The National tribune., 1884-08-21
ULRIC DAHLGREN.


ULRIC DAHLGREN.
Was His Corps Mutilated and Insulted-Call for
More Information.
To THE EDITOR: Will Serg't William White,
Go. +, 5th Mich. Cav, of Peach Belt, Mch or
any other surviving member of the lamented
Col. Uric Dahlgren's command who was pres
ent when he was killed. about midnight on
the night of March 2 1864, at a place called
Stevensville, Va, kindly state about where
the ColonePs body lay after he was killed.
1t Is quite true the body was entirely Naked
with the exception Of the bandages on his
amputated leg; but it is claimed that one
OF the farmers of the surrounding country
placed the body on table, where it remained
Tor few days, when it was brought 10
Richmond, where it was exposed to public
view, at the depot of the York River Rail-
road. Said table, claimed to be the identical
one, and with written vouchers and sworn
guarantee has been purchased, and is now in
the possession of Dahlgren Post No. 49, De-
partment of New York, GAR, Nos. 48, so,
52, Orchard street, New York city, who have
formed portion OF it into a memorial obelisk
whereon are inscribed the names of all de-
ceased members, and will, in all probability, be
preserved sacredly as long as a member of the
Post survives. There are conflicting stories
told about how the body was treated until
buried; one writer (his father Admiral Dahl
gren) stating and quoting from his memoir, that
the light OF the following morning fell upon
spectacle that might have shamed the most fe-
roclous nature that ever disgraced humanity.
Upon the bare ground, near the roadside was
stretched the lifeless body of Uric Dahlgren;
not as he fell, but stripped of every vestige of
garment. The absent limb told of battle and
proud achievement and patriotic sacrifice; the
severed finger with the small but tight plain
0fI la pnrth CHI fh.1r nf
the midnight thief. The viilainous act was
not perpetrated by the wretched creatures who
follow the camp and fit like vultures about
the battlefield, but by the men of the sur
rounding country in arms for their cause;
the farmers by day, and the felons by night"
1t is OF the utmost Importance that the surYiy-
ors who were present on that eventful night
should, if possible, through your valuable col
umns state the true facts; the Confederate Gov
ernment, and all the farmers in the neighbor-
hood deny that the body was treated with in
dignity, excepting tlfe finger. 1t was only one
more dark spot on the blood-stained blazonry
OF disloyal war, for the very object to which he
devoted his life was the rescue of his comrades
from a captivity unparalleled in horrors, his
instructions being that if he and his command
were successful in entering the cityof Rich
mond to take no life except in combat; to keep
all prisoners safely guarded, but to treat them
with respect; liberate all the Union prisoners
destroy the public buildings and Government
stores, and leave the city by way of the penin-
sula. He was 81 years and IL months of age,
of tall and graceful movement and well-knit
frame, when he closed his bright and promising
career. The following lines, written by the
Rev. Charles w. Denison, may inspire or in
duee some or any of his old command to con-
tribute further details as to the exact manner
of treatment after death, and if the body lay
on any table whatever previous to removal to
Richmond, or rather after it was disinterred,
and forwarded there In the common pine box,
a coarse shirt and pantaloons of a rebel soldier,
with lousy old camp-blanket for shroud.
We met at Harpers Ferry in the gorges of the
hills.
Where, chasing the Potomac, come leaping down
the rIlS
We stood in Union armor by Shenandoah's tide,
And ready for the battle; Sigel was by our side.
The frowning Hights of Maryland, with waving
plumes of gray,
Through the autumnal twilight bade grand adieus
that day;
The table rock of Jefferson gloamed in the dark
And the spirit of the patriot seemed lowering in
the air
Oh, scene OF desoladonl The guilt and woe and
OF slavery in rebellion had burnt the land with
flame;
The sleep of Justice wakened by Monticellos
grave,
And ia conflict with the master she sided with the
slave.
In that historic temple where Washington had
stood,
Before the shattered altars In old yrginias wood,
Young Dahlgren raised his sworded hand and
sacredly he vowed,
Ny eountry's banner shall prevail, or be my
winding shroud'
So spoke the boy that evening; then dashed along
the right,
And in the name of Freedom put slavish hordes to
fight;
AT Fredercissburg embattled. he strobe the Grim
son field,
His watchword of the column, To traitors never
yieldi'
Through the dark haze of Gettysburg he flashed
living flame,
And on the scroll of heroes wrote his own immor-
tai name
With the torn flag ofHagerstown his body shrouded
round,
He fought oppession's nyrmidons stretched bleed
ing on the ground;
Then, torn and manned and weak, he rose vail
ant as of yore;
lie was of age that day of grace-he was man
before
o manful boyl youthful peerl o Uric, the
bravei
The proudest of thy patriot deeds shall monument
Around thy hidden sod at night the grateful slave
shall cling,
And in fond tones through Libby's cells thy
requiem shall ring.
Almost alone, without the trump and blazonry of
war,
In darkness. hand to hand with death, thou vert
deaths conqueror.
Above that spot flag will float, but not thy
shroud; twill be
The pennon call to avenge thy fall, borne land
and sea;
With Winthrop and with Lyon, with Foote and
Shaw art thou,
And Dahlgren shines with them henceforth on
Freedoms starry brow.
HANS POWELL, NJ. D., New York City.