Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03

was waiting 10 get his pension TO . STAR re-
porter. "wns that under command Of Col.
Uric Dalhgren when he attempted 10 release
the Union prisoners % Richmond. Il was
daring in its conception, bravely carried out,
SO far IS Col. Dahlgren and his command were
concerned, and had Gen. Fitzpatrick been 40
true and a. steadfast success might have
crowned their efforts. A II was Fitzpatrick
made his attack in the afternoon, four hours
before the time agreed upon for joint on
slaught, with the result that he retreated, leav-
ing Dahlgren without any support and without
in any way communicating with him to let him
know that he was TO be deserted. The disaster
that followed is a matter of history. Col. Dahl
gren's life was sacrificed, his body WAS mu-
tilated and his men we're either oil killed or
captured.
II have with me-" he continued, "a paper
which gives a more minute history Of that dis
astrous march than any that was ever published.
accompanied Col. Dahlgren as his signal officer
and who was one Of the few survivors.
Lieut.. Bartley commences by stating that the
idea of releasing the Union prisoners at Rich
and was considered impractieable by all except
few. Brig. Gen. Fitzpatrick suggested this
raid to Gen. Meade. but the latter said to him.
You are good hand to get into trouble, Gen.
Fitzpatrick, but poor hand to get out"
| KnPATR1cK AND DAHLaREN START.
Nothing daunted. Fitzpatrick, through the
Senate's committee on the conduct Of the war;
applied to Secretary Of War Stanton and to
President Lincoln and 50 obtained the author
| ity to attempt it. He believed that il success
full he would obtain another star, which would
make him a major general. Col. Dahlgren had
but recently returned to duty after the loss
of his right leg in the Gcttysburg campaign.
but he insisted upon going with Fitzpatrick. and
was given command Of the advance, an i'm
portant, hazardous and detached portion of the
After giving the force Of the whole expedi-
| ton. the different attachments that were to go
with Fitzpatrick and those which were to be
especially under Col. Dahlgren's command, and
referring to the conferences between the two
| officers and the arrangement Of the code Of
signals, Lieut.. BARLEY says:
| All our conversation was about q night at
/ tack. and the CONTINGENCY Of q fog dis
cusscd. rs that was all we feared, and would
prevent our signals from being seen. And
will state here with emphasis that the agree
ment between Gen. Kilpatrick and Col. Dahl
!. was the hour for the simultaneous attack to
| be made on Richmond. Please bear that in
mind and never forget it."
| He then describes infinitely every detail of
the perilous and tedious march up to the early
morning of March 1, when Col DahIgrenf 3
command halted for rest.
| NOT FRESH, BUT ovERwoRKEp MEN.
He then says 1T was at this hating place
that in conversation with some of the riders Of
the most worn-out horses that I ascertained
that many Of our men had Just before starting
come in off of q ten days outpost or picket duty
and were not ut to 60 anywhere, having lost so
much sleep. This the colonel never knew. He
had been promised the best and freshest men
and horses in the cavalry corps, but he was de-
ceived on this point well some others"
They slept until daylight. then ate some
rations and pushed on. The statement con-
| tinues:
I'VE halted for a short time on the farm of
John A. Seldom, confederate secretary of war,
and near the residence Of his brothsr-in-lsw
Mr.. Morson. We were prepared to carry out
| the last part OF the program. SO far we were
on time and had lost no men. 1t looked as
though We would come out all right and Col.
Dahlgren, as well as all the men and officers,
felt in good spirits and hopeful We then pro-
ceeded to Dover Mills, where arrangements
were made for dividing the column.
| Col Dahlgren and the largest portion were
to ford the James and go down the river on the
was to be destroyed) TO Manchester and be
ready at the appointed hour TO attack from the
| south side and liberate the prisoners on Belle
Island. He was to send detachment before
leaving the ford to destroy the large rairoad
bridge ut Mattoax. on the Richmond and Dan
| willie railroad. Our company was to have been
| left on the north side of the James and to fol-
low the river down and attack ct the appointed
hours p.m.-from the west side.
THE PLAN OF ATTACK.
Fitzpatrick was to attack from the north side
on the Brook pike. Thus all these attacks
would be simultaneous and the success of any
one meant the success Of all.
while these preparations were being made
asked Col. Dahlgren, Which party am to 20
with?' He replied: You stay with me 30 can
communicate with Fitzpatrick
III the west attack was even successful it were
to unite with Fitzpatrick. Concert of action
| was to have been obtained for the three stimuli
taneoas attacks by the code Of signals arranged
by Gloskoski and myself, assisted by Gen.
Fitzpatrick and Col. Dahlgren.
| about - am. we led ont to move on our
respective lines, but had only gone short dis
lance when we found that our old negro guide
had made serious mistake. There was no
ford but Jude's ferry, with the ferry boat tied
up to the opposite bank. which we had seen
from the top Of Sabut Hill. On being ques-
which we soon became convinced Of. and that
| we had been misled--sold out-somehow.
THE TREAcHERIous GUIDE HASoED.
'SThe colonel now called up the officers Of the
various detachments, or most OF them. and In
their presence examined the contraband guide.
who admitted that the bargain was bag Of
gold if he was right or death IL he misled us.
| On being reminded Of 1t again he admitted
positively that that was the bargain. Before
starting he had sworn that he had not ouly
| seen others ford the river on horseback but
had often done SO himself. He could not or
would not give any explanation for his conduct
and appeared defsnt--his reason for which
will always remain o mystery He had shown
that he knew the country well, by night or day,
guiding without fault over all kinds OF roads,
even OF the darkest. stormiest nights. 1t did
not look like treachery, FOR he could have es-
capped at any time and not ridden to certain
death, which he knew would be his portion if
there was no ford.
"A brief drumhead court-martial found him
guilty and he was sentenced tn be hung on the
nearest tree. which was carried into effect some
distance down the road toward Richmond. His
body was come upon by Capt Mitehells party
and buried. He had been sent from Washing
ton TO Fitzpatrick and recommended as in tell
gent, trusty and thoroughly posted on this part
of the country. where he had been raissd---on
David Weem's farm. He misled the colonel at
the ford, but in all else it was Just as he had
represented, showing eopclusivsly that he did
not do il through ignorance.
| A CHANGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. -"t
IAN entire change In our Arrangements now
became necessary 10 conform to the altered
conditions in which the colonel found himself.
Therefore he moved his entire command down
the river on the north bank, intending to force
his way into tbs city through the dsfsnsss on
the west side.
"Capt. Mitchell, with his company Of the SEC
ond New York, was sent down along the canal
OF on the river road with torpedoss, &c., to de-