The National tribune., 1907-07-04
MILES AT HARPER'S FERRY.
Was He or Mcclellan Most to Blame.

Editor National Tribune: The Ma
tionaI Tribune of June 6, 1907. contain
cd an article on the battle of Bull Run.
in which the writer states that Col.
Dixon S. Miles. a dissipated old Regu-
lar, commanded the Fifth Division. He
afterward lost his life at the shameful
surrender at Harper's Ferry. Why was
this dissipated. incompetent old Regu-
lar given the command at Harper's Fer
ry? Why did not Gen. White assume
command when driven from Martins
burg to Harper's Ferry by Stonewali
Jackson? What Federal officer would
have done better? How many Federal
officers did worse when confronted by
Stonewall Jackson?
Why did Gen. Lee send six divisions
and 50 guns to capture this incompe-
tent. dissipated old Regular? Col. Lee
was we'll acquainted with Col. Miles and
Capt. Mcclellan. Gen. Lee must have
thought that Col Miles would be more
troublesome than Gen. Mcclellan. Cary
D. Lindsey, on the same date, says that
Mcclellan had 100000 men to Gen
Lees $4,000 men, and that Mcclellan
was within two days march of Harper's
Ferry. 1t may have been a two-days'
march for Mcclellan. Stonewall Jack
son would have covered the distance in
two hours. The distance from Cramp-
ton Gap on South Mountain to Solo
mons Gap on Maryland HightS is about
four miles Solomon's Gap is where
Gen. McLaws opened the engagement
on Sept. 13. The Federal force fought
we'll until a Colonel was badly wounded.
at which his regiment broke and caused
stampede. with but one officer making
any effort to stop them. Col. Ford. Of
the 32d Ohio, was sick. Was Col Miles
to be censured for this regiment leaving
the Hights? Was he in fault for Col.
Ford being sick?
ln;-
Sept. IL. IL and 13? On Sept. IA. at
the battle of South Mountain. why did
not Gen. Mcclellan follow up the Con-
federateS at Crampton's Gap when they
broke and ran down the mountain? How
many men did Gen. Lee have to oppose
Gen. Mcclellan at South Mountain? 1t
is estimated there were 10000 Confed-
crates at Harper's Ferry. Stonewall
Jackson's, Hills and another division
left Gen. Lee and went to BoonSborO
and Williamsport. Stonewall Jackson
went as far as North Mountain; the
other two divisions went to Martins
burg. Gems. McLaws's and Anderson's
Divisions went to Pleasant Valley. Gen.
Walkers Division crossed the Potomac
to Loudoun and followed the river TO Il
point opposite Harper's Ferry.
If Mr. Lindsey is correct In his state
ment that Gen. Lee had but GO, ,008 men
to Gen. McClelian's 100000 and it be
correct tndI fV,VVO were dt EdTpeT :
Ferry, that would have left but 20. 900
to confront Mcclellan. Why did not
Gen. Franklin follow the routed Con-
federateS at Crampton'S Gap on the
18th? Did Gen. Mcclellan know that
six divisions and so guns were with
drawn from Lees command? If he did.
why did he rot go to Miles's assistance?
Had Stonewall Jackson been in COM
!nand of the Army of the Potomac he
would have known that six divisions
had been withdrawn from the Army of
Northern Virginia. Had he not known
IL would have been the battle of Fred
crick or Middletown. and the Army OF
Northern Virginia would have been so
badly used that it would not have been
known as such afterward. Col. Miles
would not have been called traitor and
been accused of having sold out to the
Confederacy, nor the statement made
that he was killed by his own men. i
10 not know what Federal officer was
in fault; it must have been that Lee
md Stonewall Jackson were superior to
our officers. The Army of the Potomac
proved itself to be equal If not superior
TO that of Northern Virginia. our Ma
tional Cemetery proves il, and Col Miles
lid no worse than other Federal OFF,
GERS who opposed Stonewall Jackson.
Col Miles was killed and could not de-
fend himself. Do not unload the faults
of others on him.
Lieut. John l.. Wilman, of my COM
Dany eco. d., 1st Md. P. II. B. Mary
land Volunteers (who was Aid to Col.
Miies), who was killed at the battle of
Gettysburg, stated that Col. Miles was
not drunk or drinking at the three days
siege of Harper's Ferry-John L. Kill
ham, Brunswick, Md.