Ulric Dahlgren

[Pollaco]

The Kilpatrick/Dahlgren Raid on Richmond in March of 1864 which ended in dismal failure along with the death of Ulric Dahlgren. It's been many years since I 've heard any updates on this incident. This is what I recall of the incident.The goal of the raid was the freeing of union prisoners from the Libby prison. However a lot of controversy arose when some papers found on the body of Dahlgren mentioned the Killing of President Jefferson Davis. Forgery and planted "evidence" was suspected when it was discovered that Dahlgrens name was mispelled. Has any recent evidence arose regarding this controversial raid?

 

[Northern Light]

I could never understand why he would carry such a document on his person. It makes no sense. Was he supposed to hand it to Davis before he killed him and burned Richmond? Who would have ever written such an order down, as if one might forget it??

 

[redbob]

Several months ago the local CWRT had an excellent speaker named Bruce M. Venter who spoke on the subject and has written an excellent book on the subject titled Kill Jeff Davis.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Or then there's this, wherein the answers to your questions are addressed...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017XNH630/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[Northern Light]

Or then there's this, wherein the answers to your questions are addressed...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017XNH630/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

Eric, I have not yet read your book yet, but still would like to know why he was silly enough to carry those papers with him. Do you address this in your book?

 

[redbob]

Or then there's this, wherein the answers to your questions are addressed...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017XNH630/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

Eric, I have not yet read your book yet, but still would like to know why he was silly enough to carry those papers with him. Do you address this in your book?

Regardless of which fine book that you read, you may come away with the impression that Dahlgren wasn't the sharpest pencil in the pack.

 

[Northern Light]

Regardless of which fine book that you read, you may come away with the impression that Dahlgren wasn't the sharpest pencil in the pack.

Yes, I had noticed that, which may explain why Kilpatrick was able to enlist him in this ill-advised and ill-planned raid.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Regardless of which fine book that you read, you may come away with the impression that Dahlgren wasn't the sharpest pencil in the pack.

I don't necessarily agree with that. Idiots don't get to present to the Franklin Institute at age 19 like Ulric Dahlgren did. I believe it was an error made as a result of youthful inexperience and hubris.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Eric, I have not yet read your book yet, but still would like to know why he was silly enough to carry those papers with him. Do you address this in your book?

Nobody knows the answer, and nobody ever will.

 

[redbob]

I don't necessarily agree with that. Idiots don't get to present to the Franklin Institute at age 19 like Ulric Dahlgren did. I believe it was an error made as a result of youthful inexperience and hubris.

The same thing, you just put it better (plus impairment from the loss of his leg); I found what happened after he was killed to be the most interesting part of his story. I didn't take your comments personally, as a lawyer it's your job to be argumentative.

 

[Pollaco]

Nobody knows the answer, and nobody ever will.

So it's basically the same old controversy that it was 30 years ago when I first read about the raid. So nothing really new has been unearthed to help solve the debate as to "did he or didn't he"? Or is it "was he or wasn't he"?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

So it's basically the same old controversy that it was 30 years ago when I first read about the raid. So nothing really new has been unearthed to help solve the debate as to "did he or didn't he"? Or is it "was he or wasn't he"?

If you want to put it that way, then I suppose no. I'm not sure why you would think that there would be anything new to shed light on this question.

However, posted here some time ago is a transcription of a document that I happen own that addresses the authenticity of the Dahlgren papers.

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/dahlgren-papers-authentic-or-fake.96899/

 

[Pollaco]

I was merely satisfying my own curiosity. No one knew for sure way back when I first read about it. I was sort of wondering if anything new on the Subject may have "popped up".And apparently it hasn't, but thanks anyway.