Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-09

captured AT tne llilc' C''V'~' -
was killed, and a publication OF M NJ
naners as its justification. At any rate
n formal publication from the highest OK
fetal position should issue, calling .he
attention OF our people and that OF 'ns
civilized world to the atrocious Inoues %
warfare adopted by our enemies
GENERAL LEES REPLY.
In replying 10 Mr.. seddons communica-
ton General Lee recommended the publ
cation OF the orders, but discountenanced
the execution OF the prisoners. Ihese
naners." saws General Lee in his reply
"can only be considered as an evidence
Of his Dahlgren'O Intentions. IL does
not appear how far his men were cognl-
zant OF them, or that his course Wd9
sanctioned by his government. IL Is o.IS
known that his plans were illustrates
bv n merclful Providence. his forces scat
tered, and he killed. l do not thihk II
right. therefore, TO visit upon the cap
tives the guilt OF his intentions.
on the Goth of March, 1864, President
Davis instructed General Lee 10 open
correspondence with the general COM
mandlng the Federal Army OF the Poto-
mac to ascertain whether the ORDERS vt
Colonel Dahlgren, as contained IN th'
papers, were in conformity 10 ihstruc-
lions Of his government or his superior
ofIicers. and on the second day following
General Lee addressed the subjolned let
ter to General Meade:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY, OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
April /, 1854
Mafor-General George G.. Meade, Com
manding Arrny Of the Potomac:
General.I am instructed to bring TO
YOUR notice two papers found upon the
body Of Colonel L. Dahgren, who was
killed while commanding part OF the
Federal cavalry during the late expedi-
ton Of General Fitzpatrick, To enable
you to understand the subject fully L
have the honor TO enclose Photographic
comics OF the papers referred TO, one Of
which Is an address 10 his officers and
men, bearing the Official signature OF
Colonel Dahlgren, and the other, not
signed, contains moro detailed eXpiana-
tions Of the purpose Of the expedition
and more specific instructions az TO us
execution. In the former the passage oc-
ours:
I'VE hope 10 release the prisoners from
Belle Island first, and, having seen them
fairly started We will cross the James
river into Richmond. destroying the
bridges after us, and exhorting the rc-
leased prisoners TO destroy and burn the
hateful city; and do not allow tho reDeI
leader Davis and his traitoTous crew 10
escape The prisoners must render great
assistance, as you cannot leave your
ranks too far or become too much scat
tered. or you will be lost"
Among the Instructions contained in the
second paper are the following:
"'rbe bridge once secured and the
nrisoners loos. and over the river, the
bridges will be secured and the city de-
etroyed. The men must keep together
and we'll in hand, and once in the city
IL must be destroyed. and JEFF. Davis and
Cabinet killed. Pioneers will 80 along
with combustible material"
In obedience TO my instructions, L beg
leave respectfully to inquire whether the
designs and instructions Of Colonel Dahi'
gren. as set forth in these papers, par
tlcuIarlv those contained in the above
extracts. were authorized by the United
States Government, or by his superior
officers. and. also. whether they have the
sanction and approval OF those authori-
ties.
have the honor to be very respectfully,
your obedient servant.
r. f. LEE. General.
DUPLICATES CAN BE SEEN.
Duplicates Of these Photographic repro
ductions can be seen at the rooms OF
the Virginia Historical Society. The set
was taken from the same plate as were
those forwarded to General Meade by
General Lee.
General Meade, in his reply to General
Lee says:
II have 10 state that neither the United
States Government. myself, nor General
Kilpatrick sanctioned or approved the
81
killing of Mr. Davis and his Cabinet,
nor any other act not required by mill
tary necessity, nor in accordance with
the usages of war"
General Meade also enclosed denial
from General Fitzpatrick
THE HERALD'S EVIDENCE.
But how do these statements harmonlze
with a certain article which appeared in
the New York Herald of March 3, 1864?
Under flaming headlines tile Herald says:
"All the important intelligence relative
10 the brilliant movement OF Kilpatrick's
Cavalry upon Richmond has been In our
possession for several days, hut we have
withheld 1t for prudential reasons, and
in compliance with the wishes OF the
authorities at Washington
The Heralds article reveals an accurate
knowledge OF the route Fitzpatrick was
expected to take-a knowledge that could
only have been CLEANED from contact
with tho inner circle-and then discovers
the plot as follows
General Fitzpatrick, with dashng
cavalry force, IS rapidly pressing his
way to Richmond, WITH INSTRUC-
TIONS TO SACK THE REBEL CAPI-
tai. RELEASE THE Union PRI-
SONERS THERE, and cut the telegraph
and railroad communications between
General Lee and his base of supplies. SO
far as heard from, the movement has
been completely and brilliantly success
ful. and probably by this time has cul-
minated i'm a crushing Yankee raid into
Richmond. We are not without hope that
Kilpatrck has thus been enabled 10
solve the probleIp of the release Of our
long-gufering soldiers held as prisoners
in the rebel capital He may possibly
fail; but We trust that even greater re-
suits than the release Of our soldiers at
Richmond may crown his daring but
hopeful enterprise. The great mistake
was not to have made 1t before the rebel
Congress adjourned"
Other New York papers of the same
date had significant paragraphs relative
TO expected important news.
MUST HAVE BEEN COGNIZANT.
The weight OF testimony IN the war
Of the Rebellion Official Records" pub
lished by tho United States Government.
and in the newspapers Of the period,
goes 10 show that the United States Gov
crnment, If 1t did not in due form sane
ton the diabolical object Of the raid,
was cognizant OF IT, How. for instance,
could the Herald have gotten such accu-
rate and detailed information about the
matter IL II was not discussed in official
circles? But whether the government was
or was not party TO the intended afro
cious features Of the expedition, or Dahl
gren acted on his own responsibility, as
far ts the latter ia concerned the
Damned spot" will not out.
From his body the orders were unques-
tlonably taken. They were not changed
one iota. and but for the local troops,
who answered the tap of the alarm-bell
on tha evening OF March l. 1866! Rich