Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
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I'VE had been here about an hour q p. NJ
when We heard the report Of artillery on the
Brook pike, where fitzpatrick was TO make his
attack. at which Col Dahlgrsn and ali the on
GERS with him were taken entirely by surprise.
a. 1t Was entirely too soon for DIS even though
We bad forded The James and reached Manches-
| tor. No one could account for II, but said II
va premature: ! took my hsld elass:s IN. n,
any signals, which could have been easily seen
and DAhlsren ordered TO attack II deemed ad-
'Kilpstrick was 10 have called ~ first, but
"soon the sound died away in the distance
and finally ceased. This was another dampsr
on top Of the ford and could see that the colo
mel was not satisfied, and began TO arrange to
attack o. get out q the trap q best he could.
would renew the attack at the appointed hour,
8 pm, and would never leave us without a
desperate effort to extricste US from the trap
he had put MS into. We were on time and in
the pines waiting for the appointed time and
had four hours to spare.
-"Col. Dahlsren first sent o courier (two men)
and then q second one (three mem by Hungary
Station to find Fitzpatrick and tell him that he
(Dahlgren) would attack soon as 1t was dark
(as agreed UPON and asking Kilpatrick's CO.
operation, acting in concert by means Of our
signal code. These five men were never heard
Of afterward, having been captured by the con-
federates-by Col. Bradley T. johnson. near
Yellow Tavern. He then ordered me to take
my signal wagon, driver and two signal men
Oibbey and Davis) and an escort Of eight men
and escort the two confederate officers who had
been captured few DAYS before, six other
prisoners, about seventy-five led horses. two
forage wagons and parcel Of contrabands to
the Brook pike and find Fitzpatrick. who had
evidently re tired from in front Of Richmond.
FITZPATRICK DEFEATED.
xto<t
way through the'woods. over a very high trail
to the Brook pike, having had to abandon my
two grain wagons, which became tangled up in
fallen trees In the darkness and storm fol-
lowed the pike toward Richmond until we met
an old darkey who said that was within a half
mile OF their works, on their intermediate line.
He further said that Fitzpatrick had been
whipped and had retreated down the peninsula
and that he was taking letter to his master.
John Stewart. who lived nearby. close to the
outer line of works. at once turned around
and went with him to the house and read the
letter: 1t was from his daughter, a school girl
in Richmond, who described the panic in the city
at Dahlgren's approach, and that for a while an
exodus of the population was imminent by the
north side had not force Of Yankees been re-
ported there; that Fitzpatrick had been beaten
back and fled.
''This was pleasant news. did not know
which way to turn. However, started off
again, passing some of their camp fires, and
was also near enough to see and hear their very
sudden and brfafer attack on Kilpatrick's COM
mand late at night. just before II p. III. saw the
carbine flashes and heard their cannon Shots
words of command and knew that the attack
was successful by the peculiar rebel YELL"
COL. DAHLGREN AND HIS COMMAND.
Lieut.. BARLEY then describes his meeting
with Col Dahlgren at midnight in the Emanuel
Church, of the terrible march through the
woods that night and of the attempt to escape
the next day. His command had dwindletl very
much, but he still encouraged his men in the
hope that they might succeed III reaching the
Union lines. They were annoyed BY BUSH
whackers and gue-illas. who picked off the men
from behind trees. farm houses and barns. and
they had had a brief brush with a company of
home guards. who attempted to detaih them,
but met with poor success. When they had
reached st. Stephens Church a short halt was
made for rest, and here. continues the state
ment "a confederate scout was noticed dog
ging our steps as if to count our numbers. The
colonefs attention was called to it AZ he was
standing on fence observing us, at least three
quarters of mile away Taking carbine from
that man of that fence, and fired. The man
| raised one arm and fell. We afterward passed
him, minus one arm above the elbow. That
was the colonel's last shot and it was q good
one.
HIS LAST SLEEP ON EARTH.
1--WE went on some six miles, when about
dark We crossed the Ansomannock bridge and
half mile further on halted near a small field
to feed the horses and cat the last of our ra-
tons. The colonels colored servant drew a
few rails from the fence near by and inclined
them and spread blanket over them and the
colonel took short nap-half an hour--his las.
| sleep on this earth. II was now dark. We
saddled mp and started on. encouraged by tho
colonel to persevere. though worn out, as We
had only eighteen miles to 60 to be clear of any
danger and would not stop until we had gone
that distance.
''We had gone about mile when Lieut.. Mer.
ritt, fifth New York, who still had the advance
with thirteen men. rode back and reported
that he wanted more men, As the road was bar
ricaded and he had only few men left 1t was
quite dark. All was quiet ahead except a
rustling as OF the pine trees, and no one was
visible. There was no inclination to fire on us
as yet until we were fully in the trap set for US
A halt was made to close up the somewhat
struggling ranks, when the advance came in on
the now closed up column.
eat this moment Col. Dahlgren and Lieuten.
ant Colonel Cooke rode forward to the front
accompanied by Capt. Dement,, C.S.A., and
| myself, where Lieut.. Merritt was found irving
| to force back q squad OF men in the road. Re-
volver In hand Col. Dahlgren spurrcd up 70
them and ordered them to surrender repeat
ing his demand quickly and at the same time
pointing his revolver ut one OF them. His cap
omy sh"PPcu'
THE GALLANT COLONEL KILLED.
Immediately there was crash and the
darkness was Lit up by dazzling fash of light
along our entire left flank, accompanied by a
crash of musketry not twenty feet away. I,
was dOwn-plunging fire. as we were in sort
OF sunken road. 1t was like great stroke OF
lightning, close at hand and confused, stunned
US. BY that bright fash distinctly saw the
colonel in the act Of falling of his horse. Sew
eral bullets had entered his head and body,
three OF which were instantly fatal"
| Then follows the story of Lent Bartley's
own capture and his long imprisonment in
various rebel dungeons until he was finally ex-
changed.
Appended to this statement is letter adj
dressed to my dear captain, in which Lieut.
BARLEY plainly and forcibly expresses the opin-
ion that Col. Dahlgren was sacrificed Through
| jealousy of those who should have been proud
| Of his advancement" The fact il simply this
| Col. Duhlgren and his few brave men were sac
| riiced rather than that he should be the first
! to enter Richmond" He is very severe upon
Fitzpatrick. on whom he lays all the blame for
! the miscarriage Of the expedition-for the
slaughter Of the brave colonel and his men and
| for the terrible suffering endured by those who
escaped death only to be starved and tortured
in rebel prisons. He states that while in prison
he compared the notes in his diary with Lieut..
! Col. Cooke and is satisfied that all his state.
meiits as to dates, time and conversation are
absolutely correct.
Literature and Longevity.
From the Chicago News.
John Greenleaf Whittier quietly celebrating