American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-08-16
Uric Ieahlgren.

The month of March, 1864, is memo
rable in Richmond for one of the grand
est Union raids that up to that time had
menaced the Confederate capital--a raid
which was the immediate precursor of
Gen. Grants famous campaign from the
Wilderness to James River The histo-
ry of this raid is too familiar to the minds
of all of our readers 20 make necessary
any recapitulation OF it, even if it com
ported with our space. 1t is known that
Col. Dahlgren, after the attack on Rich
nond on Tuesday, the lst of March, did
not succc : in forming a junction With
Gen. Fitzpatrick, and while pushing thro'
King and Queen County, toward Glou-
cester Point, was killed ON the night of
Wednesday, March I'd, near Walkerton
1t is also known that his body was brought
to Richmond, but what disposition was
made of it by the Confederate authorities
was kept a mystery at the time, and the
facts, even to this day have never been
published We purpose to give them to
the public for the first time, vouehing for
their entire authenticity.
When intelligence was received in
Richmond of the death of Col Dahlgren,
messengers were dispatched to bring it to
the city for identification. Itreached the
city on Monday, March I, by the York
River Railroad, and laid during that day
at the depot, where it was examined by
large numbers Of persons. His death had
been caused by gunshot wound in the
head The little finger of one hand had
been cut off on the field where he fell by
some one anxious to secure, with the least
trouble. a valuable diamond ring. That
p night the body was carried to General Ell
zey's office, in Belvn's block, aud the
, next day, having been placed in com
mon pine coffin, of the kind then used
for the burial Of soldiers, which in turn
was placed in a box, and was transferred
to 0akwood Cemetry, mile east of the
city. The hearse used on this occasion
was four mule street wagon, aud the
attendants consisted of a Confederate
officer of inferior rank and two soldiers.
Arriving at Uakwood, which was the
burial place of all soldiers who died at
7 Chimborazo, Howard's Grove, and other
t hospitals in the eastern portion of the
t city and suburbs, the negro grave diggers
| and other attendants about the cemetry
were driven off and ordered to absent
themselves until notified that they might
return. One of the negroes, now living
in the city having his curiosity excited,
secreted himself in the woods near by,
: determined to see what was to be done
The two soldiers ding grave, placed the
t box in it, and covered it up. They then
!, shouted to recall the attendants of the
!, cemetery, and getting into the wagon, re
Y turned to the city. The only circum-
t stance in the proceedings that struck the
negro as unusual was the mystery obser-
we'd and the circumstance Of the box, nc
= corpse ever having been brought there
y before except in pine coffin; but there
! having been a great deal Of talk as tC
d What was to be done with the body Of Col
= Dahlgren, he at once decided that this
II could be no other than the corpse Of tha
It officer He, however, kept his opinion
y to himself at that time.
n The question what had been done witt
the body of Dahlgren was the subjec
n of inquiry and conversation for many day
|
i time up to the day Of the evacuation
=, And there were many stories on the sub
. ject-that it had been burnt, sunk in tht
u river, &c. A city paper Of that day an
l. nounced, with solemn and knowing air
r. that it would never lie found until tn
l. trump of doom should sound. A numbe
/ of Union men of the city, believing i
| L., al ha av,
e anxious to secure and preserve 1t Tor tn
u FAMILY of the deceased. Prominent anon!
d them was Mr. L. " Il. Lohman, groce
n doing business near the New Market
* Dir. Lohman at once began his inquire
y and stigations-which, IN the thel
e state of popular feelings, it was necessar.
< to conduct with great caution-determin
/ ed at whatever cost and risk, TO ascertain
't its fate. After nearly months patien
'r and untiring inquiry, he, with the assis
D. tanse of Mr.. Martin Meredith Lipscomt
j. VIII sc businessit il was to attend tn. inter
ol ment CT all the Union prisoners who die
a. at this post, made the acquaintance Of tn
20 negro grave digger whom we have men
l. toned as being the sole spectator Of tn
d, burial of Col. Dahlgren. They foun
r r him at Oakwood, pursuing his re-ula
IL business. When first approached on tn
a subject, the negro was very much alarm
IL ed, and protested that he would hav
s. nothing to do with the matter. But afte
er repeated assurance by Mr.. Lipscomt
es whom he knew well, that he might rel
er upon Lohman and that no harm shoul
T. befall him, he consented, on Mr.. Lof
mans giving him 500 note, to poir
tn out the grave. This he did by walkip
It, near and casting etoRe upon it, whil
e. Lohman and Lipscomp stool at a distanci
eff He was afraid to employ any other metl
e. cd lest he might excite the suspicion
e, the superintendent OF the cemetery or SON
of of the attendants. The grave lay anon
tn thousands Of those of Confederate so
of diers. Subsequently, after a great de-
sc of persuasion and the promise of libe
III al reward, the negro agreed to meet VI
,rt Lohman at the cemetery on the night
es the 9th of April at l0 o'clock, and ez
Nv hume the body.
ms The annointed night having arrived