The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-15
DAHLGREN In 0AKWO0D.
HOW THE DARING RAIDER WAS BU
RIEDIN THIS CEMETERY ANDHIs
BODY SPIRITED AWAY.
A Piece OF War-lIistOry but Little
Known Even Among the Rest Post.
cd COnfederafes of this City.

On Friday the 26th Of February, 1864
two corps OF the Army OF the Potomac o
the United States left their camp near tho
army headquarters for Madison Courthouse
General Lees headquarters were then al
Orange Courthouse. The object was tC
engage the attention OF Lee by formidable
feint, to conceal and execute plans for 9
general raid, and. II possible. to capture the
city OF Richmond, then garrisoned only Icy
| local-defence troops and second-class mill
/ tia-that is to say by department clerks
workmen employed in the Armory and
arsenal, bows under and men over the army
age, and some battaions raised specially for
| home service. These were generally called
| to man the batteries whenever raiders ap
peared. The signal for assembling was the
tolling Of the Capitol-Square dollhouse
bell. Many and many time did IL call oul
people TO arms and send thrills OF terror
to the breasts OF women and children.
This Union demonstration was intended
TO be concerted movement, in which
| General Butler. in command OF the Union
| forces on the Peninsula, was TO come III
| from his position there and make an attack
upon the east, while Generals Custer and
! Fitzpatrick and Colonel Dahlgren were to
attack it and enter on the west and north
Custer mcnaccd Chan lOttesyiie, but tnd-
ing the Confederate cavalry gathering about
him, was glad TO retire into the Union lines
at Madison Courthouse.
FITZPATRICK AND DAHLGREN APPROACH.
Fitzpatrick and Dahlgren separated; the
former approached the city ria Ashland ;
the latter Uid the River road. Tuesday,
March lst. Fitzpatrick came down the Brook
road within Il short distance OF the toll
gates. At Colonel John B. Young's farm
his men made themselves very much at
home, and helped themselves TO what
ever they took fancy TO. Nenturing fur
thcr on TO Richmond, they were fred
upon by the Confederates from Battery
o. inside OF the tol-gatcs. (Which were
then one mile from the city, They returned
the fire. Being attacked in the rear by a
small force under Colonel Bradley John
son, and not knowing what troops were in
front OF him, Fitzpatrick retired in the di-
rection OF the Meadow Bridges, Atlee's Sta
tion, and Old Church, suffering considera-
bic loss from Ilampton's cavalry, but final
" getting with the bulk OF his force safe
within their lines on the Peninsula; hav-
ing met troops advancing from that direc-
tion.
THE RAIDERS REFUSED BY CLERKS.
The evening OF Kilpatrick's appearance
on the Brook road Dahlgren and five hun
dred troopers. the flower Of the Federal
army, rode down the Three-Chop road as
far as the farm of Il. w. Green. There they
met a line Of slirmisherS composed OF the
workmen OF the Armory and Tredegar,
and drove them in with some loss. The
raiders came mile and half nearer the
city before they met any other Confederate
troops. At Hicks's farm they confronted
and charged 4 battalion OF Department
clerks under the command Of Captain
McElhenny. 1t was by this time night,
drilling and sleeting. \ slight rayinc
separated the opposing forces. The clerk,
(many Of whom had seen tield-service and
been wounded and retired) stood firm, de-
livered Splendid yolley,. and the raiders
recoilod and finally beat retreat.
In the charge four OF Dahlgren's men
rode through our lines before they could
stop their horses. One plunged into m
ice-house, and his horse was killed and hi,
own leg broken.
CAPTAIN ELLERY KILLED.
CAPTAIN Ellery. chief clerk Of the Con
| federatc Second Auditors office, and two
/ of the Armory battalion, were killed on ouI
side. They lost many men killed, twenty
five wounded, and number OF prisoners
! DahlTen beng unable to find Fitzpatrick
and ignorant of the forces in front OF him
/ set about to retreat. About four hundred
Of his men he placed under Captain Mitch
/ ell. The majority OF these got back into
| their lines safely. Not 80 with Dahlgren
/ lie, with the rest OF his command. took an
other route. and encountered small fore,
/ in King and Queen. under Lieutenant Pol
! lard, and was killed, and his force scattered
| and soon after surrendered.
THE FAMOUS DAHLGREN ORDER.
on Dahlgren's person was found hi
" Address TO the officers and men," saying
among other things: "We hope To relea>'
the prisoners from Belle Isle first, anC
/ having seen them fairly started we vii
cross the James river into Richmond, de
Stroving the bridges after Us and eXhOrtin.
! the released prisoners to destroy and burr
! the hateful city. and do not allow the rebe
leader Davis and his traitorous crew t'
escape"
"GUIDEs-PIONEERs with Oakum, tur
pentine, and tolpedoes)- Officer
/ Ouartcrmaster-Com
"Scouts and Pickets-Men in rebel uni
form,' &C., &C., dc.
THE ORDER PHOTOGRAPHED.
Colonel Dahlgren was one OF the braves
of the brave. He was a son OF Admira
plhlgrcn. had already lost leg in service
and was known for his eXtraordinar!
! 4 f,, hi. ,ri
i'm the raid said I" lie treated me and th'
other prisoners with all proper courtes!
and consideration. shared his rations will
us. and cOnycrsed quite freely"
Yet the ambition to take and sack Rich
mond led him to issue that bad order; th'
only blot upon a brave name.
The Confederate Government was no
noted for doing smart things, but to enable
General Lee 10 ask General Meade il hi
Government sanctioned this order, ii wa
photographed
The Federals have always denied the an
thcnticitv OF the order. but though tn
original is gone, a Photographic copy i
still i'm existence here in Richmond. |
speaks for Itself.
HIS BODY WAS BROUGHT TO RICHMOND.
Dablgren's body was brought to Rich
mond. having been mutlated to this eXten
and no more. that some one had cut off tw,
Joints OF one finger-probably to secure tn
ring he wore. Hi, artificial leg was
beautiful one. Such things were very rar
and in great demand in the Confederacy
and some officer or soldier took possession
of il. Ills body reached Richmond by tn
York-RIver railroad. and was laid out il
the depot. where it was seen by many pee
nile who were burning with Indignation a
the barbarity Of the deceased's order, bu
who made no attempt TO dlsfigure the re
mains. He was dressed in fatigue uniform
which bore no insignia Of his rank.
pAuLGREx BURIED AT oAKwooD.
At that time Captain Martin Meredit
Iinscomb was the contractor for bury