Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Providence, R. I., Oct. 4, 1862
The remains of Brigadier General Rodman arrived here on Friday morning, and lay in state until noon to-day at the State House, when the funeral ceremonies took place.
The remains of the brave and fearless soldier were escorted by a large turn out of citizens and by the military, consisting of the Eleventh regiment of infantry, the Horse Guards, and Battery H.
Harper’s Ferry, Oct. 3.—The railroad bridge was completed yesterday, and trains of cars passed over it into Harper’s Ferry to-day, with troops and munitions of war and army stores. The Winchester road is being put in order, and trains will run at once to and beyond Bolivar Heights.
There is much uncertainty here as to the movements of the army. A strong advance will undoubtedly be made into Virginia, but whether it will be by way of Harper’s Ferry or over the Williamsport Ford, no one has the slightest idea. So long as the Confederates lies in his present position it is said no hurry will be evinced on our part to disturb him.—A large body of the Confederates are still at Failing Waters, and at Bunker’s Hill in the rear of Martinsburg, whilst a few regiments are at Charlestown, their pickets meeting those of Genera! Sumner about three miles this side of that place.
Capt. Clark, of Co. K, writing to the Caledonian from Aligers, La., on the 7th inst., says :
On the morning of the 3d ,I went to Boutte upon the train going to Algiers, to confiscate negros, cattle and mules from Gen. Taylor’s, Capt. Ranson’s, (both active rebel officers) and other adjoining plantations, and to learn if possible whether this rebel force was designing our capture. I was there full five hours, conversed with white men and negroes from the river, and found that no advance had been made for three days.
The next morning, Sept. 4, I was ordered to detail 20 men from each of the three companies, 10 men from the battery and 1 gun, and proceed to the Boutte to look after the safety of the coming train, to learn what I could respecting the rebels, and to gather in and send off the balance of confiscated property there. My train consisted of two platform cars forward of the engine and one open cattle car behind it. The gun and 45 men were upon the forward cars, 5 upon the tender and 10 upon the rear car. I got upon the engine that I might direct its movements, and ordered the men to load their rifles, keep a vigilant lookout, and to signal to me should anything wrong or unusual appear.
PORTLAND, Sept. 27.
It appears from authentic official statements that Maine has filled her quotas under both calls for 300,000 men. Her quota under the first was 7,000, and all the men have been in the field for four weeks past under the last call for drafted men.
The telegraph has given the news of the dismissal from the service of Commander Preble, of the blockading squadron off Mobile, for allowing a vessel carrying the English flag to run the blockade, when he had power to prevent it. The people will not complain of any necessary increase of stringency in the Navy Department. An application of equal stringency to some other Departments would not be ungrateful to the popular heart. With reference to this particular case, however, we feel confident, as do the numerous friends of Commander Preble in this city, that when all the facts shall come to be known, he will be restored to his command. Commander P. is a Portland boy, was raised in this city, educated in our Public High School, and is known to be as true a sailor, as honest a man, and as loyal a citizen as ever stepped on shipboard, or obeyed an order. He is a nephew of the late Commodore Preble, and, like his old weather beaten kinsman, has seen hard and honorable service. His friends, we repeat, cherish abiding confidence that there must be palliating circumstances, which, when known, will cause his name to be restored to the service.
The funeral of Col. Netter yesterday was a most imposing affair. Personally, he was known to but few of our citizens, but his reputation was familiar to all. The large military procession which followed his remains to the grave, gave proof of the high regard entertained by our citizens for the services of so gallant a soldier of the Republic.
The remains of Col. Netter arrived on the steamer Delaware late Saturday night. This was the first authentic intelligence obtained of the Colonel’s death. No opportunity was given to announce the time of the funeral, which was fixed for 4 o’clock. Adjutant Sonntag, however, did his best to notify the members of the different companies of the Indiana Legion, and by half past 2 o’clock they commenced collecting at their various headquarters. By 3 o’clock they were in line on Third street, where they were formed the regiment under the command of Lieut. Col. Gwathmey and the battalion under Major Walker. The regiment was headed by the German Brass Band and the battalion by the Crescent City Band.
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.