Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26

courage, ana even Nhi9 -.
marked in at least equal degree 'shm
Blown, whose soul Is sun mar n'i6 On
while his body lies 'mouiderihs III the
grave" .,..,
Shall we refer to this latter hero as
the .lamented?" l trow not.
lot rs see what are the facts Which
should cause us TO lament the death OF
Uric Dahigren. ,. .
Dahlgren and fitzpatrick undertook 70
make a raid on Richmond out were us
astrously repulsed by brigade unosr
General Walter II. Stevens. and DanI-
gren's command was Thoroughly o7
mcralized. 81.
Colonel Dahlgren, with a few OF MS
men. SOUGHT to escape from capture py
passing rapidly TO our right IN 'he oi,e .
ton Of the White House on 10TH lN.'
In crossing the York-River raliroau ne
was bush-whacked by small hunip-' y.
Confederates. hastily gotten together py
T.fsn,,ns,, PolIard. and this srlan force
nnde good their stand against the oetnor-
allzeCf and fleeing raiders ana kllleu thsr
leader, Dahlgren.
AN ADDRESS.
On the body OF Dahlgren was found an
address 10 his officers and men, giving
special orders and instructions az 10
what they were 10 DO on entering klch-
mouI. which he confidently anticipated
Thess orders disclosed tho unzoidierly
means and purposes Of the raid, SUCH as
Disgusting tbs men in Confederate uni
forms. carrying supplies of odkum and
turpentine 70 burn Richmond, ana after
releasing the Union prisoners on Bei!s
I-lc he exhorted his men to destroy the
hateful city, and especially Impressed on
them that The city must be burned and
l.. RAJ II al
orders also described rinute,y the resi-
dence Of President Davis. which was TO
b. the So cal point Of attack. The pri-
soncrs captured in disguise were, under
the u Isrs OF war. liable to be hanged as
spies but their prote=tations that their
service and disguise were not voluntary,
am the fact that as enlisted men they
were subject 20 orders and should not
b. held responsible for the Infamous in
siruciIons under which they were acting.
sovfi then from the death penalty they
hid fully incurred
Photographic copies OF the paper found
on Dahigrcn's body were taken. and Gene
raj Lee cent thcsn 70 General Meade,
commanding the encmy's forces in his
front, v,th an inquiry As 10 whether such
practices were authorized BY his gov
eminent. ana General Lee likewise I'M
formed General Meade that ii any ques-
ton WAS RI sed as 10 the Photographic
c5n!cs the original paper woull he sub
mittel 10 him. No doubt as 10 the genu-
iucncSS OF the copies Of Dahlsren's in
s,ructlons TO his men was expressed by
General Meade. who cOntented hlmselr
H. simply denying that Dahlsren's con-
duct had been authorized.
Many copies Of these Infamous orders
w.re found Ia possession Of prisoners
Of ,tsl, toh
I myself saw feel quite sure that the
lbstant!al accuracy Of the foregoing
statements can DC further established, IL
necessary. b. Hon. George Davis. at that
time member OF the Cabinet doomed by
pahlgrea 70 be killed along with President
Davis. I have, however. had no CONVEX
salon with ar. George Davis on this
subject.
ORDER TO BURY 1T.
on the mornifg after the death Of Colo
mel Dahlgren | received an order from
President Davis transmitted through
General Arnold Elzey. directing me to de-
tail men from my command. take charge
~ the body of Colonel Dar.gren, and
bury It privately in lakewood Cemetery
WAS further directed not 20 dlVulce % any
one the burial spot, nor TO make known
- tho soldiers performing the service the
Identity Of the body buried by them.
When ready Tor executing these
order. | found the body lying in a plain.
wooden coffin, which had lis name
marked on IL, at YOrA-~'ver railroad
station. and. according 10 instructions,
had il conveyed TO Oakwood Cemetery
and III re- docently burieI IL. y few days
thereafter Colonel Robert Ould comrflis-
siJner for exchange OF prisoners. came
to my headquarters AMI told me mat
the cartel Of exchange had been suspend
"a by the United States Government
and that he nd tri in vain 20 have Il
renewed Ills action on the part OF the
United Sta.o5 authorities WAS very en-
barrassins - The COnfed rate Covert
iaent as or military prisons were over
crowded with prisoners whom II was
difficult % furnish with cOmmisslry sup
pies. Colonel Cud added that he had had
communication VIII Admiral Dahlsren.
who pledged himself II the BABY OF his
son were delivered - him IN Washington
h. would bring influences 10 bear on his
government to secure the immediate re-
newal Of exchange Of prison. ri. which
would enable US to return - .h-ir respec-
tive commands our gailent men now Ian
gushing In northern prisons, and thus re-
crult our depleted battallons.
Colonel Ouli. therefore, urged me to IN
form him whore the body Of Colonel Dahl
greu was buried. so that he might dsnter
I'll and deliver il TO his father, and thus
SECURE the exchange Of prisoners 80 very
important TO our cause.
1 Informed Colonel Oull that while
sympathized with his object IN seeking 70
| obtain this information, l dill not feel AZ
! liberty 10 disclose even - him the burial
| SPOT without authority from Prcsld nj
.1ssr 40
| interview one OF the men attached 70
| Colonel Ould's office brought M an auto
I graph letter from President Davis, re
| Glesting NE 10 show this man the grave
| Of Colonel Uric Dahigren. whereupon
I Immediately rode 10 the spot, anu pointed
Out the sraye, then intact.
THE GRAVE EMPTY.
As the exchans boat WAS not to leave
| for several days, Colonel Ould determined
not to disturb the body until just b.
I fore the departure OF the boat, by which
/ IL was to be conveyed 70 Washington
| \ few days afterward I received >
| sharp inquiry from President Davis
! Ia note brought TO IA by one Of his
! coGriers. demanding % nnDw why IL vas
| that Colonel CIld whoa NJ did iinaily
al q dislnter tne body FOR removal
: found tne grave empty, the body having
+ ben recently taken thersfrom.
/ | replied that / could not explain tho
! disappe arance OF Colonel DANG. IN re
mains Tor that in every particular had
| obeyed the instructions he had given ME
! and since | had shown the place Of buriA
4 10 the person who brought me the oraei
/ from him / had not been 10 The GENE terry
| a. all, anl had not previously heall ina
! the grave had been violated.
| 1 VIII here remark that shortly after
the war impressive funeral services, wita
| great pomp and Circumstance, were an
nounced as having been he'd over the
recovered remains OF Colonel Dlhigren
but, sor the reason heretofore given,
| have always doubted whether. Indeed, the
remains ever were recovered by III
| family.
| When the war closed l found myself
| prisoner on JOhnsons Island. LII t
Erie Returning 10 Richmond. where my
| family WERE stopped a few days II
| Baltimore. and while there was called Oh
| by a gentleman, who told me he hal
| learned that Colonel Dahlgren was buried
| by soldiers Of my command and h came
70 me in behalf OF Admiral DGnigren tC
| beg me TO Inform him where the body was
| /, Of course. recognized ana appreciate
| the natural feelings OF a father under The
! circumstances, and would gladly hav'
| aided him in the recovery Of his sons
body, but l could only give him the sain'
account OF my connection with It's burta
/ y k.... b.. hS.tsr %