The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-31
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
HE WAS Their
ana Proceeds to Tell How Richmond Was
Not Entered.

issues of March % and April an article
appeared. written by scout A B. Carney,
relative to the Fitzpatrick Dahlgren raid to
Richmond, Feb. % TO March 5, 1864 1
think was "in it." and desire to blow my
horn little in reference to it, and also say
few words in reply to Comrade Carney.
Four days before starting on the trip L
reached Gen. Kilpatrick's Headquarters at
Stevensburg, Va, having beTl absent from
the Army of the Potomac s/veral weeks. l
was told bv Gen. Fitzpatrick to get the scouts
in shane to accompany him. The idea of re-
leasing our prisoners confined in Richmond
and vicinity was originated and planned by
Fitzpatrick, submitted and approved by the
authorities at Washington, with Col. Dahlgren
appointed second in command.
Four thousand cavalry, with artillery,
were to do the work. The command was to
move on Richmond in two columns-Kilpat-
rick from the north, Dahlgren to make de
tour to the right. in order to attack from the
south. Dahlgrens command numbered 500
picked men from Fitzpatrick s Third Cavalry
Division. with such subordinate officers as
Lieut.-COl Ed. Cook, Capts. Mitchell, Hast
ings, and others whose names l have forgot
ten. and detail of 10 scouts from Gen.
Meade's Headquarters.
Col. Dahlgren was to have the advance,
capture the rebel pickets on Rapidan River
in the vicinity of Ely's Ford, proceed south
to Spottsylvania Court House, here cut loose
from the main column, move to the right,
strike the Virginia Central Railroad at Fred
erick Hall Station. destroy railroad and tele-
graph communication, and, if prudent, at
tempt the capture of large park of artillery
encamped near there; then move to GoOch-
land, cross the James River, thence down the
south bank, recrOss the river just below Belle
Isle at 9 a. m. March 2.
This accomplished, the prisoners on Belle
Isle could join Dahlgren in Richmond and
assist in forming a junction with Fitzpatrick,
who was to enter the city at the same time
from the north by the Brook Pike, Kilpat-
rick to make known his presence by report
of artillery, the signal agreed upon by the
two leaders.
The rebel pickets on the Rapidan were
captured without firing shot, and to Gen.
Meade's scouts belongs the credit.
This enabled the whole command to cross
the stream and pass through and to the rear
of Gen Lees army without being detected or
alarming the enemy in any way, thereby
greatly insuring the success of the movement
Comrade Carney says Gen. Meade's scouts
reported to Gen. Fitzpatrick at Steyensburg. l
think if the comrade will Jog his memory lit
gren. They were to go with him, and did,
and were in no way connected with the main
column after crossing the Rapidan River. In
fact after Dahlgren left the main column,
Just beyond Spottsylvania Courthouse, we
knew nothing of him or any of his command
until Capt Mitchell reached Us on the morn
ing of the 4th.
Comrade Carney relates how some prison.
ers were captured near Frederick Hall, and
the General said: Carney. you have finished
a good job Good for you !" Humpty
Dumpty on the wall, ,; with Gen. Fitzpatrick
at least 10 miles away.
Comrade Carney also says: "That evening
our forces captured small wagon-tTain loaded
with corn on the way to Richmond. Our
horses had a good supper and breakfast, as
well as ourselves, for some of our company
came across barrel of peach brandy in the
cellar of an old tavern" Did they supper
and breakfast on the brandy OF the corn p
IL was of course confiscated, and about one
half of the brandy found its way into canteens
before the General knew it. He ordered two
kegs from an ambulance to be filled, and it 50
happened that this circumstance was great
favor TO ME. the particulars of which / will
explain later"
Very handy to have an ambulance and
kegs when wanted. Humpty Dumpty got
a fall" ComTade Camey--an ambulance
two kegs of brandy, with Fitzpatrick 20 miles
away.
COmrade Carney then tells how they were
lost: how a negro was picked up to guide
them out of the Wilderness; how the negro
proved a traitor, leading them long distance
out Of the way. delaying the command sew
eral hours thereby knocking the plan in the
head to enter Richmond from the south. etc
It has always seemed strange to me that an
officer of Col. Dahlgren's ability should have
been 50 misled. The route he was to take |
was not a difficult one to follow; and. aside |
from this, one would suppose that some of
Gen. Meade's scouts would have been selected |
to accompany him, on account of their knowl- !
edge Of the country between the Rapidan and
Richmond.
Comrade Carney states that they afterward
found out the negro was sent them for the
express purpose of misleading them. ] do
wonder how they found out that much.
After Capt Mitchell reached Us the informa-
ton ] received from men who were with Col
Dahlgren led me TO think then, as ] do now,
that the hanging of that poor black man was
cruel and cowardly murder The negro
was taken from the plantation where he
lived; did not know the country; did not
profess TO know Probably he had never been
five miles away from his home before. MY
experience with the Southern blacks during |
the war proved TO me they were truly loyal |
to rs, and were ever ready and willing to
peril their lives TO aid Union soldier
j believe Col Dahlgren was a brave and |
able officer, and perhaps no other officer under
the circumstances could have accomplished !
the task assigned TO him. / know he gave
his life for his country; but we cannot forget |
that other brave soldiers Of his command gave
mp their lives also, and that nearly 100 were
captured and suffered many months the tor
lures Of prison-pens. Some were released by
death. Col. Cook with Others returned TO
MS physical wrecks Cook was one of the
number Of officers placed in front of the Con-
federate works at Charleston during the bonn
bardment. He lived but a short time after
the war. Brave, gallant, genial Ed. Cook
He was beloved by all who knew him. par
ticularly the members Of his old regiment
the Harris Light Cavalry.
But why was Col. Dahlgren selected? !
believe it was one of the many cases during
the war where it was intended that the tail
should wag the dog; that is, if the dog caught
the rabbit Does any soldier who knew or
served under Gen. Fitzpatrick believe had the
selection been left to him, he would have gone
outside his old Third Cavalry Division for
leader?
Now, 10 return to the main column. What
did it accomplish? Not very much. After
parting company with Col Dahlgren ii