“Lieutenant Croome, commanding a section of McMullen’s battery, was killed whilst serving a piece in the place of the gunner who had been killed.
“In the Kanawha division the casualties were five hundred and twenty-eight, of which one hundred and six were killed, three hundred and thirty-six wounded, and eighty-six missing, of all of which a full list will be immediately forwarded.
“I take pleasure in calling attention to the gallantry and efficiency displayed in the action by Colonels Scammon and Crooks, commanding the brigades of the division. The manner in which their commands were handled reflected great credit on them, and entitles them to the highest praise. I beg leave, also, to mention my indebtedness to Captain E. P. Fitch, Captain G. M. Barcom, and Lieutenants J. W. Conine, and S. L. Christie, of my personal staff, for the devotion and courage displayed by them in the laborious and hazardous duties of the day; also to Brigade-Surgeon W. W. Holmes, medical director of the division, for his tireless activity and efficiency in his department. The conduct of both officers and men was every thing that could be desired, and every one seemed stimulated with the determination not to be excelled in any soldierly quality.
“I cannot close this report without speaking of the meritorious conduct of First Lieutenant H. Belcher, of the Eighth Michigan, a regiment belonging to another division. His regiment having suffered severely on the right, and being partly thrown into confusion, he rallied about one hundred men and led them to the front. Being separated from the brigade to which he belonged, he reported to me for duty, and asked a position where he might be of use till his proper place could be ascertained. He was assigned a post on the left, and subsequently in support of the advanced section of Simmons’s battery, in both of which places he and his men performed their duty admirably.”
SURRENDER OF HARPER’S FERRY.
September 15, 1862.
Every patriot in the land was filled with astonishment when he read of the surrender of Harper’s Ferry. This surrender was made by Colonel D. T. Miles, an officer who had received imperative orders to hold this important post, to the last extremity. A natural desire to show all possible gentleness, in judging the act of one no longer living, forbids us to criticise motives, or censure an act which proved a great loss to the country, and which was one that history cannot well defend.
The position of Harper’s Ferry, at the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, and on the Ohio and Baltimore railroad, gave it great military importance. General Wool had directed Colonel Miles to fortify Maryland Heights, which is the key to Harper’s Ferry, and to hold the post till McClellan’s arrival. The Heights, however, were left unfortified, and Colonel Thomas H. Ford, of the Thirty-second Ohio, was entrusted by Colonel Miles with discretionary power, for the abandonment of that important position. As soon as he was attacked, therefore, which occurred on the 13th of September, Colonel Ford withdrew from the Heights, and retreated to the Ferry. This movement rendered the position at the Ferry untenable. The Heights were immediately occupied by the enemy, who, on the 14th, commenced cannonading the works at Harper’s Ferry. General McClellan was, at this time, rapidly approaching to the relief of the garrison, which he had been assured by a messenger from Colonel Miles, could hold out two days longer. But though the victory at South Mountain had assured the coming of reinforcements, on the morning of the 15th, after withstanding an attack which lasted from daybreak till seven o’clock, he caused the white flag to be hoisted in token of the surrender of his position. But the firing did not immediately cease, and within the next half hour Colonel Miles was shot, and mortally wounded. The reasons, whatever they may have been, for thus needlessly yielding to his country’s foes the possession of so important a post, went with him to the grave. Eleven thousand five hundred and eighty-three men were thus captured by the enemy. At eight o’clock on the 15th of September, the rebels took possession of Harper’s Ferry. A military commission, held long afterwards at Washington, to inquire into the conduct of the war, exempted all Colonel Miles’ subordinate officers from blame, excepting Colonel T. H. Ford, and Major Baird of the One hundred and Twenty-sixth New York regiment, who were severely censured.
The gallantry of General Julius White, in such defence of Harper’s Ferry as was made, deserves to be recorded and honorably remembered.
BATTLE OF ANTIETAM.
September 17, 1862.
The victors of South Mountain slept upon the field of battle, on the night of September 14th. On the morning of the 15th, at early dawn, the Union pickets were pressed forward, and it was found that the dejected rebels had retired under cover of the night. An immediate pursuit was ordered. The army moved forward at once, in three columns. The first, containing the main force of cavalry, and led by Generals Pleasanton, Sumner, Hooker and Mansfield, advanced along the national turnpike road, by way of Boonsboro’. The second, led by Generals Burnside and Porter, moved by the old Sharpsburgh road. The third, led by General Franklin, went by Pleasant Valley, to occupy Robersville, and relieve Harper’s Ferry. The latter had not gone far, however, when the cessation of firing in the direction of the Ferry, gave notice that Colonel Miles had yielded his post. Still, in all directions, the advance pressed onward. It soon became evident that the rebels were taking up a strong position in front, and that a general battle was impending. General McClellan immediately went forward, examined the ground, to direct the formation of the Union line of battle. The rebels had fortified themselves on the west bank of Antietam creek, where they displayed their infantry, cavalry and artillery, in large force. The Union corps were massed on and near the Sharpsburgh road. During the 15th and 16th, both armies manœuvred for advantages of position; but the general battle—one of the most important that was fought during the war—did not commence until daybreak of the 17th. At this time, the relative positions of the combatants were as follows: Hooker, with his corps, consisting of General Rickett’s, Meade’s and Doubleday’s divisions, had crossed Antietam creek on the afternoon of the previous day; and, after some sharp skirmishing with the enemy, had gained the desired position, and bivouacked for the night. General Mansfield’s corps consisting of the divisions of William and Green, had crossed the creek during the night, and taken up position, a mile in rear of General Hooker. On the right of the turnpike, near the creek, was posted a division of General Sumner’s corps, under command of General Richardson; and, on the left, in line with Richardson, a division of General Porter’s corps, under command of General Sykes. The batteries of Captain Taft, Langrel, Von Kleiner, and of Lieutenant Weaver, each of twenty-pounder Parrott guns, were placed in front of the Sharpsburgh turnpike. Captain Weed’s three-inch, and Lieutenant Benjamin’s twenty-pounder batteries were on the crest of the hill, in the rear and right of bridge number three that crossed the creek; and the division of General Couch with General Franklin’s corps, in front of Brownsville, in Pleasant Valley,—with a large force of the enemy directly in front.