American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-02-01

About four p. M, we CAME on SOME vi
Captain Bagsby's company f King and
Queen county cavalry, near church
where they had assembled for drill. They
formed on the road, but one charge scat
tered them that we could not seem them ;
they hung on our rear, and killed one
man; they losing two. We did not stop
the column Cor them at all, but pushed on
across the Anseamancock creek, when
we halted to rest and gel something to cat,
il being now dark. After halt of about
an hour and half, we again started, but
had not gone over half mile, when
the advance was halted in the road by
the videts OF the enemy's cavalry. At
this Colonel Dahgren, Major Coke and
myself rode to the front to see what was
the matter, when we were ordered 10 sur
render. At this the Colonel presented
his revolver and demanded surrender of
the party in the road. This they refused,
when he attempted to fire, but his pistol
missed-the cap exploding. Instantly
almost, a volley from about three huud-
red carbines, shot guns, and squirrel rifles.
was poured into our left flank from dis
tance OF about twenty feet. Col. Dahl
gren fell, five balls having passed through
his head and body. This caused mo-
mcntary confusion, but Major Cooke, now
the senion officeg, ordered fence on our
right flank thrown down, and rallied the
men in the open field 70 await their com
ing out to attack us the second time
bus it was soon evident tina, they would
not attack us in open ground; but as ;hey
had five or six to our one, hey could
await daylight and pick us OF one by one,
as we passed along through the coun ".
A consultation was then held, and it
was determined to break up ,he whole
force, now reduced to about sevcnty-iive
men, and every one try to make his cs-
cape to Gen Rntler's lines, on the Rap
pahannock river. Accordingly, the men
were ordered to fasten their sables in the
ground, and Tic their horses to them TO
keep them IN line, and every Zone slip of
as quietly as possible. We succeeded IN
getting through their lines, and walked
till daylight, when we concealed ourselves
in pine thicket, to sleep and avail. the
next night. Just az dark March SD
we started out again, takinga no. heaster-
ly direction for the Rappahannock river;
and after travelling through The woods Cor
about three miles we came to a log cabin.
and making a careful reconnaissance Of
the place. concludid il wonld be safe 10
stop and get something to eat. Unfortu-
nately negro saw us enter the house.
and went to his master, who lived close
by, and told him; and he and some others
came in on us and captured all our party
taking us to his house, where we were
kept tillltee next morning. Then, after
relieving Lieut.. Merritt and myself OF
our watches, he turned us over TO Capt.
Magruder, who was 10 take us to Rich
mond.
We arrived at Richmond on Saturday,
March 9Th, at u p. NJ As our treat
ment when we came to Libby was slight
ly different from that of others who have
served in that interesting place. [ will
at an early day give it to the public, Chat
they may know how to appreciate the
high military and moral tone that pre-
walls among the chivalry the Cotton
Slave Confederacy, os which our mutual
frsend JEFF Davis is the great.
l am. Very respectfully,
LIEUT.. r. hartley,
Signal Officer U. S.A.
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