The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-10
THE ATTACK ON RICHMoND.
General John Coburn Corroborates Corre-
spondent OF "The Continent" ON AN
Incident of the Siege.
A writer In the Sew York TImes. Of he IA

A writer in the New York Times, of the 1Ith
of October says:
'There was a detachment of the Harris Light
Cavalry with Colonel Uric Dahlgren's famous
'hve hundred that was made up from dihcrehG
regiments. He led them inside the city limits or
Richmond on that dark aud terrible night, March
l, 1864, aud they were the first Union troops
That entered Richmond anything 10 the contrary
Notwithstanding"
Anything to the contrary Notwithstanding"
the writer is, We think, mistaken. At the Time
of the battle of Charlottesville, and for some
months before 1t was the writers III luck TO De
an InhaDitant of Libby prison From its WIZ
dOws he Witnessed she widespread denoraiza-
ton that occurred The troops who had guarded
the prison were relieved, and their places sup
pied by an unframed cripple brig
aDont town generally They were
prattling, tatting lot of old fellows, who we're
badly scared, and believed that the hour of fate
had come. One night, perhaps that of the Attn
or 9Th of May, 1868, they told us that the
Yankee cavalry was raidIng round the city and
that their camp fires were distinctly visible from
commanding polHts Ia town. The next morning
a young lieutenant belonging to a Michigan
regiment was brought to the prison, who had
been captured after sharp reslstaDce-not
mere Y inside the outworGs of Richmond, but in
its very streets. One of Our guards-a grave,
friendly man whom we have met since those
days has frequently told us that the young OF
ticer's horse tell with him almost in sight of the
windows of Libby, Unfortunately the journal
kept at the Time Is not accessible, and we cannot
remember his name. We remember well, how
ever, his bright, flushed face, and his desperate
desire that his commander might know what he
had learned, that instead of going around
the city he might with impunity assault and
capture it with half his force The prisoners in
Libby had just been paroled on the plea of inn
mediate exchange but in reality to prevent an
outbreak. But for this parole there would have
been outbreak that night in order to carry
the news OF the clty's extremity to the raidinG
force in our vicinity. There is no doubt that
this young officer and his little squad the
first federal soldiers to enter Richmond volun-
tarily. His name has escaped orr memory, but
my, who HAD run away from school to enlist and
had won promotion by his courage. Perhaps
General john Coburu, of indianapolis, some
other of our prison companions of that time, may
remember more of the details. IL may be that
the young officer is yet alive. or some of the men
who We're with him. At any rate, the question
ought to be mOoted and the facts established be-
yond doubt while the witnesses are still able TO
testify The Continent.
Gen. John Coburn being referred to by the
writer in the Continent, a Journal reporter
showed him the foregoing clipping yesterday.
II was exchanged from Libby prison. said the
General, son the 9Th of May, 1868. We were
not paroled, 1t was strange how news got into
the prison, but during StOneman's raid we knew
of movements of Union troops and that the
Union cavalry were III the neighbOrhood of
Richmond. We knew, TOO, that the troops that
had been guarding us had been sent away. l
looked out of window one day at that time
and saw one of the guards filing a bullet so that
it would go into his gun. Two or three days be-
fore was exchanged there was noise in the
street, and, looking out, we three Union
cavalrymen mounted on sweaty horses riding
along. They were prisoners, and had been taken
in the very streets OF Richmond. They were, we
understood, either Illinois Michigan men, of
StOnemans cavalry. when exchanged ! went
directly TO Washington and had a talk
with President LidcOtn- | told him /
thought Richmond could then have been taken
by brigade of cavalry held well together.
Lincoln tilted his head back and said Stone
man had done nothing but burn a few nsignif1-
cent bridges across narrow creeks, and il he
had kept his men together instead of scattering
them he might have accomplished something.
1t wasn't until Sheridan showed what could
he done with cavalry" continued the general"
THAT that arm of the service was of 0ny con-
siderable efficiency" His testimony established
the point made by the Continent that Yankee
troops rode into Richmond early May
L. 1868, and that it might then, with
brigade or less, and determined effort, have
been captured-the entire effective force have
been withdrawn by Lee to take part In the battle
of Charlottesville"