The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-07
Uric Dahlgren.
His Burial and Erlt,lnadtion--Net0 Rev.
e,otions-.Midnight Work Of Union
Men Securing the Body.
from the Richmond Republic.l

The month of March, 1854, is memoir
able 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 history
of this raid is too familiar to the minds
of all of our readers to make necessary
any recapitulation of 1t, even if it COM
ported with our space. 1t is known
that Col. Dahlgren, after the attack on
Richmond on Tuesday, the LIST of March,
did not succeed in forming q junction
with Gen. Fitzpatrick, and while push
ing through King and queen county,
towards Gloucester Point, was killed on
the night of Wednesday, March 2, 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 mys-
terry 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, vouching for their en-:
tire authenticity.
When intelligence was received in
Richmond of the death OF Colonel Dahl
gren, messengers were dispatched to
bring it to the CITY for Identification. 1t
reached the city on Monday, March T.
by the York river railroad, where it was
examined by large numbers of persons.
His death had been caused by gun
shot wound in the head. The little fin
ger of one hand had been cut off on the
field where he fell by some one anxious
to secure, with the least trouble, valu-
able diamoud ring. That night the
body was carried to General Elzey's
office in Belvin's block, and the next
day, having been placed in a common
pine coffin, of the kind then used for
the burial of soldiers, which in turn was
placed in box, was transferred to Oak
wood Cemetery a mile east of the city.
The hearse used on this occasion was
a four mule street wagon, and the atten-
dants consisted of a Confederate officer
of inferior rank, and two soldiers. Ar
irving al. lakewood, which was the buri-
al place of all soldiers who died at CHM
borazo, Towards Grove, and other hos
pitfalls in the eastern portion of
the city and suburbs, the ne
gro grave-diggers and other attendants
about the cemetery were driven off and
ordered to absent themselves until noti-
fed 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
dug grave, placed the box in it, and
covered it UP. They then shouted to
recall the attendants of the cemetery,
and getting into the wagon, returned to
the city. The only circumstance in the
proceedings that struck the negro as un-
usual was the mystery observed and the
circumstance of the box, no corpse ever
having been brought there before except
in pine coffin; but there having been a
great deal of talk as to what was to be
done with the body of Col. Dahlgren, he
at once decided that this could be no
other than the corpse of that officer.
He, however, kept his opinion to him
self at that time.
Thequestion, what had been done with
the body of Dhalgren ? was the subject of
inquiry and conversation for many days
in Richmond, to be revived from time to
time up to the day of the evacuation
Andthere were many stories on the sub
ject-that it had been burnt, sunk In
the river, &c. A city paper of that day
announced, with solemn and knowing
air, that it would never be found until
the trump of doom should sound. A
number Of Union men of the city, be-
lieving it possible that it might be re-
covered, were anXiousto secure and pre-
serve it for the family of the deceased
Prominent among them was Mr.. +. w.
E. Lehman, a grocer, doing business
near the New Market. Mr.. Lehman at
once begun his inquiries and investiga-
tions-which, in the then state of pop
ular feeling, 1t was necessary to conduct
with great caution-determined at what
ever cost and risk, to ascertain its fate
After nearly a months patient and UNI
firing inquiry, he, with the assistance of
Mr.. Martin Meredith Lipscomb, whose
businessit was to attend the interment of
all the Union prisoners who died at this
post, made the acquaintance of the
negro grave-digger whom we have NEIL
toned as being the sole spectator Of the
burial of Col. Dahlgren. They found
him at Oakwook, pursuing his regular
business. When first approached on
the subject, the negro was very much
alarmed and protested he would have
nothing to do with the matter. But af-
ter repeated assuranceby Mr.. Lipscomb,
whom he knew well, that he might rely
upon Lehman and that no harm should
befall him, he consented, on Mr.. Lob
mans giving him ahundred dollar note,
to point out the grave. This he did by
walking near and casting stone upon
it, while Lehman and Lipscomb stood
at distance. He was afraid to employ
any other method lest he might excite
the suspicion of the superintendent of
the cemetery or some of the attendants.
The grave lay among thousands of those
of Confederate soldiers. Subsequently,
after a great deal of persuasion and the
promise of liberal reward, the negro
agreed to meet Mr.. Lehman at the GEM
etery on the night of the 9th of April, at
ten o'clock, and exhume the body.
The appointed night having arrived,
Mr.. Lehman, his brother, John A. Lob
man, and Mr.. Lipscomb, started for the
cemetery in cart drawn by mule.
The night was dark and stormy, and
well suited to conceal their movements.
The party left the city at o'clock, and
reached their destination about 10, and
there found waiting for them the grave
digger and two assistants. The negroes
being assured that all was right, began
their work of elimination, the three
white men remaining with the cart out
side the enclosure of the cemetery. The
heavens were hung with their deepest
black; no object ten feet distant could be
and no sounds broke upon
the loneliness of the place save the howl
ing of the winds and the chopping of
the resurrectionist's spade. Once the
mule, snuffing the tainted air of the city
of the dead, attempted to break away,
but was quickly uuieted by firm hand.