Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-23
THE DAHLGREN RAID.
ANOTHER CHAPTER ON THIS SUBJECT
BY COLONEL w. n. cnEEk
The Troo,s That Really Prevented the
Stacking Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Surprised and stampeded'

To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
BY accident recently copy OF the DIS
patch, of date September the 9th. fell into
my hands From It I see that you nave
had several communications on the Sud-
feet of the Dahlgren raid, and In tps
issue your say that first and foremost
II Is competent TO say that In some OK the
more recent illusions to the raid the
full credit due has not been gwen TO
the troops who checked and demoraiized
Dablgren's column at the critical moment
and prevented Richmond from being
sacked"
Now, / do not propose TO discuss the
claims or the conduct OF any or tho
trcops who acted so CALAMITY In the
defence OF the city from the assault
OF Dahlgren on the evening OF the ISL
of March. 1864. My only. motive Tor
writing this article Is TO do justice 70
my old regiment and TO give the credit
of saving the Capital of the Confederacy
from capture on this occasion to those
10 whom IT rightly belongs.
II will be remembered that on the night
of March /. 1864. General kilpatrick' III
command OF 5000 picked men OF inc
Federal cavalry. was encamped about hVe
miles northeast of Richmond, with the
intent TO assault the city from that side
or ught ON the morning of the ID. He
had sent Colonel Dahlgren, with 100 men,
arornd to the west of the city To make
this flint on the evening OF the lst ana
70 be ready 10 cooperate with him In MS
attack the next morning.
IN PURSUIT.
In the winter of lssS-'6i General Hamp-
ton. with his command, was encamped
arornd Bowling Green. in Caroline county
As soon as Il was ascertained that the
Federal cavalry had broken through our
lines near Spotsylvania Courthouse Cen
Hampton began the pursuit or IL with
about 80 men from the First North caro-
lima Cavalry. and about forty men from
the Second North Carolina Cavalry ana
section OF McGregor's Battery. We lett
camp about midnight on the last day OF
February, and marched continuously
through "A terrible storm or ram nan,
sleet. and snow, until about midnight
OF the LIST of March, we came IN sign.
of camphres between Atlee's stauon anu
Richmond. At the station General Hamp-
ton and his STAFF went into the ticket
office. and he sent me down inc
read to ascertain whether the hres
were from our troops or from
the Yankees. His only instructions
10 me were If found them TO be Iae
enemy. "to harass him all / could. we
moved down the road and soon encoun-
tered a picket. After an exchange OF
shots he retired, and, strange 20 say, II
he went Into camp, he failed 10 alarm H.
I Immediately sent forward some scouts
who soon reported the troops TO DO yam
KEGS, and that they were all asleep arouhu
their camp-fres in body OK WOODS.
went forward, carefully examined the
situation, and prepared at once Tor
NIGHT attack. l dismounted about 120 men
from the First North Carolina Regiment
and deployed them as sharp-shooters'
under the command of Captain Blair, VINO
cautiously moved them up TO The edSe OIL
the woods, and within fifty yards OF the
fires. He was instructed TO lie down ana
10 keen quiet until the artillery opene1.
Owing 10 the condition OF the ground L
could nut only one gun in action. Every
preparation was made to fire this as
rapidly as possible.
STAMPEDED.
When the first shell flew over him
Captain Blair was ordered 10 rise, raise
the YELL and charge the camp. the
scheme proved a perfect success. me
enemy was surprised. demoralized, and
stampeded. we captured 100 prison 2rs 40
horses. carbines. sabres, saddles. brides,
blankets, and other outfits too numerous
10 mention. l did not lose man. Amors
the prisoners was a brigadior-seneral ana
men from five regiments. This brigade
was the rear guard of Kilpatricks column,
and II was so badly stampeded that we
pursued them that night and drove thfm
in upon the camp Of their main body,
which also became demoralized and the
whole command broke camp about 3
o'clock in the morning and made for the
lower Pamunky In a panic.
1T was this attack OF ours when was
I'm the hearing of Dahlgren that caused
him to withdraw from his position. or he
may have been signalled by General Kill
patrick. At any rate. In his flight he
passed very near portion Of my COM
mand about day on the morning OK the
q.
CONCEDED.
At this time II was generally conceded
I'm military circles on both sides that had
fitzpatrick been permitted 10 make his
assault on Richmond from the east next
morning and supported by Dahlgren from
the west that the city would certainly
have been captured. President Davis, a
few days afterwards, thanked me, and
said that but for our attack he feared the
city would have been taken.
Now, Mr. Editor understand me- that
/ do not wish to detract one iota from
the fame or gallantry OF the brave men
who successfully resisted the attack OF
Dahlgren on the evening OF the LIST OF
March, but when you ascribe TO them
all the credit for preventing Richmond
from being sacked" L feel bound TO speak
In behalf OF n regiment that has conspicu-
Gus claims for this same honor. and which
has been so recognized by President Davis.
". II. CHEEK.
Late Colonel First North Carolina Cav
airy.
Henderson, y. c., September 10. 1894