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Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid to Richmond, Virginia
February 28 - March 4, 1864
written by Alethea D. Sayers
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| USA Gen. Judson Kilpatrick |
CSA Gen. Wade Hampton |
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Reports of the conditions of Federal prisons in Richmond and believing that the city was poorly defended, prompted Brig.
Gen. Judson H. Kilpatrick to garner Lincoln's support for a raid in February of 1864. As a diversion, Brig. Gen. George A.
Custer would lead a raid into Albemarle County Feb. 28 - March 1.
With 3,584 cavalrymen and 6 guns, Kilpatrick drove off Wade Hampton's pickets at Ely's Ford, where he crossed the Rapidan
on Feb. 28. At Spotsylvania, he led his main body towards Richmond, while Col. Ulric Dahlgren, with 500 cavalry, swung
further north to Goochland.
Learning of the raid on the 29th, Confederates in Richmond began to strengthen their defenses by posting men and guns at
the approaches to the city. Wade Hampton's cavalry was also in pursuit of the raiders.
Kilpatrick reached Richmond on March 1 to find it too strongly defended for an assault. Turning east, he re-crossed the
Chickahominy at Mechanicsville. After skirmishing with the enemy around Cold Harbor, Kilpatrick withdrew and joined
Butler's column at New Kent Court House on the 4th.
When Dahlgren reached Goochland on March 1, he split his forces, sending 100 men, led by Capt. J. F. Mitchell, down the
north bank of the James River to destroy property and make a dash for Richmond. Dahlgren was to ford the river at another
point and enter Richmond from the south.
Unable to ford the river where he had planned, Dahlgren rejoined Mitchell at Short Pump, eight miles outside of Richmond.
Meeting with stiff resistance, Dahlgren worked his way to within 2 miles of the city before he was forced to withdraw in
the night. He became separated from Mitchell, who rejoined Kilpatrick on March 3, with 260 men.
Dahlgren, moving north with 100 men, crossed the Pamunkey at Hanovertown -- where Confederate cavalry took up pursuit.
Near King and Queen Courthouse, Dahlgren and his men rode into an ambush that had been set by enemy cavalry, killing
Dahlgren and capturing 92 of his men. (Fox's Regimental Losses, O.R.'s)
The raid cost the Federals 340 men, 583 horses, 504 carbines, 516 pistols and 500 sabers. (V. C. Jones, Eight Hours Before
Richmond, N.Y. 1957)
* Of Note: A 13-year old boy, William Littlepage, found papers on Dahlgren's body that disclosed an intent to burn
Richmond and kill Jeff Davis and his cabinet.
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