Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[712] steps at once to supply yourself; have beef driven to your command, so that you may have enough.

[Harper's Ferry, no. 3.]

General Jackson and staff then go to the left. I receive, soon after, the following:

General McLaws informs me that the enemy are in his rear, and that he can do but little more than he has done. I am now ready to open.

(Signed,)

General Walker.

There being no courier at the post, I carried this message to the General, and find him in front on the left. He gives me an answer, and sends Lieutenant Douglas back to signal station with me.

To General Walker:

Do not open until General McLaws notifies me what he can probably effect. Let me know what you can effect with your command upon the enemy.

(Signed,)

General Jackson.

To General McLaws:

Let me know what you can probably effect with your artillery, and also with your entire command. Notify General D. H. Hill, at Middleburg, of the enemy's position, and request him to protect your rear. Send the same message to General Lee, near Hagerstown.

(Signed,)

General Jackson.

The message next in order comes from Loudoun Heights to General Jackson. “Walker can't get position to bear on island.”

No signature, (probably from Major Paxton.)

[Harper's Ferry, no. 4.]

From General Walker to General Jackson.

I am informed that the enemy are advancing by Perceyville, and have possession of the passes from the Valley.

(Signed,)

General Walker.

To Generals Walker and McLaws:

Fire at such positions of the enemy as will be most effective.

(Signed,)

General Jackson.

Our artillery opens from this side, (in front of Bolivar.) Walker opens from Loudoun Heights. Yankees are seen coming down on west side of Bolivar to escape Walker's fire, but meet an equal one from our artillery on the left of our line.

[Harper's Ferry, no. 5.]

special order, no.--.

I. To-day Major-General McLaws will attack so as to sweep with his artillery the ground occupied by the enemy, take his batteries in reverse, and otherwise operate against him as circumstances may justify.

II. Brigadier-General Walker will take in reverse the battery on the turnpike, and also sweep with his artillery the ground occupied by the enemy, and silence the battery on the island in the Shenandoah, should he find a battery there.

III. Major-General A. P. Hill will move along the left bank of the Shenadoah, and thus turn the enemy's left flank, and. enter Harper's Ferry.

IV. Brigadier-General Lawton will move along the turnpike for the purpose of supporting General Hill, and otherwise operating against the enemy on the left of General Hill.

V. Brigadier-General Jones will, with one of his brigades and a battery of artillery, make a demonstration against the enemy's right; the remaining part of his division will constitute the reserve, and move along the turnpike.

By order of Major-General Jackson.

[no. 6.]

If any other despatches or orders were sent at Harper's Ferry, it was done at other posts than mine. Messages were doubtless sent from Loudoun Heights to Maryland Heights, between Generals McLaws and Walker.

Captain Adams, who was the only commissioned signal officer there, has, doubtless, full reports of those and all the messages and orders, it being his duty to keep them. I suggest that he be applied to for them.

After the surrender of Harper's Ferry, I was ordered by Major Paxton to remove my station to Barbour's house. I did so, after notifying Captain Adams's post on Loudoun Heights of the move, telling them to look out for my flag at that point. After locating my station at that place, however, and waving my flag for several hours, I could not get “attention” from Loudoun Heights to send a message, sent to me by Major Paxton, for General Walker to prepare rations and be ready to march. I afterward learned that the post had been evacuated at that time. Thus ended the signal service at Harper's Ferry.

[no. 7.]

P. M. I signal from General Lee's headquarters, on the Warrenton pike, to General Jackson's position, across the pike, near some wheatstacks, bearing nearly north, distant about two miles, as follows:

To General Jackson:

What is result of movement on your left?

(Signed,)

General Lee.

[answer.]

To General Lee:

So far enemy appear to be trying to get possession of a piece of woods to withdraw out of our sight.

(Signed,)

General Jackson.