Dahlgren Affair Soldier Writes Of Dahlgren's Burial After Corpse Desecration
Offering two ALSs by a David Hartman, who was stationed in Washington, DC, to his brother Samuel L. 6 pp, 5 x 8 and 7 ¼ x 9 ¾.
In the second letter, Hartman provides details of Col. Ulric Dalghren, who became prominent for what was called the Dahlgren Affair when Confederate forces found documents on his body with orders to free Union prisoners on Belle Island, to burn the city of Richmond and assassinate Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet. The documents were published in Richmond newspapers and caused outrage in the South with accusations that the orders came from President Lincoln. Union newspapers claimed the papers were forged and published reports of Confederate desecration to Dahlgren's corpse. 1865, letter, from Headquarters Garrison, Washington, DC, to his brother, David Hartman provides details on the final burial of Col. I was going to church when I stopped at the office, but found there was a good deal of work to do hence I could not go. Dahlgren, who was killed a year ago, and now is buried at Congressional Burial grounds near the city, is to be taken up tomorrow, and brought to the City Hall, will remain there until Tuesday, when he will be taken to a church, and from there to the Depot, to proceed to Phila.The Regiment is still waiting orders to be mustered out and will, I fear for some time to come; the boys have been very much disappointed, though I can't say that I have, for I did not believe that it would take place very soon. Genl Tyler is here now, endeavoring to have our Regiment taken to Texas, whether he will succeed or not, is yet to be seen; but if the intention really was to muster us out immediately, this no doubt will delay it. Yesterday an order was issued to muster out all those who desired it of the vet.
Corps, formerly Invalid Corps, which is to take place immediately; There are 24 Regts. In the Corps though they are small, but the majority of the troops in the City are of that Corps and their discharge, I fear will interfere with ours; it is said that some of Hancock's vet. Are coming to relieve us, that may be so, but I doubt it... Dahlgren fought in several key battles including Gettysburg, where he was wounded and had his leg amputated below the knee. He was killed during the Battle of Walkerton in 1864 while leading a raid on the Confederate capital of Richmond, VA. That's when the documents were discovered on Dahlgren's body. Dahlgren was originally interred where he was shot and killed.An outraged mob disinterred his body and placed it on display at the York River Depot in Richmond. Dahlgren's wooden leg was displaced in a store window, and his finger was cut off to remove a ring. These reports of mistreatment to Dahlgren's corpse inflamed public opinion.
In Hartman's second letter to his brother, dated Sept. 1865, Washington, DC, Court-Martial Rooms, he writes.
I thought I brought it with me, but find that I did not, and can't say where it is; I don't see that there are any provisions made for the Regiment to vote here... I don't suppose more than one half of the voters in the Regt.Will vote at all because they say it is the fault of the Field Officers that we are kept in the service, also if it not for them, the Regiment could go home to vote, hence they decline voting, but it is a privilege I have and one too that I will exercise in defiance of anything that may oppose.. Our goal is to please every customer.