The Second and Eighth had climbed the mountains, and advanced on Harper’s Ferry from the east.  The Second was commanded by Colonel Kennedy and the Eighth by Colonel Henagan.  The enemy was posted behind works, constructed the same as those assaulted by the Third and Seventh, of cliffs of rocks, trunks of trees, covered by an abattis.  The regiments advanced in splendid style, and through the tangled underbrush and over boulders they rushed for the enemy’s works.  Colonel Kennedy was wounded in the early part of the engagement, but did not leave the field.  The Second lost some gallant line officers.  When the order was given to charge the color bearer of the Eighth, Sergeant Strother, of Chesterfield, a tall, handsome man of six feet three in height, carrying the beautiful banner presented to the regiment by the ladies of Pee Dee, fell dead within thirty yards of the enemy’s works.  All the color guard were either killed or wounded.  Captain A.T.  Harllee, commanding one of the color companies, seeing the flag fall, seized it and waving it aloft, called to the men to forward and take the breastworks.  He, too, fell desperately wounded, shot through both thighs with a minnie ball.  He then called to Colonel Henagan, he being near at hand, to take the colors.  Snatching them from under Captain Harllee, Colonel Henagan shouted to the men to follow him, but had not gone far before he fell dangerously wounded.  Some of the men lifted up their fallen Colonel and started to the rear; but just at this moment his regiment began to waver and break to the rear.  The gallant Colonel seeing this ordered his men to put him down, and commanded in a loud, clear voice, “About face!  Charge and take the works,” which order was obeyed with promptness, and soon the flags of Kershaw’s Regiments waved in triumph over the enemy’s deserted works.

Walker had occupied Loudon Heights, on the Virginia side, and all were waiting now for Jackson to finish the work assigned to him and to occupy Bolivar Heights, thus finishing the cordon around the luckless garrison.  The enemy’s cavalry under the cover of the darkness crossed the river, hugged its banks close, and escaped.  During the night a road was cut to the top of Maryland Heights by our engineer corps and several pieces of small cannon drawn up, mostly by hand, and placed in such position as to sweep the garrison below.  Some of Jackson’s troops early in the night began climbing around the steep cliffs that overlook the Shenandoah, and by daylight took possession of the heights opposite to those occupied by Walker’s Division.  But all during the day, while we were awaiting the signal of Jackson’s approach, we heard continually the deep, dull sound of cannonading in our rear.  Peal after peal from heavy guns that fairly shook the mountain side told too plainly a desperate struggle was going on in the passes that protected our rear.  General McLaws, taking Cobb’s Georgia Brigade and some cavalry, hurried back over