The Battle of Harpers Ferry, which occurred on September 13-15, 1862, was the prelude to the single bloodiest day in American History at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. Dennis Frye, the Chief Historian of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, believes that the battle for Harpers Ferry is too often overshadowed by Antietam. Without Harpers Ferry, Frye believes, "the Battle of Antietam would have never transpired." He also claims that the battle was Stonewall Jackson's, "most complex and most complete tactical victory." Although this is not one of the most popular claims, Dennis Frye has written numerous books and articles defending his opinion. Despite his obvious credibility over me, I am going to argue against his claim. It is true that Harpers Ferry has been overshadowed by Antietam, and it is rightly so. It is also difficult to give all the credit to Jackson for his victory when his opponent, Dixon Miles' performance at the battle was described as an, "incapacity, amounting to almost imbecility." The Battle of Harpers Ferry is important, but not that important.
Harpers Ferry was not intended to be a focus of Robert E. Lee's Maryland Campaign. He believed that the Union garrisons at Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry, which numbered at 14,000 men, would abandoned their positions when Lee invaded, fearing that they would be cut off. Unfortunately for Lee, the garrisons remained on September 9, four days after his army had crossed the Potomac. Lee needed to remove these garrisons, because they were blocking his supply line into the Shenandoah Valley. On the night of September 9, Lee issued his famous Special Orders 191, which divided his army into quarters. Three quarters of his army (6 out of his 9 divisions), under the command of Stonewall Jackson, were tasked with taking Harpers Ferry. Jackson's command would split in three with himself taking School House Ridge, Lafayette McClaws taking Maryland Heights, and John Walker taking Loudoun Heights, surrounding the garrison at Harpers Ferry.
Frye claims that at no other battle did Jackson face a stronger enemy position. This may have been true, but strong is a relative term. In 1861, Joseph Johnston stated, "I regard Harper's Ferry as untenable." In order for the town to be adequately defended, all of the surrounding heights, Bolivar, Maryland, and Loudoun, must be defended. The focus of the defense should lie with the tallest and most imposing Maryland Heights. Frye argues that focusing on the incapacity and the imbecility of Dixon Miles detracts from Jackson's accomplishments at Harpers Ferry. However, without examination of Miles' performance, Jackson's accomplishments are embellished.
Based on his defense of Harpers Ferry, Dixon Miles was incompetent. Miles deployed troops on Bolivar Heights, Camp Hill, and Maryland Heights. He did not deploy men on Loudoun Heights, believing that the heights were too steep to move cannon up any way. He would soon be proven wrong. Despite the vital importance of holding Maryland Heights, Miles placed Thomas Ford's 126th New York Volunteer Regiment on the heights. The 126th New York had only been in the army for 21 days. The inexperienced regiment was no match for the seasoned veterans in Joseph Kershaw and William Barksdale's brigades and on September 13 they were easily driven from Maryland Heights. Lafayette McClaws spoke of the importance of Maryland Heights when he said, "If we gained possession of the heights, the town was no longer tenable to them." Any other competent general would have realized this, and focused their defense their.
By September 14, McClaws was in control of Maryland Heights, and John Walker had proven Miles wrong by placing his men, with artillery, along Loudoun Heights. The Confederates on the heights surrounding Miles' men opened fire. Private Louis B. Hull of the 60th Ohio spoke of the bombardment, "All seem to think that we will have to surrender or be cut to pieces." On the night of September 14, Jackson sent A.P. and his men to flank the Union position on Bolivar Heights, deploying cannon on the Chambers Farm. When the attack resumed on September 15, Miles realized his precarious situation and surrendered. Unfortunately for Miles, a stray Confederate artillery shell exploded behind him after he ordered the surrender. The wound would prove fatal.
Jackson and his men in capturing the garrison at Harpers Ferry, which numbered around 12,500, had the distinction of accepting the surrender of the most U.S. soldiers during the war, and the all time most until World War II. He had achieved this feat at a low cost, only suffering 286 casualties. Was the Battle of Harpers Ferry one of the most complete Confederate victories? Yes. Was it Jackson's greatest victory? Probably not. Should it be held to the same standard as Antietam? Absolutely not.
Jackson's victory was one of the most complete, but a lot of it can be attributed to Dixon Miles mistakes instead of the genius of Jackson. Had Miles focused his defense on Maryland Heights, like the garrison in 1864 would do when facing Jubal Early, he may have been able to hold out long enough for George McClellan to send aid. Jackson did not outsmart Miles, instead he just capitalized on his mistakes.
Dennis Frye seems to be irked by the fact that the battle for Harpers Ferry is often overshadowed by Antietam. It is overshadowed for good reason. Although the battle was one of the most complete tactical victories for the Confederates, it had very little long term significance. Jackson's men would go straight from Harpers Ferry to fight at Antietam. Even though Antietam can be considered a draw since both sides held the field at the end of September 17, the battle ultimately ended Lee's Maryland Campaign. Had the Confederates won Antietam, Harpers Ferry may have had more long term significance, but since they did not Antietam holds the spotlight. After Antietam, Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, which changes the purpose of the war from preserving the Union to freeing the slaves.
Below I have attached Dennis Frye's article which defends the importance of Harpers Ferry
