Harpers Ferry
a town in Jefferson co., W. Va.; at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, and on the Baltimore and Ohio railroads; 81 miles W. of Baltimore, Md. The place has considerable historical interest. It was the site of a United States government foundry, arsenal and armory, and the scene of John Brown's raid in Virginia in 1859. The government buildings were burned in 1861, to prevent their falling into the hands of the Confederates. In 1862 a Union army under Gen. D. H. Miles surrendered to Stone- HARPY wall Jackson at this point. It is the seat of Storer College, and has considerable local trade. Pop. about 1,000.