HARPER'S FERRY, W. Va., is situated in Jefferson County, 55 miles northwest of Washington, at the eastern extremity of West Virginia, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It is at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, where the former breaks through the Blue Ridge,, presenting one of the most picturesque scenes in America. Attracted by its fine waterpower, Washington, in 17 U 94 chose it as a site for a United States arsenal and armory, and up to 1860 $1,800,000 had been expended for land and improvements. Here 10,000 muskets were made annually, and over 75,000 small arms were usually in store. It is the seat of Storer College and of a normal school for colored pupils. A severe flood of the Shenandoah in October 1878 created serious damage to the village of Harper's Ferry. Pop. 766.
Harper's Ferry got its name because Robert Harper settled there about 1747, and established a ferry across the Potomac. The place came into great prominence in 1859 through the acts of John Brown (q.v.), and was the scene noteworthy military . events during the Civil War. When Virginia seceded, Harper's Ferry was held by Lieut. Roger Jones, with 45 men. On the night of 18 April 1861 a large body of Virginia militia, hastily assembled from the surrounding country, appeared before the place. Jones set fire to the arsenal, destroyed as much public property as possible and retreated across the Potomac to Hagerstown, Md., and thence to Carlisle, Pa, The Virginia militia occupied the place, and troops were hastened to it from other States of the Confederacy. The federate government attached much importance to the place as a strategical point; but it was abandoned by Gen. J. E. Johnston, 15 June 1861, when he heard that General Patterson, march ing from Chambersburg, Pa., was threatening to cross the Potomac at Williamsport. The place was then occupied by the National forces. When General Lee invaded Maryland early in September 1862, Harper's Ferry was held. by Col. Dixon S. Miles with a large garrison, and there were strong outposts at Winchester and Martinsburgg. Lee supposed that his presence at Frederick, Md., would cause the evacuation of Harper's Ferry and its outposts, and thus: open his communications by way of Shenan-, doah Valley, but as it was still held by• National forces it became a necessity to dislodge them. On the morning of 10 September he set three columns in motion from Frederick to stir,.
round the place and capture its entire garrison. General Jackson, with 14 brigades, marched rapidly over the South Mountain, crossed the Potomac at Williamsport on the 1 lth, drove the garrison from Martinsburg into Harper's Ferry, and appeared before Bolivar Heights on the 13th, thus investing the place from the west. General McLaws, with 10 brigades,
marched through Brownsville Gap, and, after a severe engagement with Col. Thomas H. Ford on the 12th and 13th, drove him from Mary land Heights and into Harper's Ferry. Gen eral Walker, with his division, crossed the Potomac at Point of Rocks, 12 miles below Harper's Ferry, and on the 13th seized Lou doun Heights beyond the Shenandoah. Miles was now completely surrounded, the Confeder ates occupying high ground, commanding his position. Artillery fire was opened from all these points on the 14th, and late in the after noon Jackson moved upon Bolivar Heights, drove in Miles' skirmish lines and gained an advantageous position on the left of the Union line. During the night 1,500 Union cavalry crossed from Harper's Ferry to the Maryland side and escaped. During the same night Jack son crossed 10 guns to the right bank of the Shenandoah and established them on a plateau at the foot of Loudoun Heights, enfilading Miles' entire position on Bolivar Heights. Early on the 15th the Confederate guns on Maryland Heights, Loudoun Heights and in front of Bolivar Heights opened fire, which was responded to for more than an hour, but the direct and plunging flank-fire from the Con federate batteries partially silenced the Union guns and created some disorder in the Union ranks. Jackson had advanced his lines to within 150 yards of the Union works on Bolivar Heights, and was about to assault, when Miles ordered a white flag displayed on his works and directed Gen. Julius White to arrange terms of capitulation, soon after which Miles was mor tally wounded by a shell from a battery that had not seen the white flag. The Union during the siege was 44 killed and 173 wounded, and the number of prisoners surrendered and paroled 12,520. The Confederates captured 70 guns, 13,000 small arms, 200 wagons and a large amount of quartermaster and commissary stores. The Confederate loss was 41 killed and 247 wounded, the greater part of whom were lost in the engagement on Maryland Heights. The Confederates abandoned Harper's Ferry on the 20th, and it was again occupied by the Union forces on the 22d. Consult 'Official Records' (Vol. II and XIX) ; Allan, (Army of Northern Virginia in 1862); the Century Com pany's 'Battles and Leaders of the Civil (Vols. I and II).