Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/541

 540 Southern Historical Society Papers.

were at home recruiting their horses, and some citizens under com- mand of Captain Fox and Lieutenant Pollard. At that time I think the Yankees numbered about one hundred ; they were all captured the next morning in the field that they had escaped into, except some of their officers, who were captured during the evening of that day, and the whole party carried to Richmond. I remained several days in King & Queen county. I was ragged and dirty and broken down, but was taken by Dr. Walker to his house near Stevensville, and treated like a brother until I was sufficiently recruited to go up to Richmond. And so ended my capture and ride with Dahlgren on his raid around Richmond. Colonel Dahlgren was a gallant and dashing soldier, a man of polish and education, but of unbounded ambition, which induced him to undertake the desperate adventure he was on. He treated me and the other prisoners with all proper courtesy and consideration, shared his rations with us, and conversed quite freely. ,

HENRY E. BLAIR. Salem, Va., August 22d, 1874.

THE DAHLGREN PAPERS.

The following is a copy of the papers which were found on the person of Colonel Dahlgren, after he was killed, which excited such indignation among the Confederates, and the authenticity of which (though denied with such persistency) we shall establish beyond peradventure :

[Published in the Richmond, Virginia, Dispatch of March 5th, 1864.]

ADDRESS TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN.

The following address to the officers and men of the command was written on a sheet of paper having in printed letters on the upper corner, "Headquarters Third Division, Cavalry Corps,, 1864:"

Officers and Men :

You have been selected from brigades and regiments as a picked command to attempt a desperate undertaking an under- taking which, if successful, will write your names on the hearts of your countrymen in letters that can never be erased, and which will