The capture of Harper's Ferry.
Although unofficial confirmation of the reported capture of the Federal garrison at Harper's Ferry reached this city yesterday, no one doubts for a moment its reliability. Such were the plans adopted for the accomplishment of that object, that every one feels the utmost confidence in the report. Passengers who came down on the Central train yesterday afternoon state that the report had reached Gordonsville that the whole garrison, some eight thousand in number, surrendered on Sunday morning, besides which our forces captured about one thousand negroes.An officer who came through by Winchester says that before he left that town on Monday morning a courier arrived bringing the intelligence that we had captured on Sunday all the strong positions around Harper's Ferry except one, and about five thousand of the enemy, but that they were yet in possession of the main fortification, which was held by some three thousand men. We do not know whether this main fort is on the Virginia side of the Potomac, or on the Maryland Heights. We suppose, however, that it must be on the Heights, for with them in our possession, it would be impossible for the enemy to hold the town, as it is within easy range of shell from that point.
The cannonading on Sunday is represented to have been very heavy and the fighting unusually severe, the enemy making a most desperate and determined resistance. We hardly think there can be implicit confidence in the statement that after the surrender of the larger part of the force there that three thousand men would attempt to continue resistance in the face of the odds against them, and conclude that the whole force has yielded to our victorious forces.
Our soldiers in Maryland have supplied themselves with many articles necessary for their comfort at very low prices, and a letter says Confederate money and corporation notes of Richmond and Lynchburg were gladly taken in payment for all articles purchased.
