The Dahlgren Affair

The narrative explores the pivotal moment on March 5, 1864, when a failed cavalry raid led by young Union commander Ulric Dahlgren resulted in his death and the discovery of controversial orders. These orders incited outrage in the South and prompted Jefferson Davis to endorse terrorist tactics against Northern civilians, escalating the brutality of the Civil War. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the connections between Dahlgren's raid and the subsequent Confederate campaign of terror, highlighting the dramatic shift in wartime strategies.