The Washington herald., 1914-02-28

Fifty years ago today an expedition of
$500 Federal cavalry under Gen. Judson
Fitzpatrick, led by $50 men under Col.
Uric Dahlgren, crossed the Rapidan
River on a march from the camps Of the
Army of the Potomac to Richmond. TO
attempt there the liberation of 5000 Fed
eral prisoners. $780,, - y =,
Another object of the expeditlon-and
the one through which 1t had its origin
was the distribution In the country be-
tween the Federal lines and the city of
Richmond. and possibly in the city itself.
OF an amnesty proclamation issued by
President Lincoln on December
The troopers were under orders also
to destroy as much as possible of the two
railroads leading from the Confederate
lines into Richmond-one being the line
from Fredericksburg and the other the
Virginia Central Road. the latter the
direct line from Lees winter camps on
the Rapidan.
fitzpatrick. with the main body. was to
strike the Fredericksburg road and pro-
ceed to the north side of Richmond. while
Dahlgren was to strike OF toward the
Virginia Central. cross il and the James
River, and, marching along the south
bank ot the river, was to approach Rich
lnond from the south, liberate the 5000
prisoners ON Belle Isle and join fitzpatrick
in the city. where Libby and other prisons
were TO be opened.
Both commands were to destroy as
much as possible of public property used
for military purposes, but neither had
orders to burn the city of Richmond or
to harm noncombatants.
Past the Enemy's Lines.
Dahlgren's part in this hazardous en-
terprise was the more striking because
OF the small number of men given him
n. a. -.
a hostile country TO reach the south side
of Richmond.
Dahlgren's adventurous spirit well
coined the opportunity to participate in
this raid. He was not yet twenty-five
years old, and had lost leg in the serv-
fee. But. with his wooden right foot in
the stirrup and his crutches lashed TO
his saddle, he marched off as blithely as
any sound veteran in the troops that
followed him.
Dahlgren's command consisted OF de-
tachments from the First Maine. First
Vermont. Fifth Michigan, Second New
York Volunteer Cavalry Regiments.
Though not picked men. they represented
the bower of the Federal cavalry. being
young, hardy, and filled with the spirit
OF adventure.
A scout familiar with the country
around Richmond had been secured to
guide Dahlgrens command. His name
was John A. Hogan. He was a big,
hearty. and handsome Irishman, twenty
two years old. tall and 1.-THE, with fine
open countenance, and a spirit that
knew no fear.
When on the evening of February IS
Dahlgren and his vanguard of the .eX-
pedition to Richmond moved out of the
Federal cavalry camps at Stevensburg
near the Rapidan. Hogan was on the
bank of the river at Elys Ford, wait
ing for the troopers to reappear. He had
been making a reconnaissance of the en-
emy's pickets, on the farther bank and
believed that they could be seized.
The Federal cavalry appeared 80 sud-
denly at the ford and crossed it so rapid
" that the advance piclSets had no time
to give the alarm and the whole picket
post was captured, thus preventing early
word of the march being sent to Gen.
Lee, whose camps were but a few miles
away.
The night was fine, the air was mild,
the moon was shining brightly, and the
troopers were in high spirits as they rode
through the Wilderness across the silent
and battIe-scarred field of ChancelIors-
Vile and thence to Spotsylvania Court
house. where they arrived at dawn. No
halt was made here. but after a brief
rest little later (at o'clock, the troop
ers were again in the saddle on the road
to Fredericks Hall Station on the Nir-
ginia Central Railroad.
Missed a Rich Prize.
Not far from Fredericks Hall a party
of sixteen Confederate soldiers, who had
no thought that a Yankee was within
thirty miles, were made prisoners. They
said that near the station ninety-six guns
of Gen. Lees artillery reserve, were
guarded by regiment of infantry and a
battalion of sharpshooters in each of
OF three different camps.
The Information as to the guns was
correct; but they were not guarded by
infantry as represented. and had Col
Dahlgren but ridden up to them he could
have captured them all. They would
have been a great prize, for they were
fully a third of the reserve artillery Of
Lees army.
Moving around the artillery camps the
troopers came up to house in which |
eight Confederate officers were holding a