is other high abilities were added
energy and a knowledge of our plans.--Captain Page, this order to
General McLaws: _General:--You will attack so as to sweep with your
artillery the ground occupied by the enemy, take his batteries in
reverse, and otherwise operate against him as circumstances may
justify._ Lieutenant Byrd, this to General Walker: _General:--You will
take in reverse the battery on the turnpike and sweep with your
artillery the ground occupied by the enemy, and silence the batteries on
the island of the Shenandoah._ Lieutenant Daingerfield, this to General
A. P. Hill: _General:--You will move along the left bank of the
Shenandoah, and thus turn the enemy's flank and enter Harper's Ferry._"

This was Sunday. From every hilltop blazed the grey batteries, and down
upon the fourteen thousand blue soldiers cooped in Harper's Ferry they
sent an iron death. All afternoon they thundered, and the dusk knew no
cessation. Harper's Ferry was flame-ringed, there were flames among the
stars. The air rocked and rang, the river shivered and hurried by. Deep
night came and a half silence. There was a feeling as if the earth were
panting for breath. All the air tasted powder.

A. P. Hill, struggling over ground supposed impassable, was in line of
battle behind Bolivar Heights. Lawton and Jones were yet further
advanced. All the grey guns were ready--at early dawn they opened. Iron
death, iron death!--they rained it down on Harper's Ferry and the
fourteen thousand in garrison there. They silenced the blue guns. Then
the bugles blew loudly, and Hill assaulted. There were lines of
breastworks and before them an abattis. The Light Division tore through
the latter, struck against the first. From the height behind thundered
the grey artillery.

For a day and a night the blue defence had been stubborn. It was over.
Out from the eddying smoke, high from the hilltop within the town, there
was shaken a white flag. A. P. Hill received the place's surrender, and
Stonewall Jackson rode to Bolivar Heights and then into the town.
Twelve thousand prisoners, thirteen thousand stands of arms,
seventy-three guns, a great prize of stores, horses, and wagons came
into his hand with Harper's Ferry.

On the Bolivar turnpike the Federal General White and his staff met the
conqueror. The first, general and staff, were handsomely mounted, finely
equipped, sparklingly clean and whole. The last was all leaf brown--dust
and rain and wear and tear