Today in History:

650 Series I Volume XIX-I Serial 27 - Antietam Part I

Page 650 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., MD., AND PA. Chapter XXXI.

Question. Were you present during the siege of Harper's Ferry?

Answer. I was.

Question. Commanded a battery there?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. At what portion of the line were you placed?

Answer. On the extreme left of Bolivar Heights.

Question. Was there an engagement there or in that vicinity on the Sunday afternoon prior to the surrender?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Who was in general command there during that engagement?

Answer. On the extreme left---

Question. From whom did you receive your orders?

Answer. I received all my orders from Colonel Trimble.

Question. Did you send some guns to the front there during that engagement?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What was the result of the firing that was opened upon those guns-the infantry firing-as far as you observed it?

Answer. It was very severe for a time; the result was that the enemy was repulsed.

Question. Can you state how many, or about how many, guns, or, in other words, how many batteries, if you cannot state the number of guns, were opened on Monday morning by the enemy, and from how many directions?

Answer. There were between seven and nine batteries in all. There were seven opened on me on Monday morning-on the position I had.

Question. About how near to your battery was the one immediately in front of it?

Answer. I took it to be between 600 and 800 yards.

Question. Do you know how many guns were there?

Answer. As near as I could judge, some ten guns.

Question. Have you been in other engagements before that one?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. How many?

Answer. In six.

Question. How did the artillery fire that morning compare with other artillery fire that you have seen in the service?

Answer. It was the heaviest I have ever seen.

Question. How much ammunition had you left, except canister, at the time your ordered to cease firing?

Answer. I had not a round of anything but canister.

Question. Had you applied for other ammunition?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. To whom?


Page 650 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., MD., AND PA. Chapter XXXI.