The National tribune., 1884-07-24
DEATH OF DAHLGREN.
Shot By -Kilpatriek's Raid Agaiast
Richmond.

Richmond.
To THE EDITOR: Your answer to CORES
pondent inquiring date Of Col. Dahlgren'a
death in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of July 10
is incorrect. Dahlgren was killed on the night Of
the Sd Of March, 1864, in. ! think, King William
County, east of the Mattapony River, and about
30 miles from Richmond. NJ regiment went up
the Peninsula from williamsburg 20 cooperate
with Fitzpatrick in an attempt to seize Rich
mond. Fitzpatrick was at White House on the
Pamunkey March g. Dahlgren was ambUshed
in the night IN the woods and shot BIZ guerril-
las farmers by day, soldiers by night Kill
patrick took our regiment and the 11th Pa.
Cav, crossed the York at Gloucester and pene-
trsted King and Queen County to the spot
where he was killed. From negroes and others
we learned the particulars hunted his siayers,
caught some of thepn, burned their houses and
barns, destroyed the camp Of the 9th Va
Cav, and in fact searched King and Queen, not
because they killed DahigFen-that was war,
but because they cut OF one OF his fingers on
which was a diamond ring. and also, FOR addi-
tionai reason that those that killed him were
"Confederates fighting on their own accounts;
they were not regularly mustered into the serv-
ice, and it is important 70 cavalry scouting m
eneny's country that their opponents should be-
uniformed, that they may be recognized by day
a5 well as at night. send you, copied from the
Richmond Dispatch OF March 10, 1854, an ac-
count of the disposal Of his body. Note the fact
that Dahlgren was IN uniform: his murderers
confscated his uniform coat and cloak, also his
outside wooden shirt that every officer wore);
consequently the word "assassinste" does nos
TT him ;-assassins do rot wear uniforms.
remember an incident IN our search for him
that / think would be interesting tcs your
readers that followed Fitzpatrick. When va
were IN King and Queen, about March 10 1864,
we halted at a crossroads. Itwas raining very
I'd Frr-H 70 rh.as.
barns were speedily emptied Of corn and hay
for horse and man; fences we're piled up IN greas
heaps and fired Around every fire q COM
pany gathered. The wood was handy and
plenty aud the heat was great 80 that with tbs
falling rain and our wet clothes, the steam made
| the scene weird Fitzpatrick stood on the road
with his back TO the fire drying himself A
woman came down the road inquiTing for ths
General. lie was pointed ont to her. She i'm
mediately gave him piece of her mind. Shs
was good talker. She denounced Us for burn
ing her fences stealing her corn, etc. cursed
| the Yankees, and got into quite an arguments
on the laws Of var. OF course she did not havs
| all the say, for our General could talk SONS,
| too lie said something to her that nettled her,
for she drew herself up TO her full hight and,
/ with look Of disdain, said she was an z. =.
| v" Then ! remember him saying % her that
/ If history was true, the mothers Of Virginias
i first families were shipped from London Tor
| England's good, and were purchased by the frss
fathers Of Virginia at so many pounds Of tobacco
a head according to choice, from the Captain Of
/ the ship that brought them over TO Hampton,
/ Va Here Is the extract from the Richmond
/ Dispatch:
/ On Sunday morning last the body Of Col Ulris
/ Dahigren, one OF the leaders Of the late YANKEES
| raid or this city, and on whose body the papers
revealing their designs, if successful were found,
| was brought u tins cty on the YORK River Rail-
| rosd train. and remained IN the car baggagei u
i which Il til yesterday afternoon, when IL was
transferred 20 some retired burial place. The OBJ
ject IN bringing D2hrens body here was for Icesl-
tificatiOn and was visited. among others, by CEPA
Dement, and 4r- AIOntcaste, of this c.ty, Who wers
recently captured and taken around BY The raiders.
These gentlemen readily recognized is as that Of
the leader OF the band sent TO assinate the Pesi-
dent and burn the city. The appearance Of ths
corpse yesterday was decidedly more genteel thaa
could be expected considering the length Of tins
he has been dead. he was laid in a plain vrhite
| pine coffin, with fiat top, ard dressed in .
clean coarse white cotton shirt dark blue pantG
! and enveioped in a dark military bianAIet. Ia
statue he was about feet 10 inches high, with q
| long, eadGverous face, hght ha5r, slight beard,
closely shaven. and had sET1sI gOatse very light
In color. In age we suppose he about 80 years
and the expression Of his eounteDancs indicated
pain
W. T. ARMSTRONG, fss n. 2. Mounted
Rifles, Greenyille, Hudson Co, Il. J.