Confederate General 'Stonewall' Jackson captured the strategic town of Harpers Ferry, securing the largest Union surrender of the Civil War with over 12,000 prisoners and significant military supplies.

The capture of Harpers Ferry stands as one of the most pivotal moments in American Civil War history. This strategic location at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers became a crucial target for both Union and Confederate forces throughout the conflict.

In September 1862, Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson orchestrated a bold military maneuver that would lead to the town's most significant capture. The federal garrison at Harpers Ferry held vital supplies and controlled important transportation routes, making it an invaluable prize in the war's strategic landscape. The events that unfolded would dramatically influence the course of the Maryland Campaign and set the stage for the bloodiest single-day battle in American military history at Antietam.

Harpers Ferry's strategic value stemmed from its geographic position and industrial capabilities during the American Civil War. Its location at the convergence of major rivers and transportation routes made it a critical military objective for both Union and Confederate forces.

Harpers Ferry sits at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, creating a natural gateway between the North and South. The town controlled three key transportation routes:

• The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad connecting Baltimore to the Ohio River Valley
• The Winchester & Potomac Railroad linking to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley
• The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal providing water transport to Washington D.C.

Three states intersect at this location:

• Maryland to the north
• Virginia to the south
• West Virginia to the west

The U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry manufactured 15,000 muskets annually before the Civil War. Key industrial assets included:

Facility Type	Production Capacity
Rifle Factory	10,000 units/year
Musket Factory	5,000 units/year
Arsenal Storage	100,000 weapons

• Multiple water-powered factories
• Machine shops for weapons manufacturing
• Storage facilities for military supplies
• Ammunition production workshops
• Testing ranges for weapons inspection

John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry occurred on October 16, 1859, when the abolitionist led 21 men to seize the federal armory and arsenal. The raid marked a pivotal moment in pre-Civil War America by intensifying tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery.

Brown established a headquarters at the Kennedy Farm in Maryland, 4 miles from Harpers Ferry, in July 1859. His strategic plan included three key components:

• Capture the federal armory's 100,000 weapons
• Free local slaves to join his revolutionary army
• Create an autonomous territory in the nearby mountains

Brown secured financial support from six Northern abolitionists known as the "Secret Six":

Supporter	Contribution
Gerrit Smith	$1,000
George Stearns	$1,000
Franklin Sanborn	$300
Thomas Higginson	$100
Samuel Howe	$250
Theodore Parker	$250

The raid failed after a 36-hour siege by local militia and U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee. Key outcomes included:

• 10 raiders killed during the assault

• 5 raiders escaped

• 7 captured including Brown

• 4 townspeople killed

• Brown's trial lasted 5 days ending in conviction for treason

• His execution on December 2, 1859 sparked Northern sympathy

• Southern states increased militia activity

• National debate intensified over slavery rights

• Political divisions deepened between North and South

Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson led a successful campaign to capture Harpers Ferry in September 1862, resulting in the largest surrender of Union forces during the Civil War. The strategic operation secured crucial supplies and weakened Union control in the region.

Jackson's forces initiated the siege of Harpers Ferry on September 13, 1862, positioning artillery on Maryland Heights, Loudoun Heights, and School House Ridge. The Confederate troops deployed 50 guns across these elevated positions, creating a devastating crossfire on the Union garrison below. Jackson commanded three divisions totaling 14,000 men who executed a precise encirclement of the town, cutting off potential escape routes for the federal forces.

The Union garrison surrendered on September 15, 1862, after intense Confederate artillery bombardment destroyed their defensive positions. The Confederate victory yielded:

Captured Resources	Quantity
Union Prisoners	12,419
Artillery Pieces	73
Rifles	13,000
Wagons	200
Horses	300

The captured supplies strengthened Confederate forces for the upcoming Battle of Antietam. Union Colonel Dixon Miles, the garrison commander, suffered a mortal wound from artillery fire just before the surrender. The occupation of Harpers Ferry enabled Confederate forces to control the strategic transportation routes connecting the Shenandoah Valley to Maryland, though they abandoned the position shortly after to avoid being trapped by advancing Union armies.

Harpers Ferry faced continuous military transitions between 1863 and 1865. The town experienced eight separate changes of control between Union and Confederate forces during this period.

Union forces reoccupied Harpers Ferry in October 1863 after Confederate General Jubal Early's withdrawal. The town changed hands four times in 1864, starting with Confederate General Jubal Early's raid in July. Confederate forces under General John McCausland burned parts of the town in July 1864 during his cavalry raid. Union General Philip Sheridan established his base of operations at Harpers Ferry in August 1864, using it as a staging area for his Shenandoah Valley Campaign.

The town's military significance decreased after 1863 due to three key factors:

Factor	Impact
Railroad Infrastructure	70% of rail facilities destroyed
Manufacturing Capability	Arsenal production ceased entirely
Supply Storage	Reduced to 25% of previous capacity

Union forces relocated major supply depots to more secure locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania by 1864. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bypassed Harpers Ferry through a new route, reducing its transportation significance. Military commanders focused their attention on defending Washington D.C. and controlling the Shenandoah Valley rather than maintaining a strong presence at Harpers Ferry.

• Harpers Ferry was most significantly captured by Confederate forces under General "Stonewall" Jackson on September 15, 1862, resulting in the largest Union surrender of the Civil War
• The town's strategic importance stemmed from its location at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, controlling vital transportation routes and housing a major federal arsenal
• The capture in 1862 yielded substantial Confederate gains, including over 12,000 Union prisoners and significant military supplies just before the Battle of Antietam
• Prior to the Civil War, Harpers Ferry gained national attention during John Brown's 1859 raid, which intensified tensions between North and South
• Between 1863-1865, the town changed hands eight times between Union and Confederate forces, though its strategic value diminished due to destroyed infrastructure and relocated supply depots

Harpers Ferry's capture stands as a pivotal moment in Civil War history that showcased the strategic brilliance of Confederate forces. The town's fall had far-reaching consequences beyond its immediate military impact affecting both Union and Confederate strategies throughout the war.

The once-thriving industrial and transportation hub gradually lost its significance as the conflict progressed. Yet its story serves as a testament to how geographic location military assets and timing can dramatically influence the course of warfare. Today Harpers Ferry remains a powerful reminder of the complex military strategies and human costs that shaped the American Civil War.