The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-03-12
COL DAHLGREN'S WOUND
Desperate Fighting in the Streets of Hagers-
town.

| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: was with
| the brave boy, Capt. Uric DahlYren. when
he was wounded while leading Co. ID, 18th
Pa. Cav, on a charge in the streets of Hagers-
town, Nd, July 6, 1863 Before noon of the
9th Gen. Kilpatrick's Division of Cavalry
| arrived at Hagerstown, on the line of the re-
treat of the rebel army from Gettysburg.
Gen. Buford, with his division, attempted to
destroy the supplies of Lees army at Will
Transport, while Fitzpatrick held back the
advance of the retreatiDg rebel army at
HagerstOwn. We found the city in posses
sion OF the rebel cavalry. Fitzpatrick formed
his division ON the Beonsboro pike and Will
liamsburg road south and west of the city.
Capt. Dahlgren took Co. A, 18th Pa. Cav,
and led charge into Hagerstown on the
main street leading north. This brave COM
pany made gallant charge and drove every
thing before them to the public square in
the center of the city.
Here the rebels made a stand, and in a
hand; To- hand fight Capt. Lindsey, of Co A,
and good many Of his men were killed.
Capt. Dahlgren left the remnant OF Co A in
the alleys on each side of the street to hold
the rebels to the square while he would go
back to our regiment for achievements
He called on Co. d 1.-THE writer's) for 90 men
to dismount, leave their sabers ON the sad
dies, and go in on foot. He placed 10 of us
on each sidewalk, while he rode along in the
middle Of the street.
He rode even with the advance of the
squads, and told us not to fire until he gave
ms the order. When we came within about
300 yards Of thex public square the rebels
opened fire on him, as be was their target in
the middle of the street. None of the bull
lets touched him.
He gave the order: "Now, boys, give it to
them!" There was a volley from each side
walk. The rebels broke at the first fire and
went north on Greencastle street rs fast as
their horses could carry them, until they
came to the Dutch Reformed Church. Here
they had supports and battery. Here
they dismounted and took possession of q
cemetery, and again opened fire on us from
behind the church fence and the gravestones.
After we passed the square an old citizen
came out of house with musket in his
hands and fell in with our boys, loading and
firing after the rebels. He was shot down
before he had crossed the second block.
Here our brave leader, Capt. DahlGTen, re-
ceived the wound which cost him his leg
He was sitting on his horse near the west
side of the street directing our boys ON that
side of the street to 90 down the sidewalk
west toward tue Oak Spring, where the rebels
were fanking us. The rebels behind the
church shot him. ] was on the east side of
the street about 20 yards from him when he
was shot. We had no officer with us to take
his place. Every man tssk a positssn to
suit himself. Capt. Pennypacker, with Cos.
J. and M, charged past us here, mounted. L
did not see man of them come back from
the charge.
About the middle of the afternoon the
advance of the rebsl infantry came in sight
on the Greencastle, pike. About half
mile from us they filed to the right and left
by brizades, and formed in line-of-battle.
We could easily see that our cavalry divis-
ion would soon have to get out of their road.
When the line began to advance we fell back
to The square, where we had supports from
different regiments Here Sergt Brown,
of Go. y, was shot and killed by daughter
Of DIR. Magill. The shot was fired from an
upper window in sMagill's house, on the
northeast of the public square. On the
corner of Lewis storehouse / found q good
position. / could see the rebels advanc-
ing on the Greencastle road. There was
a squad of the 9th Ohio Cav, part of
Gen. Kilpatricks. body-guard, standing
here, mounted. The Sergeant gave his horse
to comrade 70 held. He came to the
brick corner where wac, and asked me to
let him have my carhine to shoot few shots
at the rebels He said that he had no car
bine, and that was warm and tired and
that he was cool. gave him the gun. He
got down on one knee, and resting the car
bine against the brick corner took deliberate
aim. While he fired had another cartridge
ready to put into the carbine. In this way
oil fha T hoH
He would call to his squad while i was
putting in the load: "They are coming
fastin The squad were sheltered by the
brick building. When the last load had
was fred, the rebels were within so yards of
us. He told me to get out of that, and
mounted his horse and moved off. l went
around the east end of the square on the
walk, but found that / could not get to the
Boonsboro pike to get out. The rebels were
filling the square from the direction of the
Washington House. There was no way left
for Inc TO get out except through the gardens.
opened the gate on the east of the square,
went in and closed it after me. To my sur
prise the fence on the further side of the
garden were made Of boards on end, like our
Playground fences six or seven feet high.
first thought 1 could not get over it and
was Gagged.
A citizen from backdoor brought me
pitcher of water. told him that / was out
of ammunition. He gave me 10 cartridges
which a wounded soldier Of Co. A, who
was in his house, gave him. There was only
one house between me and the rebel line on
Washington street. While here / heard
woman in a house crying and saying,
" Johnny is killed Johnny is killed."
afterwards learned that it was an artist from
an upper window with his instruments TAX
ing picture of the fight The rebels shot aim.
Now it was with me to either get over the
fence or go to Belle Island or Libby Prison.
The studding was on the inside of the fence,
which was in my favor. l slung my carbine
on my strap, so that could use both hands
and take it along. went over the fence
easy and came down in another garden with
a fence OF the same kind, went over it and
came down in an alley, almost on top of q
boy who was trying to hitch a horse 10 the
fence. He said: "Is this your horse?" / |
told him / would take him. He was fine |
horse, belonging to Co. A. The rider had been
killed. The alley l was in led east one-half |
block south from and parallel with the rebel |
line on Washington street. 1t was sheltered |
by the houses from the rebel bullets, except |
at the street and alley crossings. My horse
took me across. these 50 quickly that the |
rebels had not time to draw q sight on me- |
At the end of the alley came into stone
quarry of about three Rcres, dug out six feet |
deep. The rebel skiEmshers were coming
into it at the norsh end and a squad of our
men ware pnipy mt at the qnuth | tnrnad |