That's simply fabulous. I can just picture it. Wish I could go myself. I can see Lincoln coming across the pontoon bridge and walking over to the John Brown building where it used to stand. Thank you.
Dennis and Gary, thanks for this great video. I've been to Harper's Ferry a number of times but never knew about the pontoon bridge and its access ramp point at the river edge (not to mention those iron anchor pins for the bridge still embedded into the river wall And yet that bridge time and again proved a crucial communications link....for both sides. I'll definitely take a much closer look the next time I visit Harper's. This was a fascinating look at something not well enough known.
Outstanding!! I walked right past that pontoon bridge anchor!! I gotta go back!! Such a thrill to know that I walked where my favorite President also walked!!
Awesome video series of the Harpers Ferry area and more. Hope you come out west and cover battles fought west of the Mississippi River in states of: MO, AR, KS, NM TX, LA.
If you play the game ‘War of Rights’ you can see a really good recreation of everything described here including the pontoon. Amazing to hear about it.
I have a question, why did it keep changing hands in the war? It looks like it was shot up pretty good and the factories were not replaced, due to enemy threat I would think
Man! I love you presentations. You tell it so well. I grew up on the Manassas battlefield, and have been aware of Harper's Ferry since I can remember, but never visited there. Only rode thought on Amtrak a few times with a 10 minute stop there. Now you got me hooked. I never heard of Dixon Miles, so I looked him up. Seems you left out a few things. Yes, he was a long time Army officer ( 42 years ) but from what I read, he was not well thought of either by the higher ups or the men under his command. Apparently there was an alcohol problem. You know more than I do, so I'll stop there.
One more thing. I am really confuzzled. You said McLaws men crossed the pontoon bridge from the Maryland side into Harpers Ferry, then high tailed it up to Sharpsburg. Maybe I need to look at a map, but isn't Sharpsburg on the Maryland side of the Potomac, but he crossed in to the Virginia side? HUH?
Very knowledgeable and I absolutely love this video.... You deliver a excellent depiction undoubtedly..... Thank you Dennis..... Harpers Ferry is Absolutely Gorgeous....😊❤️💯🙏
Mr.Frey, I appreciate these videos so much ! My family roots on Moms side go to West Virginia- Mom spent time as a kid visiting relatives in Weston, WV . Her Grandparents; The Frye & Clem Family. I’m a new subscriber and look forward to watching more historic American battlefield history . Best regards -
When I started to be interested in deeper in the Civil War and the Antebellum history,, I have met Harpers Ferry surrender I thought If I had been the Northern general I would have sent to escap a less group of soldiers. I have recently found knowledge a Mississippian unionist oficer leader with cavalry men escaped to North and confiscated Logstreet's supply with trick.
Terrific storytelling. Thank you so much for allowing me to listen to all this history on the July 4 weekend. I imagine all those beautiful stones were excavated, cut, and placed to some degree by slave and immigrant labor and all those men, one side or the other, and the President, who crossed over must have thought and spoken about that and all that it implied for the impending and uncertain future of this country.
It would be so nice if NPS would open that boat ramp back up for locals. On longer kayak trips upstream and downstream stopping for lunch there at local cafes would be nice.
What's your showing there is actually The Landing for the first bridge at Harpers Ferry. It was called the Wagers Bridge it was built by Lewis vernwag a German bridge builder Millwright. He built many of the Mills and water turbines in the area. When the water gets very low in the Potomac you can see where the original pilings for the wager Bridge were. Mr. Wager try to sell it to the railroad when they first started showing up they were not interested totally unsuitable for them way too low. Also when the water gets low in the Potomac you can spot pieces of The bellman truss the first metal railroad bridge successful in North America laying in the bottom of the river.
The carved rock sine I would have missed .glad you pointed it out ...mennan talcum toilet powder.....glad I never used that stuff. .was deadly asbestos powder great job on the videos
that metal eyebar at 10;50 was used by pontoon bridge and it was the anchor but...i think it was done before the war as it's been drilled and bent to come back through the wall as the wall was built probably a few years before for whatever the reason..right? is there records to support either musing? just wondering..
The love you have for your profession comes across so clearly that it is contagious. I enjoy your shows a lot. I’ve learned a great deal and had fun doing it. Thank you
Once again thank you for posting another of your excellent videos! Thank you too for showing and keeping alive the American Civil War and the history behind it! Having lived in Jefferson County, WV years ago I never really knew the history of Harpers Ferry and you have really opened my eyes to it!
What is interesting is that there is a pathway by the river on the fort side. The photo he showed did not have it on. Is it man made or has nature created it? As for the pontoon, has anybody carried out any underwater archaeology along the line of where the pontoon would have been. People throw stuff away.
We did a reenactment here with the 138th Pennsylvania around 2009. You have me so excited Dennis, that I want to drive down from Connecticut tomorrow. Awesome video Dennis.
Yup. He marched up the west side to Boteler's Ford just below Sharpsburg and crossed. Lot easier and quicker than the east side of the river along Harpers Ferry Road. If you ever get a chance to drive it you can see why - very winding and narrow road these days. Can just imagine its condition in 1862.
@@jamesstark8316 Thanks. I would have thought the Canal towpath on the east side would have been used. Then I guess AP Hill also travelled the same way as McLaws?
To this day I still amazed at some WV stone works. How my Dad got us to that spot when I little boy I don't know. But I was right there late 60's early 70's. I think nobody said nothing to us we walked right over I guess.
