The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-07

battalion Of workmen ut the Trode
works, whero our cannon and small
arms wore made, who on occasions OF
| danger wore called out for the defense
OF the city. Col. Dahlgreen's plan was
10 cross james river some distance
ABOVE tho city and pass down the south
slde OF the river to Belle Isle, where
the prisoners were, release the prison.
ers and then commence the work OF
destruction and death in the city. But
on reaching the river he found it
turned down tho north side OF the
river towards the city. In the mean.
time notice of his approach had been
given, and the Tredegar battalion and
the regiment of clerks and others had
been called to arms and sent up the
river to meet him, the Trcdegar bat
TALON in advance Of the regiment.
a short distance above the city, at q
bend in tho road, this battalion was
suddenly met by Dahlgreen's com
mand, and was dispersed, and some of
the mon captured. A countryman
some distance from them saw what
had happened and galloped his horse
towards tho city to give the alarm.
Just at the edge of the city he met the
regiment which was commanded by
Colonel McAnery and informed him Of
the disaster to the battalion, and that
Dahlgreens command was coming
down tho road. 1t was then getting
dusk in the evening McAnery formed
his line OF battle across tho road. By
then 1T had become dark. He directed
his men to lie down and sent his skir-
mishers forward, with direction as
the enemy approached, to fall back
slowly on the limo OF battle, but in
order, and to keep up the fire, 80 rs to
define the advance and position of the
enemy. This duty was well performed
as many OF these men were trained
soldiers who had been crippled in bat
tie and appointed to places in the de-
partments. 1t was IL dark night, and
when Dahlgrecn's men approached
near enough the Confederates opened
q destructive fire on them, killed u
number OF men and horses and stamp
eded the Federals. They rotreated
north across the Chickahominy, and
after passing the Pomunky river were
ambushed by some furloughed soldiers
who happened to be in the vicinity,
and learning of Dahlgreen's movements
prepared to meet him. They killed
Col. Dahlgreen and number of his
men, and made prisoners Of more than
400 of them. These were brought to
Richmond, and with them was brought
the papers and orders showing the
purposes of the raid as above stated,
and also the turpentine balls and com
bustible matter to be used in firing the
city. If he had succeeded $4,000
prisoners would have been turned loose
to plunder and burn the city ; tens of
thousands of women and children
would have been made homeless, the
president and his cabinet would have
been killed, and the imagination may
picture such other horrors as might
have been perpetrated.
When the prisoners were brought to
the city and the papers and orders
disclosing the purpose OF this raid
were turned over to the Confederate
authorities, together with tho COM
bustiblo matter to be used in burning
the city, all felt that the whole affair,
II 1t had been carried out, would have
been barbarous violation of the laws
and usages of civilized warfare, and
that 1t would have shocked the civil
lied world by its cruel barbarity. The
Federal authorities had on several
previous occasions violated the laws OF
war as between civilized nations, and
President Davis had notified President
Lincoln OF his purpose, if such prac-
oISoo WCfC ColUtuucu, 10 roGallaGo.
Whom the foregoing facts came to the
knowledge of the government cvery
member of Mr.. Davis cabinet united
in calling on him to have these prison
ers draw lots and every tenth man
shot, and that he then notify President
Lincoln what had been done and why
1t was done. Mr.. Davis suggested that
If he had known of the orders under
which these men were acting, it would
have been right to shoot them down
while they had guns in their hands,
but that he did not think we should
have unarmed prisoners shot. The
members Of his cabinet called alton
tiOn to previous violations of the laws
of war and President Davis threat of
retaliation. And thoy insisted that
retaliation alone could arrest such
practices, and that the purpose Of this
raid, which the papers showed was
understood by the whole command, and
that the mon had volunteered for tho
purpose contemplated, made 1t proper
that we should make an example by
having every tenth man shot. After
the matter had been earnestly discuss
cd. Mr.. Davis ended tho discussion by
declaraing, in opposition to the views
OF the cabinet, that he would not have
unarmed prisoners shot. But few, if
any, would have agreed with him then.
But now since the passions of war
have died away, We shall perhaps all
say that he did right.