Harpers Ferry in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Daring Escapes
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Henry T. McLin, July 1, 2009
1. Daring Escapes Marker
The boat ramp in front of you was the site of two daring escapes in the Battle of Harpers Ferry. Under the cover of darkness, 1,400 Union cavalrymen fled on horseback down the ramp, crossing a pontoon bridge into Maryland on September 14, 1862. The next day Confederates captured the remaining 12,500 Union soldiers. Among them were free black laborers, working for Union Colonel William Trimble's regiment.
Here at this ramp Confederate soldiers began dragging the free black laborers away, falsely claiming the Union was "stealing their slaves." Colonel Trimble shouted "My men are unarmed - I am not. Unhand them!" Then he ordered "Regiment march," swiftly moving both the laborers and the soldiers past the Confederate guards, down this ramp, and across the bridge to safety in the North.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1861.
Location. 39° 19.432′ N, 77° 43.772′ W. Marker is in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from Potomac Street just north of Shenandoah Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Harpers Ferry WV 25425, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers.
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More about this marker. The background of the marker is a photo of the bridges at Harpers Ferry. The Potomac River pontoon bridge, shown here partially dismantled, was attached to iron rings in the river wall below you. On the upper right is a map depicting the situation, captioned: All but surrounded by Confederates in the hills around you, the Union calvary fled across the pontoon bridge. They rode north to Pennsylvania capturing a Confederate ammunition wagon train along the way.
Photographed By Henry T. McLin, July 1, 2009
2. Daring Escapes Marker on right. Railroad bridge over the Potomac River in background.
The metal boat frame on left is a replica of a collapsible boat built here for Lewis and Clark.
Photographed By Henry T. McLin, July 1, 2009
3. Daring Escapes Marker from rear. The marker is right center.
Armory site is in the background.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 21, 2016
4. The Armory boat ramp
Scene of the "Daring Escapes"
Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 21, 2016
5. The shoreline view
Where the boat launch reaches the river. The piers of the destroyed bridge to the right; combination railroad and pedestrian bridge in the center; dedicated railroad bridge to the left.
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 18, 2020
6. Iron Ring
Iron rings, believed to have held the pontoon bridge in place, still remain near water's edge.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2009, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,078 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on October 19, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 4, 2009, by Henry T. McLin of Hanover, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on April 25, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on April 26, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 6. submitted on October 19, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
