[Heyworth]

When did Dahlgren meet with Lincoln? I know that Kilpatrick did, but I find nothing to indicate that Dahlgren did. The version Stephen Sears tells is that Dahlgren showed up at Kilpatrick's HQ looking for an assignment. And Dahlgren's letter to his father isn't exactly a smoking gun. Dahlgren would have been a hero or dead if the raid hadn't included explicit orders to kill Davis.

If the orders did come from above Kilpatrick, then it was Stanton. It's a lot more his style than Lincoln's.

[4CJ]

When did Dahlgren meet with Lincoln?

1 Feb 1864. Ulric arrived at the White House at 11:00, waited until 16:00 before Lincoln met with him (while Lincoln received a shave).

Go Falcons!