Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-02
DEATHOF DAHLGREN.
HOW AND BY WHAT COMMANDS he
WAS KILLED.
Plain and Concise Statement Of the Az.
fair From One Who Partici-
patsd In IL.

August q. 1894.
GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE, VA,
To the Editor Of the Dispatch;
There appeared in your issue or yes
terday an article concerning Colonel
Dahlgren which contains several mis-
takes as to tho capture and death OK
Dahlgren. which cannot allow to go
into history unchailenged, First. Dahl
gren did not go toward the White House.
which Is not on the York, but on the
Pamunkey river; and. second. Lieutenant
Pollard was not the senior officer at the
death OF Dahlgren and the capture OF MS
men. Let me give to history an accu-
rate account OF the whole affair:
Mr.. Charles Callett and I had been to
our homes, In this county, and on our
way back to the army we got as far as
Frazier's Ferry over the MattapDni river,
near King ana Queen Courthouse. When
the ferry-boat touched the King William
shore. we found there detachment or
the Ninth Virginia Cavalry. They IN
formed US that King William county was
fun OF Yankees, and that we could not
get through to the army. Thereupon, we
recrossed the river with the detachment
to King and Queen and went along with
them. We found Lieutenant Pollard, OF
the Ninth. with { few OF his men near
Dunklrk Ferry, over the same river, but
much higher up, expecting the enemy to
cross there.
a SHORT SKiRMISH
But the enemy crossed into King and
Queen at Aylett's Ferry, a few miles be-
IL. L. H. axrN1 "a n
OF forcing his way to Gloucester Point
where Federal troops were stationed. We
pursued, and had short skirmish at
Brulngton, and the enemy were soon
dislodged. Just below Burlington the road
forks: one road, following the river, makes
q detour TO the right; the other leading
across the country to Stevensvile; Dahl
green, naturally following the course OF
the river, took the right-we took the
| left. Just below the fork Of the road we
found Captain Magruder, of the Twenty
fourth Virginia Cavalry. with his com
| pany, which had been sent 10 that county
| to recuperate their horses. There very
| serious mistake was very nearly made.
| Magruder thought we were Yankees, ana
we thought his men were Yankees. we
| charged him but before any damage was
| done. the mistake was discovered. and we
were thus reinforced by Magruders com
pany ..,,r,or,r,
| CONSIDERABLE FORCE GATHERED.
We gathered up n considerable force
| from men on fur!ough-I remember cap
tain Campbell Fox and Lieutenant Chrs-
topher Num-. of the Fifth Virginia Caval-
| ry-and were reinforced also by the
| Home Guard, under their captain, the
| eyer-lamented Rev. DR.. Richard Hugh
| Bagby. We pushed on through Stevens
| Vile TO the point where the Mantapike
| creek crosses the river road. There we
were posted. Darkness had then fallen,
and scouts reported the enemy had stop
ped near Walkerton.
DAHLGREN'S DEMAND
Soon. however, the Federal cavalry came
| on with Colonel Dahlgren at their head.
| He deliberately rode to our line ana de-
| manded our surrender. IL was 50 DARK
that we could not see what force was
upon us. His demand was answered WIN
a volley. The Federal column wheeled
and was lost 10 sight. A Hight was
| brought and Dahlgrens dead body was
discovered on the roadside. The famous
papers were taken from his person and
sent to Richmond. When it became light
! enough to see, we discovered the enemy
| I'm a field near the riNfr. They had been
deserted by their officers and readily sur
| rendered We found a large quantity OF
| silver plate the most Of which belonged
to one Of the Bruces Il think, parior cur
| tains. and other plumber The silver was
! returned 10 its owner. A few nights after
Rev. Or. Bagby captured the officers In
| one OF his cabins I have heard that one
man escaped TO Gloucester Point. II So
he was the only man that did escape.
A PLAIN STATEMENT.
The morning after the death Of Dahl