Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-14
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We are indebted to the Exchange Bureau for United
States papers to the 10th, inclusive.

Times correspondent says the special object OF the raid
failure but in every other respect it was com
pleie success" Millions Of dollars worth Of prop ry
were destroyed; miles Of railroad torn up; six
grst mills and saw mills burnt six canal boat, and
era locks on James River Canal destroyed The failure
Of the principal object of the expedition is attributed to
the treachery Of the negro guide who was Immediately
laaged. So see:etly aud we'll planned was the e1ps-
ditiOn that the rebels had not the most distant idea Of
its Whereabouts until the command LmOs: within
sight OF Redmond, and fen hours later "hurllng
leadsn messengers of death fro battery inside the
defeLcss of the city into its very suburbs" The men
were in the saddle four days during which lime they
we're supplied from rebel larders and tho horses from
rebel grsnares. Nearly three hundred prisoners
captured several hundred horses and hundreds of
grosS.
soME DETAILS OF TIE MovRMENT.
The command, under Fitzpatrick left Stevensburg Va,
on the night of the 2SLh u and crossing Eys Ford,
the Rlpidan, thence 10 Spots ana Beaver Dam, to
the Notifications around chmond crossing the Cen
tal Railroad aud Cnck ahouiny near the Meadows, the
York River road little OF Tuns ais thence TO
New Kent and Williamsburg, where t arrived on Thurs
day.
After crossing the ipidan, Colonel DAhlgren, with
hrJor Cook and parry of picked men, took the ad-
NauCo WIN hptC'dl OOuy
took the road 10 Sposyvana Court House, and reach
log Beaver Dam Monday evening, small pcties we're
sent up and down the Central road and thousands Of
cords Of pine wood, brick freight houe, telegraph
Office passenger depot several cara engine house,
ter tank, and several outouidDgs set on fire. While
this WAS going or, train approached from Richmond
with troops AID two officers aud thirty rebels we're
captured a charge. A deachmsnt sent TO de-
stroy the bridge the Sou,h Anna at sylOrsve,
but found it strongly guarded by the Maryland battAl-
ion. On the way 10 Redmond "Kdby S;atio9," on the
Fredericksburg road destroyed viii the track and
culVerts in the vicinity The track and telegraph at
Guinea Station destroyed.
APPROACH TO RICHMOND.
Tuesday morrirg. lOt o'clock, found the command
passir works the Brooke Turnpike 81 miles from
Richmond. Several men on picket captured with
out firing shot. Moving forward within the second
ae Of delences, the skirmshers encountered the first
shots from Battery No g. The rebels were driven with
in their works. aud desutory fire kept up until oc oek
p NJ when, COL Dahlgren not appearing, Gen. Xii
patrick decided fall back. The Brook Creek bridge
having been burnt, the command went down the Mea-
dow Bridge read, and a. night went into camp miles
fiom Richmond, and miles from tie Chickahominy.-
"There was a slight ia Of rain and seet, and the men
built fres cooked their chickens aud bacon and had
turned in for few hours sleep but all persons
doomed 10 disappointment at some time ohsT, so il
vas their lot this occasion. At about l04 o'clock
just the command was fairly aseep-except Ihoss
duty-Ihe rebels opened a two gun battery upon the
camp OF Gen. Davies bIi sade and Immediately after
chaig ed the camp of the 7th Michigan. The men,
tough taken entirely BY SURPRISE ed their carbiues
and under Col. Litchfeld supported by the lst Yer
mont CoL Preston, handsomely repulsed the enemy
Who owing - the camp fires, had decidedly the advan
tage troops, owing TO their occupying posi-
lion between the enemy land the camp fres. After
forcing the enemy back, the COMMANDING General de-
cided TO his command again. be ready for
any at DAYLIGHT la thia aT 4ir a NH If
horses were killed, aud a few san peded by the
shriskicg shell rushing through the midnight air The
scene all things CONSIDERED, not very fascinating
one 10 man OF tender nerves"
The command moved towards Psmunkey river, but
the boats having been destroyed Gen. fitzpatrick de-
cided to move by the White House, down the Peninsula
During the day the bulk OF Dahlgrens comm md under
Capt. Mitchell OF which nothing had been heard since
Sunday came up. The rebels lowered abous Tuesday
night and Wednesday, picket skirmishing constantly
gong on. On Wednesday morning a large rebel cav.
ay force came upon the rear OF tue column but alter
wards sulenly retired. detachment was cent to
stroy Tunstars Station butt found to be in flames.
column Of cavalry from Buffers Department had Just
left there. Between New Kent and Williamsburg the
column was annoyed by u;hWhaCkeIs, ten OF WHOM
we're captured.
DAHLGRKN's EXPEDITION AID DEATH.
Col Dlhgren, tn picked )mmand, went to Fed
erck Hail. destroyed the road and Ieleg aph line, and
CaDtuIeu Twelve TeOe OIuCeTb on COulL martial QltN
there He then struck the Canal eight miles cas-. oil
Goocbland @. H. The grist a ld saw mills above men
TONED, canals and locks the barn OF Secretary Seldom
and coal pits at HannakinS Band, were destroyed.-
Here Dihgren discovered his negro guide had deceived
him. and hanged bim TO the nearest tree. lie then
moved on to Richmond, aud had lively tkirmish with
sone rebel infantry abe u the time Fitzpatrick retired
from the Brooke Turnpike. IL Dahgrens intention
TO have come up three hours earlier. Dlhlgren and
Major Cook with 100 men, went in one direction, and
Capt. Mitchell with the remainder in another TO fac
the main body.
When the account, OF which the foregoing is an alb
strac' Waa written, the death of DAhlgreen was un.
known. 1t was afterwards received through the Rich.
mond papers. Ca the S.h, the Pr, s:dent becoming
satisfied OF the TACT communicated it to his father Ad
mral Dahlgren, who lett for Fortress Monroe ito take
such steps in the matter as may be deemed proper under
the circumstances.
COMMENTS OF The TIMEs AND HERALD.
TIE n. Y. Times, commenting on GLOW COL Dablgren
was killed." says:
"The coWardly assassius admit-and boas. OF It. in
deed-that had they not acted thus, Dailgren would
have cut HE way through their columns he had done
through all before him thus far. So the seatby bullet
was sped from cut of the midnight with no other wan
ing than that the assassin gives and the young hero fell
The wrecbes dared not meet bis flashing blade face to
face surrounded pursued harassed in front and Aank
and rear be had cut down and through dozen Of their
columns and but for this murderous exp dent of the
enem y would have reached our lines in safety. The
rebelsmay boast Of hi achievement but the world ill
accord them the distinction of midnight assassins"
Per contra, the New York Herald under the cap ion
Of "Tne Plgarc Expedition Against Richmond" de-
nounces the raid barbarous aud the damage as mere
wabton destru,ion that will fall upon the people aud
not the rebel army Itsays no legitimate advantage in
war has been gained and has only served to Iend the
war more bitter. IL does not believe General Lees
communications were Interrupted more than three days
and ridicule. the idea Of getting rid Of General By
starving him out after all the struggles of tie Wash
ington Directory.
such movements as this are no part OF legitimate
warfare They have results that respec able or
valuable in war; They pieces of barbarsm Bar
barous in their origin in their execution they excite all
the worst passions and let loose all tho barbaty OF bad
men, Europe devastated by expeditions OF exactly
,h;s in the fourtsen havda1