the General Hospital al
hArprrb Ferry, aud as I had a cam rad.
wounded in tire foot by an az while slashinl
tht woods in 'front.' OF our battery 1 went aloni
hnn carried hit knEpsaek, while others carried
hlm When we rot 20 the battery Az Boliyai
throurh which we had % pass We had som,