The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-30
HARPER'S FERRY.
Many Comrades say the Cavalry Cut Then
WAY Out,

Way Out.
~ a recent issue. in answer to a comrades
inquiry, I gave tho troops in Harper's
Ferry, Sept. Is. 1862. which reported
casualties, according to the Rebellion
Records. / simply quoted the record. and
stated that Coles Battalion of Maryland
cavalry and the 9TH Squadron of Rhode
Island cavalry were reported among the troops
in Harper's Ferry, but that no losses were re-
ported. | also gave subsequent explanation
Of this affair." which seems to have attracted a
great deal of attention, as have a number of
letters my desk giving account of the
cutting ont of Harpers Ferry by the cavalry.
These letters are too numerous to be published,
so select one, which will be made to do service
for all the rest Here it IS:
"My attention has been invited to an article
in your valuable paper, in its issue of Feb. %,
under the head of Troops Captured at Har-
per's Ferry wherein it is stated, after emu
Coles Battalion Md. Cav. and 18th Squadron r.
l. Cav were in Harper's Ferry but no loss is
reported by these organizations
a. That is all very true; there were no losses
TO be reported. and the trath of history is that
the cavalry did not propose 10 be captured or
to stay in Harper's Ferry and be captured, but
to cut their way through the enemy's lines ct
all hazards and so advised Col. Miles, the Com
mandant, who then ISSUED the following order
in the premises:
HEADQUARTERS, HARPER's FERRY, VA, !
Sept IA, 1862.
Special Order No. 120.
"The cavalry force at this post except
detached Orderles. will make Immediate prep
arations to leave here at 8 o'clock tonight,
without baggage, wagons, ambulances. or led
horses crossing the pontoou and taking the
Sharpsburg road The senior officer, Col Vass
will assume command of the whole, which will
IL r IL. L IL
Quartermasters Office, the left UP Shenandoah
street without noise or loud command, viz,
Coles Cavalry, 18th III. Cav, 9Th n. Y. Cav.
r. l. Cav. 1st Nd Cav. No other instructions
can be given the commander for guidance than
to-force his way through the enemy's lines to
our army
''By order of Col. MILES.
(Signed) II. Il. REYNOLDS,
Lieutenant and Acting Asst Adjutant Gen.
eral."
Capt. Henry A. Cole, subsequently Colonel
of the regiment that bore his name, as we'll as
Capt Russell, of the LIST Md. Cav, had both pen
etrated through the enemy's lines about the
18th day of Septem Der, 1862, and communicated
the condition of affairs at Harper's Ferry to
Gen. Geo. B. Mcclellan, then with the Army
of the Potomac in easy striking distance in
Frederick County, Md. only 20 miles away or
one days march, who promised immediate re-
Col Cole of Col. Miles's decision that he could
not hold out beyond a certain day. NeVerthe-
less, the promised relief was too late, when, as
"a matter of fact prompt movement could not
only have afforded the beeaguered garrison
speedy relief. but crushed the force of the enc
my occupying Maryland Nights and APP
proaches thereto, that is, the force between the
besieged garrison and McClellan's army, which
could not have been saccored speedily from
either Loudoun flights or the forces in front of
Bolivar flights, in event of q prompt march
and speedy attack, by reason of the eircUitGus
routes to the only practicable fords of the Poto-
mac that would have enabled them to join this
isolated portion of the besieging army
The cavalry, rs mentioned in the order afore-
said, at the appointed time, viz. 8 p. ~, ~Sept
IA, 1862 charged through the enemy's besieg-
ing lines on the Maryla side of the Potomac,
and also passed through that portion of Lees |
army then at Sharpsburg. Nd, (the Antietam |
that was to be,) pushed on and cap
tured a portion of Gen. LongStreets ammuni- |
ton train between Hagerstown and Williams
port, Nd, which had a material effect on the /
subsequent battle of Antietam.
The first man across the pontoon bridge at |
the head of the cavalry column on the night in
question was Lieut.. Hanson t. c. Green, of |
90. A, Coles Md. Cav, who is now one of the |
trusted watchmen or guards at the U. s. Treas
Iry Department, Washington, ID. c.; one of the
most modest as well as one of the bravest of i
w. +. VERNON, Lieutenant Colo
nel. Coles Cav, Md. Vols, and President of
Veteran Association, 2507 Madison Avenue,
Md.