Hdqrs. Lee’s Div., Cav. Corps, Army of N. Va.,
March 4, 1864
General S. Cooper,
Adjutant and Inspector General:
General: I have the honor to transmit the inclosed papers, found upon the body of Col. U. Dahlgren, of the U.S. Army, who was killed by a portion of my command, assisted by a portion of Colonel Robins’ cavalry battalion and a detachment of the home guards of King and Queen, in that county, upon the night of the 2d. These papers were sent by Lieutenant Pollard, commanding a detachment of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, to Colonel Beale, and by him transmitted direct to me. They need no comment. Colonel Dahlgren commanded a force picked to co-operate with Brigadier-General Kilpatrick in his ridiculous and unsoldierly raid, and lost his life running off negroes after the failure of his insane attempt to destroy Richmond and kill Jeff. Davis and cabinet. The force of negroes and Yankees captured after his fall amounted to about 140.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Fitz Lee
Major-General, Commanding
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 3, p. 217.
Transcribed by Colin woodward, 2017 March 14
