The Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid Against Richmond. 553
Kilpatrick's route and the progress made on it were known in Richmond, so that when he arrived at the outer line of defences, quite a number of people were there to welcome him. I was in the city at the time, in person only (a portion of my cavalry being with the army, and a portion off, wintering in the interior of the State, where forage was more abundant), and rode out to the line of fortifi- cations, witnessing Kilpatrick's departure after a brief stay, and a few shots fired from his artillery. There was no cavalry to pursue him with; and his return march, as far as I know, was unmolested.
Colonel Ulric Dahlgren's command was detached from the main body under Kilpatrick, with the intention, it was presumed, of cross- ing James river some distance above Richmond, releasing the Fede- ral prisoners at Belle Isle, and, by entering Richmond from the south or Petersburg side, form again a junction with Kilpatrick. James river was high; and without attempting its passage, Colonel Dahlgren moved down its north bank, doubtless with the expectation of finding and uniting with Kilpatrick in Richmond. The latter, however, had left him and his small force to take care of themsclvci. It resolved itself then into a case of suave qui peut. Dividing into smaller parties, to facilitate their escape, Dahlgren, at the head of one of them, attempted to return through King & Queen county, but was killed, as far as I know and believe, at the point and in the manner described in the minute statement of Edward W. Halbach, of Stevensville, in that county. His statement can be found upon page 504 in the Lost Cause.
I was still in Richmond, when, on the second morning after nel Dahlgren's death, Lieutenant James Pollard, of the Ninth Vir ginia cavalry, brought me some papers and an artificial leg, wh.cl he said had been taken from the body of one of the officers c enemy named Dahlgren, and who had been killed in King & Queen county. Pollard was one of my officers, accidentally in that vie at the time, and hence brought the papers first to me. taining their contents, I immediately took them to Mr. mitted to his private office, I found no one but Mr. Benjamin, a member of his Cabinet, with him. The papers were handed and he read them aloud in our presence, making no comnu laughing remark, when he came to the sentence, < ff. Davjs , Caoinet -must be killed on the spot," - That means you min." By Mr. Davis's directions, I then earned them to Ge Cooper, the Adjutant-General of the army, to be filed m h,s I never saw them but once afterwards, when I took them out of the
