The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-18
IMPORTANT FROM THE REBEL
CAPITAL.
RICHMOND NEWS TO THE 9Th
Death OF COLONEL DAHLGREN
CONFIRMED.
The Plans Of Kilpatrick's Cam
palgn.
HOW RICHMOND WAS TO HAVE
BEEN ATTACKED.
A Great Rebel Victory Claimed.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac,
March 8, 1864.-FrOm the Richmond
Sentinel of March extract the following:
CORRESPONDENCE FOUND ON THE BODY OF
COL DAHLGREN-fMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
Lieut.. Pollard, commanding Company
II, of the Ninth Virginia Regiment, aided
by some Home Guards and few men
from Lieut.. Col. Robbins command, sue
ceeded in penning Col. Dahlgren on
Wednesday night about eleven O'Clock.
Dahlgren made a determined effort to
force his way out, and was killed leading
the charge.
Thursday morning, the remaining Off
GERS having escaped, the party surrendered
ninety Yankees and thirty-6ve negroes.
Several Papers were found in the peck
cts of Dah!gren, copies of which are sub
joined:
ADDRESS TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN.
The following address to the officers and
men of the command was written on a
sheet of paper, having, in printed letters,
on the upper corner, Headquarters Third
division, Cavalry corps, 1884,
OFflCEhS AMI AHN 1Ou nave Uc0u Sc.
lected from brigades and regiments as a
picked command to attempt desperate
undertaking undertaking which, if
successful, will write your names on the
hearts of your countrymen in letters that
can never be erased, and which will cause
the prayers of our fellOw-soldiers now con-
fined in loathsome prisons to follow you
and yours wherever you may go. We hope
to release the prisoners from Belle Isle,
first, and, having seen them fairly started,
we will cross the James River into Rich
mond, destroy the bridges after US, and,
exhorting the released prisoners to destroy
and burn the hateful city, will not allow
the rebel leader Davis and his traitorous
crew to escape. The prisoners must rem
der great assistance, as you cannot leave
your ranks too far or become too much
scattered, or you will be lost. Do not
allow any personal gain to lead you off,
which would emily bring you to an ignOmin-
ious death at the hands of citizens Keep
well together and obey orders strictly, and
all will be well; but on no account scatter
too far, for in union there is strength.
With strict obedience to orders and fear
lessness in their execution you will be sure
to succeed. We will join the main force
on the other side of the city, or perhaps
meet them inside. Many of you may fall /:
but if there is man here not willing to
sacrifice his life in such great and glori-
Gus undertaking., or who does not feel
capable of meeting the enemy in such a
desperate fight as will follow, let him step
out, and he may go hence to the arms of
his sweetheart, and read Of the braves who
swept through the city of Richmond. We
want no man who cannot feel sure of sue
cess in such holy cause. We will have a
desperate fight, but stand up to it when it
does come. and all will be well. Ask the
blessing of the Almighty, and do not fear
the enemy. U. DAHLGREN,
Colonel Commanding.
SPECIAL ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS.
The following special orders were writ
ten on a similar sheet of paper on detached
slips, the whole disclosing the diabolical
plans of the leaders of the expedition:
Guides and pioneers, with oakum, tur-
pentine and torpedoes, signal officers,
quartermasters, commissaries, scouts and
pickets, and men in rebel uniforms these
will remain on the north bank and move
down with the force on the south bank,
not get ahead of them, and if the commu-
nication can be kept up without giving an
alarm it must be done; but everything
depends upon surprise, and no one must
be allowed to pass ahead of the column.
Information must be gathered in regard to
the crossings of the river, so that, should
we be repulsed on the south side, We will
know where to recrOss at the nearest
point
All mills must be burned and the canal
destroyed, and also everything which can
be used by the rebels must be destroyed,
including the boats on the river. Should
ferry boat be seized which can be
worked, have it moved down. Keep the
force on the south side posted of any i'm
portant movement of the enemy, and in
case of danger, some of the scouts must
swim the river and bring US information.
As we approach the city the party must
take great care that they do not get ahead
of the other party on the south side, and
must conceal themselves and watch oul
movements. We will try and secure the
bridge to the city, one mile below Belle
Isle, and release the prisoners at the same
time. If we don't succeed they must then
dash down, and we will try to carry the
bridge by storm. When necessary the
men must be filed through the woods ant
along the river bank. The bridge once
secured and the prisoners loose and ovel
the river the bridges will be burned ant
the city destroyed.
The men must be kept together ant
we'll in hand, and, once in the city, it mus
be destroyed and jeff. Davis and his Cab
met killed Pioneers will go along witt
combustible material. The officer mus
use his discretion about the time of assist
ing US. Horses and cattle which we d,
not need immediately must be shot rather
than left.
Everything on the canal and elsewher,
Of service to the rebels must be destroyed
T. As Gen. Qustor may follow me, b.
careful not to give false alarm. Th'
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