Download or read book Kill Jeff Davis written by Bruce M. Venter and published by University of Oklahoma Press. This book was released on 2016-01-22 with total page 476 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ostensible goal of the controversial Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid on Richmond (February 28–March 3, 1864) was to free some 13,000 Union prisoners of war held in the Confederate capital. But orders found on the dead body of the raid’s subordinate commander, Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, point instead to a plot to capture or kill Confederate president Jefferson Davis and set Richmond ablaze. What really happened, and how and why, are debated to this day. Kill Jeff Davis offers a fresh look at the failed raid and mines newly discovered documents and little-known sources to provide definitive answers. In this detailed and deeply researched account of the most famous cavalry raid of the Civil War, author Bruce M. Venter describes an expedition that was carefully planned but poorly executed. A host of factors foiled the raid: bad weather, poor logistics, inadequate command and control, ignorance of the terrain, the failures of supporting forces, and the leaders’ personal and professional shortcomings. Venter delves into the background and consequences of the debacle, beginning with the political maneuvering orchestrated by commanding brigadier general Judson Kilpatrick to persuade President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to approve the raid. Venter’s examination of the relationship between Kilpatrick and Brigadier General George A. Custer illuminates the reasons why the flamboyant Custer was excluded from the Richmond raid. In a lively narrative describing the multiple problems that beset the raiders, Kill Jeff Davis uncovers new details about the African American guide whom Dahlgren ordered hanged; the defenders of the Confederate capital, who were not just the “old men and young boys” of popular lore; and General Benjamin F. Butler’s expedition to capture Davis, as well as Custer’s diversionary raid on Charlottesville. Venter’s thoughtful reinterpretations and well-reasoned observations put to rest many myths and misperceptions. He tells, at last, the full story of this hotly contested moment in Civil War history.
Download or read book The Dahlgren Affair written by Duane P. Schultz and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 1999 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the events of March 5, 1864 when young Union commander Ulric Dahlgren, killed during a raid on a Confederate prison camp, was discovered to have been carrying orders instructing his men to find and execute Jefferson Davis and the rest of the Confederate cabinet; and discusses the implications of the affair on the remainder of the war.
Download or read book Kill Jeff Davis written by Bruce M. Venter and published by . This book was released on 2024-03-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ostensible goal of the controversial Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid on Richmond (February 28-March 3, 1864) was to free some 13,000 Union prisoners of war held in the Confederate capital. But orders found on the dead body of the raid's subordinate commander, Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, point instead to a plot to capture or kill Confederate president Jefferson Davis and set Richmond ablaze. Kill Jeff Davis offers a fresh look at the failed raid and mines newly discovered documents and little-known sources to provide definitive answers.
Download or read book KILPATRICK S and DAHLGREN S RAID written by and published by . This book was released on with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Richmond Raid written by John Brick and published by . This book was released on 1963 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of the Dahlgren raid of 1864, in which Union General Kilpatrick attempts to force his way into Richmond and capture or kill Jefferson Davis.
Download or read book Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly written by Eric J. Wittenberg and published by Savas Publishing. This book was released on 2016-04-30 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ulric Dahlgren was a brilliant, ambitious young man who became the youngest full colonel in the United States Army at the age of twenty-one, yet died before his twenty-second birthday. This is the first biography of Dahlgren, and thankfully it was penned by cavalry expert and award-winning author Eric J. Wittenberg. Wittenberg’s account chronicles Dahlgren’s full life story, with a deep look at his military career and extensive connections within the nation’s capital, all of which led to the climax of his life: the notorious Dahlgren Raid. Like a Meteor Burning Brightly: The Short but Controversial Life of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren is based upon a plethora of source material, including previously unknown or little-used archival sources. Anyone interested in the Civil War in general, or just a fascinating life well-told, will want this book on their shelf.
Download or read book The Dahlgren Affair written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-02-09 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes accounts of the raid written by participants on both sides *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents "Judson Kilpatrick, Ulric Dahlgren, and their probable patron Edwin Stanton set out to engineer the death of the Confederacy's president; the legacy spawned out of the utter failure of their effort may have included the death of their own president." - Stephen Sears, Civil War historian Failing to secure the capture of any major northern cities, or the recognition of Great Britain or France, or the complete destruction of any northern armies, the Confederacy's last chance to survive the Civil War was the election of 1864. Democrats had been pushing an anti-war stance or at least a stance calling for a negotiated peace for years, so the South hoped that if a Democrat defeated President Lincoln, or if anti-war Democrats could retake the Congress, the North might negotiate peace with the South. In the election of 1862, anti-war Democrats made some gains in Congress and won the governorship of the State of New York. Confederates were therefore hopeful that trend would continue to the election of 1864. It's now often forgotten that Lincoln's reelection was far from a foregone conclusion, and the fighting in 1864 would be desperate in both the East and West. The Overland Campaign that Ulysses S. Grant launched against Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia would be an extremely costly stalemate, so Lincoln's fate may have rested in the hands of William Tecumseh Sherman, whose successful Atlanta campaign shortly before the election may have been the decider. As controversial as the Overland Campaign and the March to the Sea were, however, the most controversial event of that year took place before either campaign. In March, skirmishing between the two sides' cavalry outside of Richmond left one 21 year old Union colonel, Ulric Dahlgren, dead, and when a young Virginian went through the items on his body, the orders that were found seemed almost too unbelievable to be true: "The men must keep together and well in hand, and once in the city it must be destroyed and Jeff. Davis and Cabinet killed." When the papers on Dahlgren's body made their way to Confederate officials, the leaders decided to publicize them, leading officials in the North to denounce the papers as forgeries. Over 150 years later, the authenticity of the papers is still widely debated among historians. While most in the North dismissed the papers (and Dahlgren's father would work to clear his son's name for the rest of his own life), Union General George Meade questioned Judson Kilpatrick, the cavalry commander in charge of the raid, and he came away with the belief that at the very least, Kilpatrick had signed off on the conspiracy to assassinate the Confederate leadership. Nonetheless, he relayed to Lee that "neither the United States Government, myself, nor General Kilpatrick authorized, sanctioned, or approved the burning of the city of Richmond and the killing of Mr. Davis and cabinet." Although it still remains one of the Civil War's most enduring mysteries, modern historians now mostly believe the orders were authentic, and that the responsibility for the plan may go all the way up to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Moreover, some of them, including noted historian Stephen Sears, believe that the Dahlgren Affair may have been one of the primary reasons John Wilkes Booth devised his own conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln. That conspiracy, of course, would be far more successful than Dahlgren's. The Dahlgren Affair: The History of the Civil War's Most Controversial Cavalry Raid chronicles the history and mystery of the conspiracy to kill the Confederacy's top leaders. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Dahlgren Affair like never before, in no time at all.
Download or read book Kilpatrick and His Raid written by James Moore and published by Leonaur Limited. This book was released on 2017-09-05 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A notorious commander of Union cavalry and his infamous raid into the Confederacy The subject of this book, Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, claimed the dubious distinction of being the first Union Army officer to be wounded in the American Civil War. Commissioned in the Artillery, he quickly became an officer of Zouave infantry before joining the 2nd New York Cavalry as its lieutenant-colonel. It would henceforth be as a commander of cavalry that Kilpatrick would garner fame and infamy, for he eventually earned the nickname of 'Kilcavalry' because of alleged carelessness with the lives of his men. Kilpatrick rose quickly in rank until before the Battle of Gettysburg during which he was promoted to brigadier general. During the battle he ordered a pointless and rash charge which resulted in heavy casualties among his men, and the death in action of Brigadier General Farnsworth, whom Kilpatrick had accused of cowardice following his protests against carrying out orders he knew would result in disaster. Kilpatrick is particularly known for his raid through the Virginian Peninsula towards Richmond in 1864. The plan did not go well, particularly for a detached brigade under Ulric Dahlgren, which was savaged in a Confederate ambush which resulted in the death of Dahlgren. A political furore was caused when it was alleged that the purpose of the raid had been to assassinate Jefferson Davis. This unique Leonaur book relates Kilpatrick's tempestuous career and gives insights into his raid from the perspectives of those who were involved in it on both sides of the battle lines. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.
Download or read book Gettysburg s Forgotten Cavalry Actions written by Eric J. Wittenberg and published by Grub Street Publishers. This book was released on 2011-10-27 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An award-winning historical study of the important role played by Union and Confederate horse soldiers on the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg. The Union army’s victory at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 3, 1863, is widely considered to have been the turning point in America’s War between the States. But the valuable contributions of the mounted troops, both Northern and Rebel, in the decisive three-day conflict have gone largely unrecognized. Acclaimed Civil War historian Eric J. Wittenberg now gives the cavalries their proper due. In Gettysburg’s Forgotten Cavalry Actions, Wittenberg explores three important mounted engagements undertaken during the battle and how they influenced the final outcome. The courageous but doomed response by Brig. Gen. Elon J. Farnsworth’s cavalry brigade in the wake of Pickett’s Charge is recreated in fascinating detail, revealing the fatal flaws in the general’s plan to lead his riders against entrenched Confederate infantry and artillery. The tenacious assault led by Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt on South Cavalry Field is also examined, as is the strategic victory at Fairfield by Southern troops that nearly destroyed the Sixth US Cavalry and left Hagerstown Road open, enabling General Lee’s eventual retreat. Winner of the prestigious Bachelder-Coddington Award for historical works concerning the Battle of Gettysburg, Eric J. Wittenberg’s Gettysburg’s Forgotten Cavalry Actions rights a long-standing wrong by lifting these all-important engagements out of obscurity. A must-read for Civil War buffs everywhere, it completes the story of the battle that changed American history forever.
Download or read book Eight Hours Before Richmond written by Virgil Carrington Jones and published by . This book was released on 1957 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes the abortive Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid on Richmond in the winter of 1864.
Download or read book Kill Cavalry written by Samuel J. Martin and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, the subject of this biography, had a life plan: he would be a military hero, governor of New Jersey, and finally president of the United States. A West Point degree and the outbreak of the Civil War gave him a start on his path.
Download or read book Kill Cavalry written by Samuel J. Martin and published by Stackpole Classics. This book was released on 2017-09-15 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a biography of an antihero, Samuel Martin writes in his prologue. Hugh Judson Kilpatrick was one of the most notorious scoundrels in the Union army. He lied, thieved, and whored his way through the Civil War, yet managed to attain the stars of a major general. But despite his faults--or perhaps because of them--he is a fascinating character. Description from Amazon: Nicknamed "Kill-Cavalry" because of the unusually high casualty rate among his men, cavalry commander Hugh Judson Kilpatrick was also the most notorious scoundrel in the Union army. Kilpatrick lied, thieved, and whored his way through the Civil War, yet managed to attain the stars of a major general. But despite his faults-or perhaps because of them-he is a fascinating character. This exceptionally well-researched biography (all the more remarkable given that Kilpatrick's daughter destroyed all her father's papers after his death) profiles one of the most interesting soldiers to ever wear Union blue.
Download or read book Dawn of Victory written by Edward S. Alexander and published by Savas Beatie. This book was released on 2015-04-01 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After the unprecedented violence of the 1864 Overland Campaign, Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant turned his gaze south of Richmond to Petersburg, and the key railroad junction that supplied the Confederate capital and its defenders. Nine grueling months of constant maneuver and combat around the Cockade City followed. As massive fortifications soon dominated the landscape, both armies frequently pushed each other to the brink of disaster. As March 1865 drew to a close, Grant planned one more charge against Confederate lines. Despite recent successes, many viewed this latest task as an impossibilityand their trepidation had merit. These lines might well have been looked upon by the enemy as impregnable, admitted Union Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright, and nothing but the most resolute bravery could have overcome them. Grant ordered the attack for April 2, 1865, setting the stage for a dramatic early morning bayonet charge by his VI Corps across half a mile of open ground into the strongest line of works ever constructed in America. Dawn of Victory: Breakthrough at Petersburg by Edward S. Alexander tells the story of the men who fought and died in the decisive battle of the Petersburg campaign. Readers can follow the footsteps of the resolute Union attackers and stand in the shoes of the obstinate Confederate defenders as their actions decided the fate of the nation.
Download or read book Yank and Rebel Rangers written by Robert W. Black and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2019-01-30 with total page 445 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Civil War history reveals the tactics and covert operations of both Union and Confederate rangers, guerilla forces, and volunteer units. The major battles of the American Civil War are well recorded. But while much has been written about the action at Shiloh and Gettysburg, far less is known about the cover operations and irregular warfare that were equally consequential. Both the Union and Confederate armies employed small forces of highly trained soldiers for special operations behind enemy lines. In Yank and Rebel Rangers, historian Robert W. Black tells this untold story of the war between the states. Skilled in infiltration, often crossing enemy lines in disguise, these warriors went deep into enemy territory, captured important personnel, disrupted lines of communication, and sowed confusion and fear. Often wearing the uniform of the enemy, they faced execution as spies if captured. Despite these risks, and in part because of them, these warriors fought and died as American rangers.
Download or read book Controversies Commanders written by Stephen W. Sears and published by HMH. This book was released on 2014-11-04 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An in-depth look at the Union force that went up against Robert E. Lee, from “a master storyteller and leading Civil War historian” (Kirkus Reviews). From an award-winning military historian and the bestselling author of Gettysburg, this is a wide-ranging collection of essays about the Army of the Potomac, delving into such topics as Professor Lowe’s reconnaissance balloons; the court-martial of Fitz John Porter; the Lost Order at Antietam; press coverage of the war; the looting of Fredericksburg; the Mud March; the roles of volunteers, conscripts, bounty jumpers, and foreign soldiers; the notorious Gen. Dan Sickles, who shot his wife’s lover outside the White House; and two generals who were much maligned: McClellan (justifiably) and Hooker (not so justifiably). This lively book follows the Army of the Potomac throughout the war, from 1861 to 1865, painting a remarkable portrait of the key incidents and personalities that influenced the course of our nation’s greatest cataclysm.
Download or read book Cold Harbor to the Crater written by Gary W. Gallagher and published by UNC Press Books. This book was released on 2015-07-24 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Between the end of May and the beginning of August 1864, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Gen. Robert E. Lee oversaw the transition between the Overland campaign—a remarkable saga of maneuvering and brutal combat—and what became a grueling siege of Petersburg that many months later compelled Confederates to abandon Richmond. Although many historians have marked Grant's crossing of the James River on June 12–15 as the close of the Overland campaign, this volume interprets the fighting from Cold Harbor on June 1–3 through the battle of the Crater on July 30 as the last phase of an operation that could have ended without a prolonged siege. The contributors assess the campaign from a variety of perspectives, examining strategy and tactics, the performances of key commanders on each side, the centrality of field fortifications, political repercussions in the United States and the Confederacy, the experiences of civilians caught in the path of the armies, and how the famous battle of the Crater has resonated in historical memory. As a group, the essays highlight the important connections between the home front and the battlefield, showing some of the ways in which military and nonmilitary affairs played off and influenced one another. Contributors include Keith S. Bohannon, Stephen Cushman, M. Keith Harris, Robert E. L. Krick, Kevin M. Levin, Kathryn Shively Meier, Gordon C. Rhea, and Joan Waugh.
Download or read book Gettysburg written by William A. Frassanito and published by Thomas Publications (PA). This book was released on 1975 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a unique example of photographic detective work in which the famous battle is re-created almost as if it were a contemporary news event. The reader is transported to the battlefield by the photographs and through the analysis of the photographs to the battle itself. We watch it unfold, action by action. In meticulous close-up fashion, with documentary force, we see the terrible encounters of men at war. - Publisher.
