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Maryland Heights Hike - June 2, 2002

I hooked up with a great group of people from learning escapes for a group hike of Maryland Heights.  Maryland Heights is the tallest of the 3 heights surrounding Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.  It was on these heights along with Loudoun Heights in Virginia and Bolivar Heights in West Virginia (above the town of Harper's Ferry) that Stonewall Jackson  surrounded the 12,500 yankees under Col. Dixon Miles.   This was not an easy feat.  Horses couldn't get up Maryland Heights and the men had to push the cannon by hand.  The men assigned Maryland Heights were under Layette McLaws, Walker's men were on Loudoun Heights and Jackson himself commanded the men on School House Ridge on Bolivar Heights.  It was a necessity for Jackson to bag these yanks because they were in the rear of Lee's entire army.  They would surrender on September 15th 1862.  Jackson would leave A.P. Hill behind to take care of the exchange of prisoners while the remainder of his wing marched northward to hook up with D.H. Hill's men of Longstreet's wing who were busy fighting McClellan's Army in the battle of South Mountain.   With the convergence of Lee's Army the battle of Antietam would commence on September 17th, 1862 in Sharpsburg.  The bloodiest day in American History with over 23,000 casualties.

Maryland Heights as seen from the upper town of Harper's Ferry.

Another view of the railroad bridge going into Maryland Heights

Arriving at the cliffs at the summit of Maryland Heights.  Its about a 4 mile hike round trip and is the shortest trail.  If you want to do the entire tour its about 14 miles and includes some ruins of civil war forts and gun emplacements.

The town of Harper's Ferry below.  I thought of all those poor troops under McLaws having to push that artillery up here.  The trail was quite steep and in most places was at 45 degree angle inclines.  I'm sure hauling that cannon up was a ball buster for sure!

Another view of Harper's Ferry.  To the left is Loudoun Heights.

Some of the group enjoy lunch on the lower rocks.  There were several peregrine falcons buzzing overhead but my photos of them didn't come out well.  The park service has a restoration program for them since they are endangered.  It seemed to be thriving up their on the cliffs.  They've got pictures and information on their website.