Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-05-21
From the NV Orleans Bulletin.
isEN'S RAID.
khe >tnry cf IL Soldier who was En-
gagged in The Plot to fire fsiea-
moiasi and Capture jeff Davis and
hi. Cabinet.

his Cabinet
The year. which have flown since
the last guns echo died away and the
drifting smoke houted down the val
ltys OF Virginia have, III measure,
served to oUliEerate many Of the que>-
tons which, at that time, were upper
most in the public mind But the re
cent letter published to show that
General Bcaurt gard was such an earn
est advocate OF black flags and no
quarter to prisoners naturally has
served 20 recall many OF the cuarges
made subsequently, we'll substantiated
against that Federal raider, Col. Dahl
gren, Of RIchmold memory.
1t has not been fol gotten how this
! leader pierced the Confederate lines
through an unprotected route and
J made for the city of Richmond, fol-
| lowed by his troop Of cavalry. After
his death and the rout of some and
the capture OF the rest of his command.
it was publicly charged THAT this bold
exY edition had for Its object two
tn,pgs-hrst, the capture of President
Davis; and, second, the burning and
sacking of Richmond. without regard
to whatever might be the loss of life
to women and children. Dispatches
found and combustible material cap
tured corroborated this allegation, and
when the direct statement was made
the northern press Indignantly denied
it's correctness.
AS Daniel Webster,in his celebrated
spec CHI to a jury, said, Murder will
out" and now, after ten years have
stolen away, steps forth Il witness who,
at the risk of much personal discom-
ftUre. fully and with every internal
evidence Of the truth of his tale, re-
lates story, which, for it's terrible
inhumanity. Is a fit nut for those to
crack who SO thirstily seek out such
subjects from the events of the late
war.
A private OF the Thirteenth infantry,
United States army. a regiment now
quartered in this city, yester day made
the following voluntary statement rela-
tive TO the Dahlgreen raid:
am now private in the army. /
belonged at the time to the Dah!green
raid upon Richmond, Virginia, took
place, to Company E, Fifth Michigan
cavalry, and | took part in the ad-
vance with Dab en- Oh Richmond. [
was under his command from the
commencement of the raid, and l
don't think there are more than seven
VI tue party now llVlnS. In REGARD TO
the purpose Of our advance L can only
say that almost every man in the com
mand knew them. They were these:
To capture Davis and his Cabinet, and
then to ire the town at once.
We had along with us the things to
do If, aud if We had got in would have
done it.
Colonel Dahlgren said in nv hear
ing that the Cabinet must be captured
at all hazards. and them the fire must
be touched at snce. No one as o lie
assassIDated, but the fire balls w.. had
Were to be used right off by the men
all over the city. L heard some officer
speak about hanging Davis if he was
caught. There is lieutenant living
who can verify ali that I say.
Perhaps they may put me in the
guard house, or make me work outside
for telling this, but it is true. Xii
patrick was to look after the Libby
prisoners and release them, and they /
were to arm themselves in some ar
merry in the city and come over and !
join us.
The above needs no commentary. /
The publication as made in the Con /
servative press are now proved to be .
true, and Colonel Dahigren will re-
ceive the deserved obloquy of his at /
tempted deed.