Historians Lead Walking Tour of Historical Fredericksburg Raid

Historians Eric Mink and Donald Pfanz will lead a walking tour of the historical 1862 Dahlgren raid into Fredericksburg.  The walk will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 150 years and one day after the event, said Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park staff historian Don Pfanz. The free 90-minute tour will leave from the Fredericksburg City Dock at 207 Sophia Street at 8 a.m.

Cavalry in the Streets:  Dahlgren’s Raid into Fredericksburg

On November 9, 1862 the citizens of Fredericksburg awoke to find a force of 60 Union cavalrymen charging down their streets.  This force, led by Captain Ulric Dahlgren, had come to Fredericksburg to determine the size of the Confederate force that held the city and to evaluate the condition of the railroad between Fredericksburg and Aquia Landing.  Crossing the Rappahannock River at Falmouth, Dahlgren’s men descended on Fredericksburg without warning and engaged Confederates in a running battle through the town.  Although initially put to flight in the spirited melee, the Confederates eventually rallied and forced Dahlgren to retreat back across the river.  

For Fredericksburg residents, the skirmish was but a small taste of things to come.   Eight days later, the Union Army of the Potomac, 115,000 men strong, appeared on the heights opposite the town.  Before the year ended, Fredericksburg would be a scene of battle—and desolation.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park staff historian Don Pfanz provided this information and wrote the history review.