How the Disaster Occurred.

The surrender of Harper’s Ferry surprised everybody when it was announced. It was not easy to understand how it had become necessary. Col. Miles had under his command about 13,000 men, including the cavalry that escaped. He had all the artillery necessary to a successful defence of the position, including fifty pieces of field artillery, besides all the heavy guns in the various batteries on the Heights. There was no lack of ammunition or stores, and the place should have been held against double the force that was brought against it. The batteries on Maryland Heights were finely placed and very powerful. This was the key to the position, and a capable and determined officer would have held it success fully without serious difficulty.