Walkerton
Mantapike Hill
Civil War in Virginia

American Civil War
March 2, 1864

On February 28, Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick left his encampment at Stevensburg with 4,000 picked men to raid Richmond. Col. Ulric Dahlgren, son of Rear Adm. John Dahlgren, commanded an advance force of 500 men.

While the main body under Kilpatrick rode along the Virginia Central Railroad tearing up track, Dahlgren rode south to the James River, hoping to cross over, penetrate Richmond's defenses from the rear, and release Union prisoners at Belle Isle.

Kilpatrick reached the outskirts of Richmond on March 1 and skirmished before the city's defenses, waiting for Dahlgren to rejoin the main column. Dahlgren, however, was delayed, and Kilpatrick was forced to withdraw with Confederate cavalry in pursuit.

Hampton attacked Kilpatrick near Old Church on the 2nd, but the Federals found refuge with elements of Butler's command at New Kent Court House.

In the meantime, Dahlgren's men, unable to penetrate Richmond's defenses, tried to escape pursuit by riding north of the city. Dahlgren's command became separated, and on March 2 his detachment of about 100 men was ambushed by a detachment of the 9th Virginia Cavalry and Home Guards in King and Queen County near Walkerton.

Dahlgren was killed and most of his men captured. Papers found on Dahlgren's body that ordered him to burn Richmond and assassinate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet caused a political furor.

Southerners accused the North of initiating "a war of extermination." Meade, Kilpatrick, and Lincoln all disavowed any knowledge of the Dahlgren Papers.

Result(s): Confederate victory

Location: King and Queen County

Campaign: Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid (February-March 1864) only battle in campaign Campaigns

Date(s): March 2, 1864

Principal Commanders: Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick and Col. Ulric Dahlgren [CS]; Major General Wade Hampton [CS]

Forces Engaged: Brigades

Estimated Casualties: Unknown



Virginia State Battle Map 1864
State Battle Maps
Civil War Submarines
Appomattox Courthouse
Civil War Picture Album
President Abraham Lincoln
General Ulysses S. Grant
Battle of Gettysburg
American Civil War Exhibits
History of Colored Troops
Documents of the Civil War
 
Web AmericanCivilWar.com
Volcano-Pictures.INFO
Fredericksburg Virginia Current Weather and Information

Civil War History Documentary DVD Movie Titles

Check out American Civil War visitors top DVD picks

Civil War Combat:
America's Bloodiest Battles
With beautifully shot footage of reenactors, Civil War Combat illustrates aspects of four particular Civil War battles that are rightfully considered legendary. Filmed on location, the reenactors depict the violent mayhem of the hornet's nest at Shiloh, the valiant charge on the sunken road at Antietam, the carnage in the wheat field at Gettysburg, and the brutal fighting at Cold Harbor. Produced by the History Channel, the episodes all benefit from insightful appearances by historians as well as rangers from the National Park Service.

Guns of the Civil War


Civil War Journal -
The Conflict Begins
The battles have been documented, the generals lionized. We have seen the turning points and the sacrifices. Now let Civil War Journal take you deeper, into the personal stories. Join host Danny Glover as he takes you through diaries, photographs, and factual re-enactments. Finally, a Civil War program that makes you feel the private and intimate side of the great conflict.


Civil War Minutes
Volumn 1
In Civil War Minutes - Union Volume 1, you will learn about the lives of soldiers through their handwritten letters to home. Also find out what life was like from the perspective of the average foot soldier through never-before-seen photographs, artifacts and rare paintings and engravings. Find out what is the General Beauregard Pipe; what is the Report of Samuel Weaver and how it was related to Gettysburg; what is a musket and much more!

Sources:
U.S. National Park Service
U.S. Library of Congress.