The Confederate Perspective

The Confederate Perspective. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. , "General J.R. Jones was directed to make a demonstration against the enemy's right." , Jackson's official report, Confederate Colonel Edmund Pendleton wrote about the night of September 14, 1862, from his perspective across the road on School House Ridge. Pendleton and his men were facing this direction, holding the Union forces in check on Bolivar Heights behind you., "We lay upon our arms till nearly daylight, the quietude of the night being unbroken, save by a sharp musketry fire of a few minutes duration in front of our right and a few hundred yards distant, which proved to have occurred between two regiments of the enemy on picket duty, who had mutually mistaken each other for foes.", Colonel Pendleton was mistaken. The gunfire he heard was exactly what General "Stonewall" Jackson wanted. Jackson intended to outflank the enemy stronghold on Bolivar Heights by moving artillery and infantry to the far left of the Union position. To cover this maneuver and distract the Union troops, Jackson ordered some of his forces on School House Ridge to stage a feint attack against the Union skirmish line near the road below. Confederate victory was inevitable now., Even though the attack here lasted only a short time, it was a critical part of the Confederate strategy, and a life and death situation for the soldiers who were involved.