Battle of Bolivar Heights

At the October 16, 1861 Battle of Bolivar Heights, Confederate Col. Turner Ashby unsuccessfully attacked a Union force commanded by Col. John W. Geary.

In October 1861 Abraham Herr, a Unionist who operated a mill on Virginius Island at Harpers Ferry, gave Union Col. John W.  Geary 20,000 bushels of wheat from his mill. When Confederate Col. Turner Ashby learned of Herr’s intentions, on October 16, 1861he attacked Geary’s defensive line on Bolivar Heights, which overlooked Harpers  Ferry from the west. Although the Confederates drove the Union defenders back into the town of Bolivar, Geary forwarded reinforcements, which counterattacked. In the six-hour battle, Geary’s force beat back the assault, ultimately sending Ashby’s force into full retreat after it attacked the Confederate left flank. About 600 men were engaged on the Union side, 500 on the Confederate side.