Year: 1877




We reached Hanovertown ferry about
a. m. Wednesday. The river was high, and
the fiat-boat used at the ferry had been re-
moved, but we discovered it hidden among
the bushes on the opposite bank, Several
of the boys stripped off their clothing and
succeeded in swimming over and bringing
back the boat. The tow-rope was found,
and quickly stretched across and made fast
several hours being consumed in crossing.
AS soon as all hands were over we continued
our march for the Mattapony river, encount-
ering and dispensing several small PARTIES
of the enemy. After driving out party at
Ayletts, we crossed the Mattapony about
p. M, using the ferry-boat fortunately
discovered some distance down the river)
for the men and swimming the horses, The
crossing was effected in about an hour.
When half tho party had crossed an attack
was mace upon us, but it was easily re-
pulsed by few skirmishers After cross
ing the Mattapony, until we reached the
scene of final disaster, we were engaged in
constant skirmishing with the enemy who
had collected from every point to oppose
our retreat. But a single road was availa-
BILE, and at every point Of woods we were
assailed by a yolley from shotguns, car
bines, and rifles, and our fankers were cap
tured as soon as sent OUT. The enemy in
variably declined coming to close quarters,
scattering before our repeated charges


Notwithstanding these annoyanoes, our
progress, though slow, was steady until
about 6 p. m, whenwe were forced to make
long halt to feed both horses and men
both being utterly prostrated with fatigue
and hunger. For this purpose we stopped
after crossing the Anseamancock creek, a
few miles from King and Queen Court.
House. Corn was procured in ample guam
tity, and the men proceeded to cook their
first meal for nearly thirty-six hours. We
were now reduced to about seventy men;
several had been captured during the day,
and few wounded who were left behind
from necessity; the contrabands still ad
hered to us; our ammunition was nearly ex
hausted,y the majority of the men having
none at ALL But we still hoped to succeed
in reaching Gloucester Point, opposite to
which we would find some of General But
ler's army. After three hours rest we
aroused the men-not without great exer-
tion-and after getting them mounted, re-
sumed the march. The night was again
stormy, drizzling rain falling; the road,
as usual, ran through thick pine woods,
rendering every object invisible. a5


The first evidence Of the enemy being in
advance was the the absence of three men
sent upon picket short distance ahead OF
our halting place. Soon after the discovery
we were challenged. The advanced guard
consisted of but six men, all that could be
spared from the column. Colonel Dalhgren
had gone to the head of the advance guard
a moment before we were challenged by
the enemy. The challenge was responded
to by demanding, 'sWho are you?' The
words were repeated and the Colonel i'm.
mediately called out. "Surrender, or we
will shoot youi' and snapped his pistol, the
cap only exploding. The next instant a
heavy volley was poured in upon us, the
flash of the pieces affording us momentary
glimpse Of their position, stretched parallel
with the road about fifteen PAGES from us.
Every tree was occupied, and the bushes
poured forth a sheet of fire. A scout who
had been somewhat in advance now return
ed and reported that the road was barrica-
ded two hundred yards ahead, and was i'm
passable. In moment a heavy fire was
opened upon the flank and rear of our coli
umn, and it was apparent that We were
surrounded by the enemy and that escape
was impossible. Colonel Dahlgren was
killed at the first volley. and his body was
afterward found perforated with five bull
let's. The retreat became a 1out, and
every man sought safety in rapid fight.
1t was impossible to bear off Colonel Dahl
gren's body and it was left where be fell T