New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-08
ULRIC DAHLGREN.
IIfs Burial and Observation-Disclosures Heveia'
ttsus-Midnfgbt Work OF Union Men
Recuriug the BODY.
Frnm The Richmond !

| The month OF March, 1864, IL mem0raDle III
Richmond for one Of the grandest Union RAIDS tnat
to that time had uenaced the Confederate capiti-a
raid which was the immediate precursor OF Gen
famous campaign from the Wilderness 20 James kiyer
The history of this raid Is too familiar 70 tno % ~
all of our readers make necessary any
it. even IL IL comported with our space ~ rs Anp"
that Col Dahlgren after the attack on RICHMOND on
Tuesday the t Of March did not sucGeed h ~ nnsb"s
through King and Queen County, toward UiouoesteI
Point. was killed on the night Of "Wednesday March
near Walkerton 1t is also known that his body was
brough Ia Richmond. but what disposition was naue
of il by the Confederate authorities was kept n!s
terry mt the time, and the facts even To TINS aay rave
never been published. We purpose To give thou 10 Ine
public for the first time youcLiDs for their entire su
When Intelligence was received in Richmond OF the
death of Col DalgerD. messengers were dspaicheu ~
bring II to the city for identification: 1t reached the
CITY on Monday Mach T. by the York River Railroad,
and laid during that day az the depot where 1t vas
examined by large numbers OF persons His death hsa
been caused by ggnshot wound in the head the lit
tie finger of hand had been cut of on the Held where
be fell by some one anxious to secure VITA tne ens'
trouble a valuable diamond ring That night INC
cody was carried 10 Gen. Elzcys Office; IN BeIvlns
block ard the next day having been placed IN com,
mon pine c0in Of the sind then used Tor ls Dnri o
so diers which in turn was placed IN box, ana was
transferred 10 lakewood Cemetery, mile east OF tho
CITY The hearse used on this occasion was f0nr'
mute street wagon and the attendants consisted or
Confederate officer OF neri9r rank ana Two
5a T1ss w sESS Grove and
other lo pitfalls in the "a portion Of the city and SUB
urbs, the negro grave-ciggers ana oihsF y.
abont the cemetery were driven on ana ordeFeu "
absent themselves until notified that they might return
One Of the regroes now living In the CITY naylng ns
curiosity excited seoreied himself III inc "onas nea Wy
determined 20 see what was to be done The two sol.
diers dug grave placed the box In IT, and covered II
up They then shoned 10 recall tho attendants OF VIC
Cemetery and getting into the wagon returned 10 .be
citv The only circumstance in the proceedings thns
st ck the negro unusual the mystery Observed
and tie circumstance Of the box no corpse ever having
been brought there before except In pine CONN; out
there hsying been great deal Of talk as 10 what was
10 be done with the body OF Col Dabgren he ut once
decided that this could be no other than the corpse OF
that officer. He, however, kept his opinion 10 hiinsei
al tho time. . .
| The question what had been done with the body Of
Dahlgr.n Was the subject OF inquiry ana converse
ton many days in Richmond, 10 DO revived ron
time TO time M To the day of the evacuation. Ana
there were many stories on the sub1ect-that u han
been sunk in the river, Sc city paper OF tha
dav announced with a solemn and knowing air that IL
wouLl never b. found until the trump OF doom shoni
sound. A number Of Union men II tho city beevin2
IT po sibe that IL might be recovered were ANXIOUS 10
secure and preserve for the family Of tho deceesed
Prominent among them was Mr. r. w. T.. Lohlnnn
grocer doing business near the New Market Mr.: Lon
man ut once began his inquiries and investigations
which IN the then state Of popular feeling n was nece--
sarv 10 conduct with great caGton-determned, at
Whatever cost and risk. IN ascertain It's rare etsr
nearly months patient snd un',ihg INQUIRY ne, VIII
the assistance Of Mr.. Martin Meredith Li@como
" hose business II TO attend the lnterineni OF
all tie Union prisoners who died ~ tnis
tosf made acquaintance on tnt
negro grave.diggcr whom have mentioned AS being
tie oe spectator ~ the burial Of Col Dahlgren They
fonnl him al lakewood. pursuing his regular business
When 6rs, approached On the subject the negro was
very much alarmed and protested that he would have
nothing 20 do with the matter. Bn, after repeated
/ assurance by Mr Epscomb whom he knew well. that
hc uiyt, rely upon Iolmin and that no harm shond
b, ,all him be consented. Mr. Lohman's giving him
a 400 note 20 point out the grave. This he did by
waking near and casting asone upon T. while IohnaD
and Il,scomb stood ai a distance He vas afraid 10
D frefhol Lest he might excite the
snsplcou OF the superintendent of the cemetery some
al Tie attendants. The grave lay among thousands OF
ttosc OF Confederate soldiers. subsequently, aitcr
great deal Of persuasion and the omise OF liberal
reward tho negro agreed 10 meet Ny. Lehman az the
cemetery the night II the 9th u April nj 10 O'Clock,
Ihe appointed night having arrived, Mr. Lohman.
his brother John \. L0hman and MI Lipscomb.
started Tor the cemetery IN a cart drawn ~ mule
/ The night wes durk aud stormy. and well suited 10
conceal their movements. The party len the c! NJ
o'clock and rcechc! their destination about 10, and
there found Whiting f5r them the grhvedgger and two
| a. l.tauts The negroes being assured that All was
RI ~ht began their work Of cxhumation. the three white
men remaining with the cart outside the ineosnre OF
the cemetery. The heavens were hung WIN ther teep
flushed and 10 sounds broke upon tue loneliness Of the
place save the bowling Of the winds aud the choppg
~ the rcsgrTccilnsts spade Once The mule. suui'bS
the tainted air ol the city OF tho dead attempted 10
/ break away, but was quickly quoted by firm hand
If twenty minutes from the Time The negroes Uegnn
their work they hppIoacnsd me cart oei d oerMesn
a they rested q tho ground IL was then discovered
that tho body had decomposed IN any perceptibe
degree Mr. LolrBau satisfied himself OF the Identity
al the corpse by passing his hand it. The ite
finger torn or the Jewel bore and leg lost
in battle were nissin". He palG the negro with Nlnr
no had contracted 81 100 and placing the body IN tae
cart, the party stared on their return. The mule,
alarmed as animals frequently are when drawing q
dead body for the first time became difficult OF man
acemen, and with the darkness OF the night made the
rs mart Of the expedition OF no lttc peril Moro
than one hour spent in reaching the gas nights OF
the city Oh Church H IL wa, paI ?, the pan 10 con
un.on man. living Chelsea Hill half mile north
east Of tie city there 10 remain until metallic
Church eiSs lin. Mr Lehman drove down
Broadst 10 Seyenieeuhst- thence up Seyenteenth.st
TO its norhesn terminus, and thence up the hi TO Mr.
morning Of the 7th Of April. Here the body was
wrapped in blanket. and Mr.. Lotnan came 10 the
city search Of cenig, which be obtmaei by the aid
OF iir Lipscunb. On his way into the city from Row
lett., Lehman notified number Of persons of Union
sentiments. among whom were several ladies'. whore
tic body had been placed and they hurried out to see
H. Several Of tlcse PERSONS had seen Col Dablgren
while he exposed at the York River Railroad le
pot and Immediately recognized the body as lis. The
metallic colin having been procured, and the body
placed in il. the two LoLIoans. at noon on tho t set
out with ii. concealed in wagon loaded with Young
fInt trees for the farm " Koberi Orricks Union
man, living IN Iicnrico, two miles from Hungary sta
/ ton.
At4 O'Clock that evening they reached OrIeks's and
buried the body under apple free In Held avoiding
the grave yard FOR fear OF exciting inquiry, which
might lead 10 discovery.
The rest II This story may be told in few words
Orrcks, months after the second burial Of Col.
Dahlgrcn succeeded in getting through the Coined.
crate nca. and seeking Interview with Commodore
Dahlgrcn Informed him Of what had been done 90
'he body If his The corpse of the soldier ii1
this its grave until the evacuation OF Rich
mond. wien order having been for IL by the
Wer Department. Il was again disnteued by the two
Lohnians and sent to Washington.
1t has been object 10 lift the vail OF mystery from
obscure and interesting event In doing b. We have