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

cHilurcn VINO were forced 10 remain III
the Confederate capital awaiting the
Issue ot the greatest civh conflict ever
known ia the history oi the Anglo
saxon race.
The battle Of Gc,iy4purg nud been
fought. and Lee had tc. u forced baci;
into Virginia with II deplctgd army and
discouraged heart, the Confederate
forces had recently been oycrtuwrrcu
ia Tennessee and icfcItcu by sheer
weight OF numbers and excellence OF
tho equipment Of the creny in many
ether parts Of the south. immense
Union armies. Hplendidiy equipped ana
fuzzy rationed. getting reinforcement
daiiy, ana preparing Tor nggrcssive
var. occupied largo portion OF
Northern Virginia. and Mere slowly
advancing southwark. holding in cover,
nc wasted. yet valiant Army OF
North"rb Nirginiu
Richmond III THIS time wag uneasy.
Even the most sangunc could zee
through haze OF bitterness and al
most Of despair one certain end ia
sisht--the ultimate downfall OF the Con-
iedcrncy. Yet brave ones kept their
hearts with diligence. ana soldiers
"tth half ca,ions and bloody. shoelcss
!eot paced nightly Ia their sentinel
duties around the beloved city on the
James. ready 10 give their lives at any
moment for the protection OF the dear
ones who were In an agony OF terror
within the city's streets.
II was known that exaggerated re-
ports as to The condition Of The pris.
oners OF war held In Richmond had
gone abroad. and that public feeling
throughout the North. bitter and hostile
all tho time. had been unduiy excited
under the pressure OF false and mis-
stated condition OF tht Confederate
tolerate government ana 10 the citl-
1cns OF Richmond that an expedition
might 1T an% ;inp be undertaken with
tho aHowcd purpose Of iibcrnting the
Northcrn prisoners IN Richmond and
turning them loose IN tho streets Of
ile city TO M orgy aud carnival of
crime. Indeed, II had been known that
III January OF 1861 ali expedition had
been sent out from Fortress Monroe
10 accomplish this purpose. Another
had been sent from the Army OF the
Potomac. but both had in some way.
mlscarrcd. Reports. some false, some
only too true, concerning advancing
lines OF the enemy, were read In tho
Confederate newspapers every day
THlcS of wholesale destruction and
military carnage We're tho usual re-
por,a OF the newspapers. TIL. Rich
mond people We're cNpactaut TO hear
the details any hour OF some harrow
ing Wholesale tragedy. and. fearful
OF tho worst OF all evils. the women and
the helpless of the city waited COM
rincent In their bitterness, knowing
not what day might bring forth.
i.lie In February ii was learned that
the Federal Custer, with 1900 horse
had crossed tho Rapidan on fclnt TO
the west Of the Confederate nrlnv
while Fitzpatrick, starting a day later.
moved down on its opposite flank with
the ostensiblc purpose OF entering
itichmond to lihcratc the prisoners
there. For some tIma some OF the
moro adventurous of the Northern Of
ilccrs had been petltion.ng for leave
10 undertake this pcrilous feat, Kill
patrick, daring brigade err general OF
the cavalry. had been one who asked
Tor such u privilege. He had no doubt
been more or less melted to this by
Iur!c Dahl3rcn young colonel. who
was rising to considerable prominence
IN tho Army OF the Potomac So Major
General Plcasanton, on February 20
sent confidential orders To IIiIuatrick
directing him 10 increase his command
10 1000 picked men. to take with him
Colonel Uric Dahlghen and his rnci
ment and TO proceed ty such routes
and TO make such disposition rs from
timo TO time he might md necessary
for the accomplishment OF the obiec,
OF the expedition. Thus was formed
one OF the most daring, and in some
respects, one of the most hazardous
attempts to take the Con. cdcrate CAPT
tai and to libcratc the Northern pris
oncrs of war--numbcring 5000 10 To-
600.
50 on Sunday evening. February as
Fitzpatrick left his camp at Stevens
burg. near culpepcr Cturihou.c. in
Northern Virginia, having I,5Sg men.
Colonel Uric pahlgrcn. with $50 pick
ed and e>ccllcntly mounted cavalry
men, lcadins; the advance Tho nro..
encc OF pahlcrcn with his regiment
must have lent Inspiration 10 the dar-
ing undertaking, and mast have added
Kind Of an adventurous charm TO tho
entire spirit OF tho bold and question
ahlo raid. for Dahlgren was no ordin-
ary man. ut this time lie lacked but
month of being twenty-five wears
OF age, but bc was n seasoned veteran
and knew thoroughly the art OF war
fare. lie was born near Phlladelphia
April .. 1912. tho second son of Rear
Odmiral John Adolph Dahigren, tn.
noted naval officer. author and scholar
lie was educated in WASHINGTON. en-
tered the war in 1861 Us a captain ana
had distinguished himself time after
time for bravery in action In 1862
no fought gallantly at Frederick sburg.
and had made a desperate charge a
CnaEcciiorsVlile. at second Bull Run
he had gained the admiration OF all
his fellow officers. and had lost a leg
In desperate charge at Gettysburg.
For his absolute fearIessness and
bravery he had been promoted over tho
intermediate grades to colonel, tho
commission having been personally
brought to his bedside by Secretary
Stanton. Now In the spring OF 1851.
having recovered from his loss of
limb, no was again ut the front, will
ing to sacrifice his lifn and tho lives
of his men to accomplish the purpose
of his expedition.
ruary 2S, Fitzpatrick and Dahlgtcn
reached E1y's Ford. on the Rnpidan
River. and there captured two OF our
officers and fourteen men. at this