The New York herald., 1864-08-08
REBEL FORGERlE 5.
Vfndication or Colonel Uric Dahlgren's
MemOry-TOuchtng Letter from IAis
Father.

Vfndication or Colonel Uric Dahlgren's
MemOry-Touching Letter from HIS
Father.
U.lrBD STATES FLAGSHIP PHILADELPHIA
CHARLESTON ROADS, July "a, 1864. }
have patiently and sorro wfuly awaited the hour
when should be able TO vndcate fully tho memoy OF
my gallant son, Colonel Uric Dahgren, and lay bare 10
world the arocious mposture Of those who not
tent with abusing and defacing the remains Of the
noble boy have knowingly aud pesisteny endeavored
to bemish his spotless name by forged lie.
That hour has at last have before photo
ltho copy OF the document which the nhuman traitors
at Richmond pretend found upon the body Of
after he had been basely assassnaed by their cnvaly
at midnight and who the pretext that this paper dis
closed intent to take the lives Of the and his
counseors and to destroy Richmond have not hestated
TO commit and commend the most shocking barbarities
on the remains Of the young patriot and TO exat like das
tards over his sad fate.
! can affirm that this document Is forgcry-a
bareaced atrocious orgeryso palpabe that the wick
ednes of the act s ouy equaled by the rocklessness
with which has been porpstrated and adhered to- for
tho miserable caitis did conne themselves to the
general terms Of nero allegation, but published the
paper in all tho precision Of Photographic fac nii
II not TO leave doubt for cavil
felt from the first just II knew the fact that my
son never wrote that paper-that 1t forgery but
refaincd from giving terance that faith until had
sample of the infamous counterfeit, and having
it, could say say now, that 6eudish lie
invented
For the poor wretches who did the work have
not word--it was their trade, their daily bread
and they pretended TO be better than they
were-hardcned ruflans. nt only for rope
oave them tho price for which they have bartered
their souls But what doom do they who have
instgated tho crime that they might profit by itwho
devised 1t that they might justify to the world the graft
ncaon OF their vengeance the heroic dead by
Grating the nanlmate body of high and pure
purpose to release the weary captive from the &C.
cursed dungeons OF Richmond, and who that end
fused not to peril his life? WHAT shall be awarded
70 th highmpded and honorable men-he leaders Of
the chivary-the impersonation of the high virtues
that are supposed to dsdain the semblauce Of
wrong?
And yet these the criminals who conceived the
thought and frantic with fear what might have come
to them IL that daring young soldier had reached the por
tails OF their bastile and given liberty the weary cap
tves vented their cowardy rage his cold body and
gave their names and their for Nc.
It is diacu to imagine such utter baseness any but
the most abandoned feons, and yet it only OF piece
with the entire conduct Of the cbvary leaders and fol-
lowers 10 all the that preceded and accompanied
the untimely death OF Colonel Dahgren The forged lie
but the seal to deeds of inhumany and that
DO one could enact sanction unless his nature were
debased to q level with that OF the brute.
1t is well known that the cruel usage practised the
Union soldiers who were imprisoned~at Richmond had
become theme at the North that their from
slow aud horrid death the object OF the
My son had just returned from visit of Charles
ton when be learned Of the project. Every one was
aware that he condition take the field Just
then; Tor he had lost leg by wound received in
charge through Hagersown pending the battle Of Gettys
burg, and the consequent illness nearly him his c
The vigor Of his frame had carried him through the
crisis, but the wound perfectly healed he was
stl weak and could only move crutches
No sooner was he apprsed Of what contemplated,
than he sought 90 join the enterprise The remembrance
OF comrades pining in oathsome dnnaeons-of with
whom he had ridden side by side amid the deadly
ct. and strong conviction OF their sucrngs anmatpg
every pulse OF his gallant beart he felt duty called
him there and the reluctant Of the authorities
was at last yielded TO bis earnest entrcaties
II is mot my purpose here narrate the whole course
Of nis noble enterprise that viii be the duty of futnro
day. bnt no one had Colonel Dahlgren in his full
vgor sit his charger gracefully better endure
the ucessan and multiplied hardships that ride by
day and by night, in shine aud storm.
The failure OF his column to with that Gene
raj Fitzpatrick led TO the failure Of the expedition aud
the death Of nobo soldier gave life TO great
cause.
On Tuesday night iarch u, after dark Colonel Dahl
kchnOnd
the rebel infantry stationed at the outer works At such
time OF peril, far away from help OF any kind nh
small force OF cavalry hardly eanshot from the strong
hold Of Bebcdom, the splendid courage OF the Young
leader never blazed more brightly. officer who was
nearest TO bin, but who had never served with him
before, admiration the perfect self possesson
with which he rode in front Of the line spoke
men under storm OF bullets Then the charge
scattering the rebels like cban.
This DONE IL only remained 10 ride on from Richmond
and endeavor 10 gam the Union lines below The night
dark the rain fell In torrents and the coaks OF the
stnened with sleet but the column spurred
at ul speed Sad TO say the advance with Colonel Dahl
gren separated em the main body and at dawn
OF Wednesday he found himself. with little party OF
seventy men, Ia the very midst Of a hostile country.
still holding on the swift tenor OF his way, he crossed
the pamunkey and reached the Matepony long after
noon. The men and horses had been crossed over the
river. the few vdctes had been called down from their
posts also sent across Colonel Dahlgren rca aing
alone the southern eank The chivalry had
gathered bushes and deliberately opened fire
him. though they plainly that he was crippled by
the loss OF Veg and only stood erect by aid OF The
cruches which nc leaned; the waters OF the river
separated him from every helping hand and were easy
tor song and resoutc to rush forward and bear
by main force the en'eebed frame Of the weary
officer. But any manly decd a fight far above what
the chtvairy contemplated; they could assassnae him
the ambush because IL attained their base purpose
without risk to their craven carcasses. In utter
scorn OF such abect fear, Colonel Dahgrcn bid them
come out from their hiding places and discharged his
pistol at them deiiantly
The contrast thus presented might well inspire the
pencil uf the artist.
But the young ciose his glorious ca
there; the ferry boat bore him unharmed be
mounted and once more led his band onward II was at
this time, by their accounts that the chvalry had
opportunity Of numbering exactly the force that
with him and ascertaned that this remnant did not
coed seventy men SO they c0ntriyed to collect various
scattered parties from the neichborhood until they
tered three four times the force OF retreatng
cavalry. Even with this advantage the miserable
dare not offer Colonel nahlgren fair field open
day. There were those OF them who knew hmthe gal
liant Ninth Virgina-had faced him in fredericksburg
with quite as great superiority Of numbers ana had
been driven m every direction until they skued out OF
the town ike whipped so they cou'ederatei in
force where the road wound through deep forest, and
awaited the coming OF the Union troop.
This happened about midnight, aud repeated voleys |
from these niscreants did their work oil 100 we'll.
The gallant youth fell pierced by many balls at the
head OF his ard whilc his brave spirit stA
koRered about Its shattered tenement the chvary be
gan TO strip OIL hs clothing. Whether the detestabe
pose was mplished before he dead know not,