The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-15

panions in that city Of the dead more than
ten thousand other soldiers OF the two
armies.
Admiral Dahgren, upon learning the fate
OF his son, wrote to President Davis by a
flag OF truce, begging for the return OF the
body. He enclosed 800 in gold to pay ex-
penses. Upon receiving this letter Mr..
Davis sent for Captain Samuel MaccubbiD,
chief OF the Confederate police, and told
him to secure the body, see that it was de-
Gently laid out in as good a coffin as he
could get in Richmond, and deliver it to
an officer named for transportation through
the lines.
AN EMPTY GRAVEAT OAKWoOD.
Captain AIaccubbin-peace to his ashes
has often told the writer OF the result Of
this commission. He bought metallic
coffin. and, with the undertaken [Mr. Sat-
terwhite, probably,l and the officer who
had had Dahlgren buried, went to Oak
wood. The officer pointed out the grave.
The undertaker's man proceeded to shovel
the earth ont OF ii; which done, to their
surprise the body was not to be seen Cap
tain Maccubbln asked for an explanation.
The officer could give none. He had seen
the body buried. That was all he knew.
Mr.. DAVIS WORRIED.
The Captain reported the facts TO Mr..
Davis, who was greatly worried about the
matter, and who directed that a searching
inquiry be made rs to how the body had
been spirited away.
With the Captain, at least, there was a
suspicion that citizens or soldiers. indig-
nant with Dahlgren about bis order, had
found the grave and taken the body and
chopped it to pieces in their rage. There
was never any clue found 10 justify any
such conclusion. it is true, but it seemed
the only solution Of the mystery.
When Admiral Dahlgren was informed
that the body could not be found, he and
his wife were very much enraged. They
and their people said many hard things
about us. which can now he forgiven, a
we i'm these times Of peace may for mo-
ment put ourselves in their places.
But soon after this Richmond parties
managed to let the Admiral know that the
body was safe. As for the Confederatcs,
to them the mystery was never unveiled
till the war was closed.
THE MYSTERY UNVEILED.
The facts about the removal OF the body
are as follows:
Soon after the burial Mr.. NJ. VI. Lips
comb was visited by Mr.. L. Lohman, a
German. now dead, then a builder in this
city. who besought him to aid him to Sc
cure the body in order that it might be re-
turned to the father Of the deceased.
Mr.. LpscOmb was spoken to on this sub
iect Yesterday. lie said that he remembered
Lohman's visit a. well as il il were but a
day gone. That he at first refused to
have anything to do with the matter, but
upon Mr.. Lohman's solemn aud Oft-re-
peated asscyerations that what he was
doing he was doing for pure lumanity's
sake and not for gain, and feeling some
pique that the burial Of the body had not
been entrusted to him, he finally consented.
NIGHT VISIT TO OAKwooD.
ON the night OF April >, 1864, Mr.. Lips
comb. Mr.. Lohman and his brother, and a
cOlored man went to OakwoOd for the
body.
1t was cold night. but not cold enough,
Mr.. Lipscomb thinks, to justify the chat
tering teeth and shaky knees he observed
in one OF the men present.
The body was found decomposition had
not set in) and was taken to the house OF ;
German living at Chelsea Ga hill north o.
There were assembled there Miss Val
Lew, her brother, and three or foul
Union men " Of Richmond.
The beard OF recent growth was shaved
off Colonel Dahlgren, Miss Van Lew cut {
lock OF his hair, and ii was agreed that Z
metallic case should be gotten and the body
placed in 1t.
BURIED AT HUNGARY.
Next day Mr.. Lipscomb sent TO the house
at Chelsea a metallic coffin; the body was
put in it, and Mr. Lohman undertook to
get the coffin ont Of the city.
BY Mr.. Lipscomb's advice Mr.. Lehman
put the coffin in wagon and covered II
with iruit-trees. which he told the picket
at the toil-gate he was going to carry to
his farm 10 set out. In this way the body
was taken from the city to place neal
| Hungary, where it was buried beneath
sassairaS. and there remained till after the
evacuation, when it was sent TO Admiral
! Dahlgrcn.
Some OF the parties instrumental IN Sc
( curing the body were well rewarded, but
Mr.. Lipscomb. though offered pay, de,
/ clined 1t, and never 10 this day has received
or wished 10 receive a cent for his services
| he SAYS.
/ Upon the burial Of Colonel Dahlgren al
his home. in Pennsylvania, there werC
| funeral services OF great pOmp. and Mr
/ Lip,comb was invited 10 be present and aci
as a pall-bearer, but did not 90.