The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31

as was prevailing at The time. In
ordinary conditions. low stages OF
water, etc. was easily fordnblc. ana
and other gentlemen III going across
from Contention. In Goocaland. to Cen
trc hin. In Powhatun county. Thc
writer prior TO the war lived for :,
number OF years in this vicinity. and
Is familiar with the above mentioned
facts.
1t has always seemed to tho writer
struction at tn. hands OF Dahlgren's
men by the frcshet In james River at
that time. II Dahlgrcn could have
crossed the river. as re might have
done had the water been lower, he
would no doubt have been able to en-
ter the city through Manchester. while
KilpatrIcs was storminis tho trenches
of the city's guards on the north. His
lirst act would have been to set the
prisoners on Belle Isle at liberty, ana
then no doubt there would have oc-
Cured the greatest carnival of rapine.
murder and crime ever known in the
history OF civilization Mon who had
been long In imprisonment, with a
plenty OF liquor which they would
have been able to obtain. and with no
officers. would be about as irresponsible
as Wild beasts OF the field. We can
hardly estimate, even at this late day,
the tremendous blessing to the women
of Richmond of the flood that prevent
ed Dehlsren from crossing James River
from Goochland into Powhatan on the
fret day OF March, 1864.
But Dahlsren. though thwarted In
bis purpose. did not turn back, as he
might have done, but continued on his
way to Richmond. When within ave
or SIX miles Of the city he heard the
booming of kilpatrick's signal suns,
which were stationed on the northern
suburbs near Yellow Tavern and on
each eide OF tho Brook Turnpike. not
far from what is now tho splendid
plant OF the Union Theological semsn-
airy.
Dahlsren LED his men on to tho forks
OF the Cary Street Road. where he at
tackled body Of men commanded by
Captain Ellsry, Of Tredegar Battalion,
and lost about fourteen men-and
Captain Ei,ery was killed. The inner
defeEses proceed too strong. and he re-
tired IN the darkness, becoming sepe-
raisd from the larger body OF HIS men.
who were commanded by Captain
Mitchell. OF the Second New York
With about 100 or ia men ne proceed
ed northce stwerd. barely missing Xii
patrick. intending 10 escape, II possible.
from the snare II which he 60 sud
denly found himself. HIS intention
was to 80 northenstward, cTona tho
Pamun.ey and the Mnttapony, and pass
thence southenstward along the PENN
suln TO Gloucester Point, whence hc
could escuPc In Federal gunboats.
II was On Tho morning OF March
that our company got Information that
the onemy wcru crossing tho pamunky
at Ay!ctt's. about six miles below liam
over Courthouse. Fitzpatrick had ro-
tired from his attack and had passed
down the PoninsuiI to White House.
Our baggage wagons were sent to u
enfc place, our boats Woro carefully
concealed and we hurried In pursuit OF
the raiders. whose numbers we vaguely
know. Wo soon got upon their trail.
and followed them UP. We Found they
had murdorously shot two lads, one
q young son of DR.. 1fieot, md young
William TGilnfcrro. and that ine!tod us
the moro to follow them and nsht them
to the death.
Wo awaited the enemy at Dunk!rk
while they crossed tho -lver, swimming
their horses and proceeding themselves
In small boats. They thus sot tho
start Of us by perhaps hnif nm hour,
took them at Burlington lnno. In King
and Queen county. Tho fight which wo
hud there VIII eYor remain wildly In
tho memory OF the writcr OF thcAo
"reminiscences. War is q torrihie thing,
looking at It In amy OF ia aspects; hue
hand TO hand and horse TO horse fight
Ing. wherc enemies uro singled out and
shot or thrunt through with tho
bnyonet or tho sabre is still moro NV
full Every mans life then IL In HIS
own hands and the hands OF provi-
dence. One must be wary. ono Iliuat DO
strenuous. or he Will bpsaiy perish.
But. higher still. ono must hnve n
loftler cause than personal prcGorva-
tion at such time. ono must have tile
cause of HIS homo md his loved ones
and his country held fast In his henrt.
and he must be willing 10 sncrlhce his
hearts blood 10 protect NIL that makes
life worth living for him, from the
DECORATIONS and deBpoilhtions Of an In
sFdioua foe. There WAC feeling OF
wild patriotism In our iittio company
OF cavalry that morning when wo rode
against Dahlsren and his men.
When We came IN sight of the enemy,
Captain Pollard. one q the brayent
and worthiest soldiers who ever be-
STROBE q horse, ordered two OF the
sharpshooteds down. The enemy halt.
ed, got upon the defensive and forced
our compan? to stand. Shooting began
In desultory way, and continued I'm
a rain of bullets on both sides. The
writer had hurrIediy iismountcd, End
he and Orderly Fleming Meredith were
standing by Captain Poilard's horse,
when bullets began to sing around us
as though we were slngiad out. Ono of
the roar guard Of the onemy was kill
ed. Ono OF our company searched the
mans pockets and found $50 bill
with the number $50" paated over the
figure two. A heavy silver fork. mark
cd -. w. ~" was also found In his
pockets and n pistol and silver watch.
We followed up tho enemy, pursuing
them closely, charging from rear to
front. barely escaping being ahot to
death In an ambush set for the enemy
by Captain Magruder, who had hurried
TO join us. His company of thirty mon
joined us. and Captain Pollard resort