No. 9. Guns were opened on both sides, and a strong line of skirmishers was thrown out. Captain Bacon, with others, charged the Johnnys and drove them inside their works, and a desultory firing was kept up until between 4 and 5 o'clock in the evening, when, for some reason then unknown, the command of Colonel Dahlgren not appearing, General Kilpatrick decided to fall back. The enemy had burned the bridge across Brook Creek in rear of the command, and the column turned off upon the Meadows road, crossing the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad and destroying every thing within reach. At night, the command went into camp at a place six miles from Richmond, and two miles from the Chickahominy; there was a slight fall of rain and sleet, and the men built fires, cooked their chickens and bacon, and had turned in for a few hours sleep; but as all persons are doomed to disappointment at some time or other, so it was their lot on this occasion. At about 10 o'clock, just as the command was fairly asleep-except those on duty-the rebels opened a two-gun battery upon the camp of General Davies' brigade, and immediately after charged the camp of the Seventh Michigan. The men, though taken entirely by surprise, seized their carbines, and under Colonel Litchfield, supported by the First Vermont, Colonel Preston, handsomely repulsed the enemy, who, owing to the camp fires, had decidedly the advantage over our troops, owing to their occupying a position between the enemy and the camp fires. After forcing the enemy back, the Commanding-General decided to move his command again, so as to be ready for any emergency at daylight. In this affair a number of horses were killed, and a few were stampeded by the shrieking shell rushing through the midnight air. The scene, all things considered, was not a very fascinating one to a man of tender nerves. Several men were wounded, and Colonel Litchfield, who was missing, it was feared was also wounded. The enemy had the exact range of General Davies' headquarters, but he remained at his post during the whole attack, which lasted three-quarters of an hour, and was loudly cheered by his command for the noble conduct he displayed on this occasion. The enemy did not seem disposed to follow the rearguard, and the command moved forward, without interruption, toward the Pamunkey River. The enemy had burned all the boats in this river, so that if it had been desirable to cross, such a movement was entirely impracticable; General Kilpatrick, therefore decided to move across the White House Railroad, and down the Peninsula. During the day, Captain Mitchell of the Second New York, with the bulk of Colonel Dahlgren's command, rejoined the main column, and great was the rejoicing thereat, for nothing had been heard from it since the previous Sunday night. The enemy, Tuesday night and all day Wednesday and Wednesday night, hovered all about the command, and picket skirmishing was almost constantly going on in different directions. Wednesday morning, at about 9 o'clock, a large force of cavalry came upon the rear of the column. General Kilpatrick was not unprepared for this, and The decided to give them battle. First Vermont, under Colonel Preston, ably assisted by Captains Grant and Cummings, and the First Maine, bore the brunt of this fight, which lasted something over an hour, while the Sixth Michigan and other regiments of General Davies' brigade were in position to render whatever assistance might be necessary. Only one charge was made, and that was by Company A, First Maine, led on by Captain Estes, A. A. G., and Captain Cole, when five of the enemy were captured. The enemy, satisfied, no doubt, that they could not scare the command away, sullenly retired, but RESULTS OF THE EXPEDITION. when the command moved forward, harrassed the rear and flanks. Several times an offer was made, but they refused to accept the offer of battle. On this day (Wednesday) several refugees from Richmond came into camp, and reported the presence of Captain Wilson, of the Second Ohio, who had escaped from the Richmond Bastile, near at hand. For some reason, however, best known to himself, he did not join the command. Wednesday, also, Lieutenant Whitaker was sent to destroy Tunstall's Station on the White House Railroad, but upon arriving there, much to his astonishment, he found the place in flames. From negroes in the vicinity he ascertained that a column of Union cavalry from General Butler's department had just left there. This was the first intimation of assistance being so near at hand. Thursday morning, General Kilpatrick moved toward New Kent Court House, and on the way met Colonel Spear, in command of a cavalry force, looking after General Kilpatrick's command. The meeting was a gratifying one on both sides. Near Kent Court House, the command came across the first negro troops they had ever seen. Here was a full brigade which had been marched up; and, as the cavalry passed by, cheer after cheer was given by both commands. No brigade ever made a better appearance or a better impression upon those who, for the first time, saw colored troops. A mountain of prejudice was removed in an instant. Between New Kent to Williamsburg, the column was more or less annoyed by bushwhackers. Ten of these rascals were captured. Of our men, one was killed, and several were wounded, and one or two horses were killed. "Colonel Dahlgren, with a picked command, after leaving the main column, went to Frederick Hall on the Virginia Central Railroad, destroyed that road and the telegraph line, and captured twelve officers who were there on court 311 martial duty. The James River Canal was then struck eight miles east of Goochland Court House, and between there and Wertham Creek an immense amount of property was destroyed. Six grist-mills in full operation, a saw-mill, six canal-boats loaded with grain, several locks of the canal, works at the coalpits at Manikin's Bend, and the barn of Secretary Seddon, were all destroyed. It was at this point that Colonel Dahlgren discovered that his guide had deceived him, so as to thwart the principal object of the expedition, and he was immediately hanged to the nearest tree. The command then struck the Plank Road and moved on to Richmond from a westerly direction, and when within three miles of that city had a lively skirmish with some rebel infantry. This was late Tuesday afternoon, and about the time General Kilpatrick retired from the Brook turnpike. Could the command have been there three hours earlier the results of the expedition might have been still more satisfactory. Finding the force too large to operate against with any prospect of success, and not knowing the whereabouts or fate of the main column, Colonel Dahlgren decided to fall back, and, if possible, reach that column, destroying property on the way. Colonel Dahlgren and Major Cook, with about 100 men, went a different route from the main portion of the column, commanded by Captain Mitchell. The latter came in on Wednesday, as stated above; but of the other command nothing was certainly known. however, stated that a colonel with one foot had been captured. The loss of the whole command by straggling, and in every other way, did not probably exceed 150 men, and after three days' rest the horses and men were ready for duty again wherever their services were needed.”* A prisoner, Colonel Dahlgren, with his command, Williamsburg, Va., March 4th, 1864. * E. A. Paul. Correspondence of the New York Times, war, the release of the Union prisoners at Belle Isle and the entrance into Richmond. As published in the rebel newspapers, they further contained injunctions, that "once in the city, it must be destroyed, and Jeff. Davis and his cabinet killed." The latter, however, was considered of more than doubtful authenticity at the North, and discredited as a forgery. No such order was issued to the men of his command. Unauthenticated, however, as it was, it was caught up by the foreign press sympathizing with the South, and became a text for fresh invectives against the North, though nothing could be more at variance with the toleration and forbearance of the National Government. while making his way on the night of the struction of rebel property held in the 2d March, along the Mattapony, in King William County, toward West Point, was intercepted by a party of Virginia cavalry, joined by the home-guard of the district. The latter, taking their station on the road, opened fire upon the retreating party, when Colonel Dahlgren, resolving to cut his way through, ordered a charge which he led himself and fell in the onset pierced with a ball. His command was then captured. Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, whose fate the country was called upon to lament, was a young officer of great gallantry, being not yet twenty-two years of age. The son of Admiral Dahlgren, he had been employed, at the outset of the war, with his father in the Navy Ordnance Department. Entering the war as Captain of Artillery, he rendered important aid In retaliation for the attack by the at Maryland Heights, and subsequently citizens, claiming to be non-combatants, in the Virginia campaigns, and especially upon Colonel Dahlgren, General Butler, with General Burnside at Fredericks- a few days after, sent a cavalry force unburg, and with General Hooker at Chancellorsville. Prior to the battle of Gettysburg he was employed in a roving cavalry commission, in which, among other valuable services, he captured the dispatches of Jefferson Davis to General Lee. On the retreat of the enemy, he was wounded in the charge at Hagerstown in the right foot and compelled to undergo an amputation of the leg which nearly proved fatal. After six months confinement, he reported himself for duty, and, when the present expedition was projected, eagerly sought the service which cost him his life. The body of Colonel Dahlgren was treated by the enemy with great ignominy, and much indignation was expressed in the Richmond journals on the publication of certain papers alleged to have been found on his person. These were, for the most part, directions for the de derColonel Onderdonk and Colonel Spear to King and Queen Court House, which came upon a camp of the enemy which was destroyed and a number killed. A large quantity of grain, and several mills and store-houses were burnt. On the 30th of January, Major-General Schofield was succeeded in the command of the Department of the Missouri by Major-General Rosecrans. In a general order, on assuming his new duties, the latter invoked the assistance "of all true National and Union men without regard to politics, creed or party. The past (said he) should be remembered only for the lessons it teaches, while our energies should be directed to the problem of assuring our future, based firmly on the grandeur of our position and on the true principles of humanity and progress, to universal freedom, secured by just laws." CHAPTER XCVII. GENERAL BANKS' DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF. EXPEDITION TO WESTERN LOUISIANA. RAID OF GENERAL FORREST AND MASSACRE AT FORT PILLOW, MARCH-APRIL, 1864. on the first Monday of April, 1864. Early arrangements were to be made for the election of Members of Congress for the State. TURNING from these scattered military operations to the Department of the Gulf, we find General Banks on the 11th of January issuing an important proclamation, in accordance with the The motives and necessity for these Amnesty Proclamation of President proceedings were thus set forth by GenLincoln. Being "fully assured that eral Banks: "The fundamental law of more than a tenth of the population | the State is martial law. It is compedesired the earliest possible restoration tent and just for the Government to of Louisiana to the Union," he invited surrender to the people, at the earliest the loyal citizens to assemble on the 22d of February, and to cast their votes for Governor and other State officers who were to "constitute the civil government of the State, under the Constitution and laws of Louisiana, except so much of the said Constitution and laws as recognize, regulate or relate to slavery, which being inconsistent with the present condition of public affairs, and plainly inapplicable to any class of persons now existing within its limits, must be suspended, and they are hereby declared to be inoperative and void." The oath of allegiance required by the President's proclamation, with the condition affixed to the elective franchise by the Constitution of Louisiana, were prescribed as the qualifications of voters. Officers elected were to be installed on the 4th of March. It was also declared in the proclamation, "in order that the organic law of the State may be made to conform to the will of the people, and harmonize with the spirit of the age, as well as to maintain and preserve the ancient landmarks of civil and religious liberty," an election of delegates to a convention for the revision of the Constitution will be held possible moment, so much of military power as may be consistent with the success of military operations; to prepare the way, by prompt and wise measures, for the full restoration of the State to the Union and its power to the people; to restore their ancient and unsurpassed prosperity; to enlarge the scope of agriculture and commercial industry, and to extend and confirm the dominion of rational liberty. It is not within human power to accomplish these results without some sacrifice of individual prejudices and interests. Problems of State, too complicate for the human mind, have been solved by the national cannon. In great civil convulsions, the agony of strife enters the souls of the innocent as well as the guilty. The Government is subject to the law of necessity, and must consult the condition of things, rather than the preference of men; and if so be that its purposes are just and its measures wise, it has the right to demand that questions of personal interest and opinion shall be subordinate to the public good When the national existence is at stake, and the liberties of the people in peril, faction is treason. The methods herein. proposed submit the whole question of Government directly to the people: first, by the election of executive officers, faithful to the Union, to be followed by a loyal representation in both Houses of Congress-and then by a Convention which will confirm the action of the people, and recognize the principles of freedom in the organic law. This is the wish of the President. The anniversary of Washington's birth is a fit day for the commencement of so great a work. The immortal Father of his Country was never guided by a more just and benignant spirit than that of his successor in office, the President of the United States. In the hour of our trial let us heed his admonitions. Louisiana, in the opening of her history, sealed the integrity of the Union by conferring upon its Government the Valley of the Mississippi. In the war for independence upon the sea, she crowned a glorious struggle against the first maritime power of the world, by a victory unsurpassed in the annals of war. Let her people now announce to the world the coming restoration of the Union, in which the ages that follow us have a deeper interest than our own, by the organization of a free government, and her fame will be immortal." Previously to the time appointed for the election, an important order was issued by General Banks, dated February 3d, for the regulation of colored labor on the plantations. This was placed under the direction or superintendence of the Provost-Marshal-General and the parish provost-marshals. It was assumed that "labor was a public duty, and idleness and vagrancy a crime;" and these officers were charged with the enforcement of the necessary regulations, the main object of which was to "strengthen all the advantages which capital derives from labor, and enable the laborer to take care of himself and prepare for the time when he can render so much labor for so much money." 66 Hours of labor were prescribed, and a rate of remuneration, with "just treatment, healthy rations, comfortable clothing, quarters, fuel, medical attendance, and instruction for children." Flogging, and other cruel or unnecessary punishments, were interdicted. At the close of this order, General Banks, in the following terms, required from the people of the State co-operation in his plans for the restoration of civil government, on the penalty of exile. A more majestic and wise clemency human history does not exhibit. The liberal and just conditions that attend it cannot be disregarded. It protects labor by enforcing the performance of its duty, and it will assist capital by compelling just contributions to the demands of the Government. Those who profess allegiance to other governments will be required, as the condition of residence in this State, to acquiesce, without reservation, in the demands presented by Government as a basis of permanent peace. The non-cultivation of the soil, without just reason, will be followed by temporary forfeiture to those who wil secure its improvement. Those who have exercised, or are entitled to the rights of citizens of the United States, will be required to participate in the measures necessary for the re-establishment of civil government. never cease except as civil governments crush out contest, and secure the supremacy of moral over physical power. The yellow harvest must wave over the crimson field of blood, and the representatives of the people displace the agents of purely military power. It is therefore a solemn duty resting upon all persons to assist in the earliest possible restoration of civil government. Let them participate in the measures suggested for this purpose. Opinion is free, and candidates are numerous. Open hostility cannot be permitted. Indifference will be treated as crime, and faction as treason. Men who refuse to War can |