S8 Ep1090: Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, describes how, in early 1864, the Union launched the Dahlgren Raid, a daring "decapitation ra

The John Batchelor Show · Jul 5, 2026 · 9m

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, describes how, in early 1864, the Union launched the Dahlgren Raid, a daring "decapitation raid" aimed at infiltrating Richmond to burn the city and kill or capture Jefferson Davis. Led by Ulric Dahlgren and General Kilpatrick, the mission disintegrated in the Richmond suburbs, and Dahlgren was killed. Orders found on his body—initially dismissed as a Southern plant but later proven authentic through forensic analysis—sparked massive controversy over "ungentlemanly warfare." While the Union struggled with these covert actions, the Confederacy developed a…