The National tribune., 1885-12-03
DAHLGREN'S RAID.
Continued from 1st page.)

had but single pistol cartridge myself,
which / had reserved for last recourse.
Under the disastrous circumstances, Maj.
Cooke, sifuor a consultation with Lieut.. Bart
ley and myself, decided upon the necessity
OF breaking up the party, In the hope of get
ting through the enemy's line dismounted,
and by spreading out in twos and threes to
baffie pursuit, and accomplish the remaining
% miles, which we estimated to be the dis
tance to Gloucester Point. Maj. Cooke and
myself together made careful reconnaissance
and found that
WE WERE CLOSELY SURROUNDED
by large force. Their fires could be seen
at several points, and SO near were they that
their voices In conversation were plainly
audible The men were dismounted and
ordered to drive their sabers into the ground
and picket their horses to them, it being i'm
possible to kill the animals without attract
ing notice The Spencer carbines were de-
stroyed by removing and throwing away or
burying the chambers and breaking the
magazine tubes. The men were instructed
to take only their belts revolvers and haver-
sacks, that they might not be impeded by a
heavy load which would be soon abandoned,
affOrding evidence of the trail and assist pur-
suit.
Assoon as these arrangements were silently
made we desired them TO select companions
and to form into parties of three or four,
when we gave them the points of direction
as nearly as could be determined and babe
them good-by One of the men made col
lection of cartridges and brought me a charge
for two revOlvers. / shall never forget the
kind act. About 40 men departed IA this
manner; the rest, being too much exhausted,
rapno anI l. ,,,xI Inrn
themselves next morning. The negroes we
had to abandon to their fate After all who
could do 30 had withdrawn, Mai. Cooke,
Lieut.. Bartley, myself and three scouts took
our departure, which we effected by creep
ing on hands and knees for about half mile
between the different parties and posts of the
rebels We travelled until daybreasl, when
we secreted ourselves in jungle of young
pines, where we passed the day principally
In sleep, which we greatly needed. When
night returned we resumed our journey.
After travelling several miles we concluded
to stop at an isolated cabin to procure food.
We entered the place and found an old man,
Overseer of the plantation, and his wife.
They consented with apparent willingness
to give us supper and prepare supply OF
food to carry with us, for which we offered to
pay literally. The old man built blazing
fire and we all gathered around the hearth
to infuse little warmth into our benumbed
limbs. Suddenly the door was opened, and
before we could grasp our pistols from be-
meath our clothing, where we had carried
them to keep dry, the room was filled with
soldiers, who
DEMANDED OUR SURRENDER,
and we were forced to comply. The leader
of the party was the owner Of the plantation,
Captain of the Home Guards, and Rev. Mr..
Bagley, pastor of a Baptist church. This
gentleman of threef0ld calling took US to
his own house near by, where a plentiful
supper was already prepared for his band,
who had been beating the woods all day in
search of our fugitives. The chagrin coca
stoned by our escape from their well-con-
trived ambush had stimulated their exer-
ti0ns, and they had been rewarded with
almost complete success, only three of our
party making good their escape.
The country was completely aroused.
Every man, and even women, children and
dogs took part in the search. We were ap-
parently objects Of great interest. Numbers
came to crafty their curiosity with view
of us. Our captors guarded us most assidu-
ously, pistol in hand, or, while engaged in
supper, kept them beside their plates. Maj.
Cooke asserts that the parson said grace with
a cooked revolver in his hand. After supper
we were removed to the best room," where
shake downs" were prepared, and we
viewed with great satisfaction the arrange
ments for good nights rest. Our slumbers
were guarded by five vigilant Partisans, sit
ting cross-kneed, with leveled revOlvers.
Twice during the night I was aroused by
the ceremony of changing guard, but found
them always on the alert, a pistol being
brought to bear upon me the moment my
eyes opened. They were withal courteous
enough, except that they would infiict upon
US their views on the secession and war
questions and scOff at the folly of attempting
to conquer the South, and while treating US
with no small degree of Difference, would
assert their profound contempt for Yankees
universally
Next morning, after breakfast, the precise
counterpart of supper, and which l hold in
grateful remembrance to this day, and re-
verted to in imagination many time during
subsequent days of short rations, the parson
politely but firmly demanded our watches
and other articles ofpersOnal property, which
were handed over with no little reluctance
and Indignation. Seeming to think that
some apology was necessary for conduct 80
plainly in violation of both clerical and
military character, he explained that his loss
had been very great, and that it was his
only means of making himself whole" Be-
sides, he remarked, if he did not get the
plunder it would be taken from US in Rich
mOnd, and he might as well have it as the
officials there, who were all thieves and ras-
Gals. Well, perhaps the parson was right
He certainly estimated his Richmond friends
at the true standard of morality. From
these people we learned
THE PARTICULARS OF DAHLGREN'S FATE.
His body was found perforated with five
bullets, and his death had been instantane-
Gus. One of them, a physician, an intelligent
and in appearance respectable man, assured
me that the remains were buried in decent
manner. He said that the best joiner in the
neighborhood had been employed to make
the coffin, which was Of stained wood, the
best material available He also stated that
it was the universal wish to give fitting
burial to so gallant soldier. 1t was an
afterthought, which doubtless emanated from
Richmond, to disinter and heap wrath and
indignity upon the senseless corpse of
dauntless foe We were subsequently in
formed that the body had been mutilated
before burial by Lieut.. Hart, 7th Va. Cav,
who severed one of the fingers to possess
himself of valuable ring worn by the
Colonel; but the act was regarded as so dis
graceful that several soldiers of the same
regiment who witnessed the act and in