The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-19
MILES AT, KARPER'S FERRY.
The Disaster Caused by McClellan's Failure
to Send Assistarcs.


have expressed himself that way had he
known the facts. Having been accused
of reopening the fight and firing, at $50
on the morning of Sept. Is, and thereby
indirectly causing the death Of Col. Miles;
also, having fired the last shot at the en-
envy, | may be pardoned if l here give
my recollection of the affair.
Col. Miles was an educated military
man, and Colonel of the I'd u. 5. Inf.
BY special order of the War Department
he was placed in command of the Post at
Harper's Ferry on Sept. IL. Gen. White,
a superior in rank, joined him with the
forces from Martinsburg, Va, but did not
assume command. The united forces of
all arms made about II 500 men. They
We're placed in position on Maryland
flights, Loudoun Flats, Bolivar Nights,
and the outposts toward Frederick.
On Sept. u Jacksons advance appeared
at Halltown, on the Winchester Pike; on
the 18th Walker took possession OF Lou
doun flights and McLaw of Maryland
flights. thus completely surrounding the
Ferry, with three-fifths of Lees army I'M
der his best leader, Stonewall Jackson.
On the 18th the enemy opened fire on
us from every point of the compass and
swept Bolivar flights with a flank fire
from north to south, and south to north,
and from the valley fired at our front
and from LoudOun flights at our rear.
Our artillery on Bolivar flights had no
protection. All of our batteries (abOut AZ
guns were in action during that day, and
one of our limbers exploded. In the even
ing | was sent down Tor more 3-inch am
on reaching the ordnance officer
i was notified that none was to be had.
During the night of the 18th the posi-
ton of the guns of our battery was
four guns moved to the extreme
right of our line to operate on Sugar Loaf
Mountain, in the angle of the Potomac
River; two guns remained in charge of
professionally appointed Lieutenant mot
from our battery near where the Win
chester road crosses Bolivar Nights.
AT early dawn on the 18th firing COM
menced from all sides. The enemy had
brought 10 guns of A. p. Hills Divi-
sion to Loudoun Flats within 800 yards
of our left flank, that rested on the She
nandoah River. These guns opened fire
and our provisional Lieutenant, who had
served in the Austrian artillery, as Lieu
tenant ut Margenta or SalferinO, in 1859
but now an officer in the Garibaldi
Guard, could not stand the fire from every
direction, and IN his broken English called
to the boys at the guns, "Mein Cot in
KUN, run, boys, and hunt shell
ter" The boys left the guns and sought
protection IN the numerous guliies on the
nights. | was with the Captain and the
four guns oh the right, near the Potomac
River, and not hearing the firing of the
other guns | Saluted the Captain and
asked permission to 90 to the other guns
to see what was the matter. This was
and | rode away in great haste.
On reaching the guns / found them aban-
ioned. | looked for the cannoneers and
officers, and soon found
them and brought them to their guns.
hr G,.ir, ot hu1
sides all along the line. During the half
hour of silence the enemy on LoudOun
Flats had brought his 10 guns close, and
within about 400 yards of our left flank.
As soon as | had sufficient men | opened
ire again. We had fired but few shots
when all the enemy's guns from every
iuc, tiun opened on us. Soon after this !
With Gen. White at a little graveyard on |
he road, walked up to where l was in
,harge of the TWO guns (the provisional |
Lieutenant had not shown up at the fir
ng), and used these words: Orderly, |
ease firing. We have to surrender" II |
vas then Orderly-Sergeant of the 18th !
nd. Battery.) Just then the loaded gun |
vas fired, the gunners aiming toward |
zen. Jackson, near the little church. |
torpl Johnson, of Gun No. 3, remarked, |
General, we should not surrender; we |
anne here to fight"
Col. Miles at the time was pale, and to |
ne he seemed the saddest man that | had |
ver seen. He remarked, Jess, we would |
ike to, but"-loOking over to Maryland |
lights and Sharpsburg there is no re-
ief in sight"
With this he pulled n white handker-
hief out of his pocket, waved it at the
nemy and walked to the point where the
like crosses Bolivar flights. AT the
light of the white handkerchief the reb-
Is yelled like they never did before. The
nemy's guns on Maryland flights and
4oudOun Flats continued firing, and dur
ne his walk to our left about % yards
distance Col. Miles was wounded by q
iece Of shell, and three days later died
f the wound. Soon after a flag-bearer
arried up the rebel standard near our
'uns and the enemy's firing ceased. A
COX of the 111th N. Y. Che regiment was
n the trenches cut piece of tent and
led it in tree near by us. 1t was about |
$50 a. m. when Col. Miles shook his
White handkerchief. Gen. White a few
minutes before rode out on the Winches-
er Pike to perfect the surrender with |
Jackson.
Up to that time not a move had been
made by Gen. McClellan's army for our
elief. Although Franklin's Corps was
within five miles of Maryland flights, not |
gun had been fired TO assist us. The |
Whole blame for the Harper's Ferry af-
air should be placed where it properly |
to the War Department;
econd, to the General-in- Chief; third, to |
zen. Mcclellan; fourth, to Franklin and |
burnside.
When Jackson rode over Bolivar flights
We stood by the road and gaped at him.
Matlock, of our battery, re-
narked, Boys, he is not much for looks;
tut if he had been in command of us we
vonld not have been caught in this trap"
There were 1000 men at Harper's
Ferry just as eager to fire the last shot |
S / was; the same II 900 would as read
Iy have died for the cause as Col. Miles,
The records of these regiments and bat
cries in later battles prove my assertion.
Z n Grant Sherman, or a Sheridan
lad been in command of McClellan's
rmy, he no doubt would have marched
necessary. all night to our relief, as
he army against us was three-ffths of
lees army. How much was there left
Jlellan knew on Sept. 13, two days be-
ore, that Lee had crippled himself If
here was any disgrace it must be that
he Army of the Potomac did not destroy
he remainder of Lees army while Jack
on was at Harper's Ferry.
The enemy claimed TO have captured 70
ieces of artillery at Harper's Ferry. This
5 in line with their usual Annanias stor-
es. There were many old guns left at
he arsenal when destroyed in 1861;
mong these some brass pieces that
ave seen, with the year 1862 and
Strasburg" cast on the pieces near the
With the 70; the total serviceable guns
was about ~ The enemy |
vas liberal to US TO get rid of us. He
Daned us good teams to carry orr bag