Interview with Eric J. Wittenberg, author of Like A Meteor Blazing Brightly

I recently finished reading Eric J. Wittenberg’s newest book, “Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly: The Short But Controversial Life of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren.”  I first became aware of Eric’s excellent books when I read the books he published with J. David Petruzzi and Michael Nugent, “Plenty of Blame to Go Around: Jeb Stuart’s Controversial Ride to Gettysburg” and “One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.”  Since then, I have read many of the books he has published.  They are all quite good, so when Eric let me know his newest book was available, I was excited to get a copy to review.

Eric is an attorney by trade, but a Civil War Historian at heart.  As he has often told me, writing is his second job – and you can feel his passion for the Civil War, especially the cavalry, when you read his books.  Eric is also the publisher of the popular Civil War blog, “Rantings of a Civil War Historian.”  Hailing from eastern Pennsylvania, Wittenberg became interested in the Civil War at an early age.  He and his wife, Susan, live in Columbus, Ohio.

With regards to his new book, it is a real page turner.  I spent a couple of late nights reading “Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly,” as I just could not put it down.  Like most Civil War enthusiasts, I had read briefly about the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid in other narratives.  It was a fascinating event during the Civil War, but something that has not been written about extensively.  Wittenberg’s book analyzes the raid extensively, but it is much more – it is the only biography written on the life of Ulric Dahlgren.  “Ully” was the son of Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren, who is considered the “father of American naval ordinance.”  Ully would receive an excellent education at Rittenhouse Academy, but would never enter any military school.  Growing up around the Washington Naval Yard, Ulric would spend a great deal of time around heavy guns and would become quite adept with their usage.  While a teenager, Dahlgren would visit his uncle, Charles Dahlgren, in Mississippi.  While there he would learn surveying and become a very accomplished equestrian.

Returning to Washington in August 1860, Dahlgren would witness the growing crisis of a potential Abraham Lincoln presidency.  In September he would go to Philadelphia to study law under his maternal uncle, John W. Paul.  An extremely smart young man, Dahlgren would never enter the bar as he would be drawn in with the growing patriotism of the North, after Lincoln’s election and the start of the secession crisis.  While his father wanted him to continue his studies he knew he could not keep the adventurous Ully from serving his county.

Dahlgren would reach Washington City on July 1.  Spending time with his father, who was the unofficial naval aid of Lincoln, Ully would have access to the president and other high ranking civilian and military leaders.  Splitting his time between the naval yard and the growing army camps in Northern Virginia, he would yearn to take an active part in the defense of his country.  He would get his chance over the coming months.

Dahlgren served in several campaigns including Stonewall Jackson’s 1862 Shenandoah Campaign, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.  He would reach the rank of captain while serving on the staff of major generals Franz Sigel and Joseph Hooker.  Serving with distinction and bravery, he would take part in the largest cavalry battle in North America, Brandy Station.  Dahlgren would become invaluable in providing quality intelligence and leading several independent scouting missions – the most valuable being Gettysburg - where he would intercept valuable intelligence for US Major General George Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac.  During the Federal pursuit of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, Dahlgren would rally troops at the Battle of Hagerstown where he would be wounded, eventually having to have his lower leg amputated.  While convalescing in Washington D.C., it was uncertain whether he would live.  During this uncertain time, Lincoln would promote Dahlgren to colonel, jumping the ranks of major and lieutenant colonel.  He would be the youngest soldier, at that time, to reach that rank in the Army of the Potomac.

After a partial recovery from his wounds, Ulric would return to the Army of the Potomac’s camps, at Stevensburg, Virginia, on February 22.  On February 28, Dahlgren would join with US Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick on a cavalry raid to Richmond, Virginia.  The original goal of the raid was to free the captive Federal prisoners from Belle Island and Libby prisons.  Kilpatrick’s command would include nearly 3,600 men and six pieces of artillery.  Dahlgren, commanding the southern flanking force would be in the lead of the column and would have nearly 500 men.  The plan was for him to approach Richmond, from the west, along the James River.  Kilpatrick’s main column would approach from the north, along the Virginia Central Railroad.  Dahlgren was to turn the Confederate’s left flank, entering Richmond, where he would release the prisoners at Belle Island.  Kilpatrick’s column, tearing up track along the way, would arrive at the Richmond defenses on March 1, ahead of Dahlgren’s flanking force.  Unfortunately, the Confederates already knew of the raid and CSA Major General Wade Hampton’s cavalry was waiting for them.  Unable to locate Dahlgren, who had not yet arrived, Kilpatrick determined to retreat back to US Major General Benjamin Butler’s lines near New Kent Court House.  Meanwhile, Dahlgren arrived around 10:00 a.m., and was able to take possession of some empty Rebel outer field works.  He soon ran into Confederate Home Guards at “Roselawn,” the farm of Benjamin Green.  Ully’s troopers would push them back.  After an intense stand-up fight, Dahlgren believed the Confederates had received reinforcements and ordered a withdrawal – this after having pushed the enemy nearly 2 1/2 miles.  The raid would end along a dark road in King and Queen County, near Walkerton.  There, on the morning of March 2, a crack force of Confederate cavalry, commanded by CSA Lieutenant James Pollard, would ambush Dahlgren’s command.  Dahlgren, at the head of his column, would be killed instantly, in the short fight, having been hit multiple times.  A colonel for less than a month, Ulric would fall from his mount, landing in the mud, face down.  The Confederates recovered Dahlgren’s papers and journal, which would create a controversy that continues today. 

Wittenberg’s excellent research and well written prose make the story of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, and the controversy of the “Dahlgren Papers” jump off the page with fantastic imagery.  Fast paced and easy to read it is both a biography and a short battle history of the engagements that Ulric fought in.  However, the author saves the best for last.  With the skills of an attorney adroitly arguing his case, the author assesses the life of Ulric Dahlgren and the authenticity of his papers.  The author of this review cannot divulge either the assessment of Dahlgren’s life or the authenticity of the papers as it would pale in comparison to the fine work of Mr. Wittenberg.  What I will say is that this book should be purchased by all Civil War scholars and students as it provides a “looking-glass” into the life of an intriguing Union soldier that has been overlooked by historians for nearly 15 decades.  The closing chapters should not be taken by themselves, but in the context of the entire book.  Like me, I am sure you will feel you have learned a great deal by reading “Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly.”

Details about “Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Hardcover: 318 pages
Publisher: Edinborough Press
Date of First Edition: June 1, 2009
ISBN-10: 1889020338

It was my pleasure to recently interview Mr. Wittenberg.  The conversation was very engaging and he provided a lot of details on “Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly,” and other things he is working on.  Like previous interviews, I have separated the audio into multiple parts.  They can be accessed by clicking on the links below.

Eric J. Wittenberg Interview – 7 Parts
Total Time: 52 minutes, 33 seconds

Part 1:  Eric J. Wittenberg Interview Part 1
Time: 7:45
Contents: Welcome | About Eric Wittenberg | How Eric became interested in the Civil War & the cavalry | Why write about Ulric Dahlgren? | Researching “Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly” | The impact of Ully’s visit to Mississippi

Part 2:  Eric J. Wittenberg Interview Part 2
Time: 7:49
Contents: The influence of Admiral Dahlgren on young Ulric | Access to Abraham Lincoln | Serving as Franz Sigel’s chief of ordinance

Part 3:  Eric J. Wittenberg Interview Part 3
Time: 7:15
Contents: Ully’s coming of age as a Union scout | The scouting raid of Fredericksburg | Dahlgren serving on Joe Hooker’s staff | Disappointments with being passed over for promotion

Part 4:  Eric J. Wittenberg Interview Part 4
Time: 6:56
Contents: Ulric’s bravery at the Battle of Brandy Station | The maturation of young Ully | Scouting during the Gettysburg Campaign | The Battle of Hagerstown | Ulric’s injury and slow recovery

Part 5:  Eric J. Wittenberg Interview Part 5
Time: 7:18
Contents: Full military burial for a portion of young Dahlgren | Participation in the Kilpatrick Raid on Richmond | The execution of Martin Robinson | Dahlgren’s vainglorious continuation of the raid on Richmond

Part 6:  Eric J. Wittenberg Interview Part 6
Time: 7:59
Contents: Ulric’s death and the discovery of his papers | The secret burial of Ulric Dahlgren | The memoir of Confederate Partisan Ranger William Patteson

Part 7:  Eric J. Wittenberg Interview Part 7
Time: 7:31
Contents: A glimpse of Wittenberg’s final analysis | CSA Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early’s analysis | Future books Eric is working on | Wrap up

Check out other great Civil War titles by Eric J. Wittenberg

  
Details about “Gettysburg’s Forgotten Cavalry Actions”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Paperback: 131 pages
Publisher: Thomas Publications (PA)
Date of First Edition: January 1998
ISBN-10: 1577470354

Details about “We Have It Damned Hard Out Here: The Civil War Letters of Sergeant Thomas W. Smith”
Written by: Thomas W. Smith (author) & Eric J. Wittenberg (author/editor)
Hardcover: 175 pages
Publisher: Kent State University Press
Date of First Edition: April 1999
ISBN-10: 087338623X

Details about “One of Custer’s Wolverines: The Civil War Letters of Brevet Brigadier General James H. Kidd, 6th Michigan Cavalry”
Written by: James Harvey Kidd (author) & Eric J. Wittenberg (editor)
Hardcover: 241 pages
Publisher: Kent State University Press
Date of First Edition: December 1, 2000
ISBN-10: 0873386701

Details about “Under Custer’s Command: The Civil War Journal of James Henry Avery”
Written by: Karla Jean Husby (compiler) & Eric J. Wittenberg (Editor)
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
Date of First Edition: 2000
ISBN-10: 1574887440

Details about “At Custer’s Side: The Civil War Writings of James Harvey Kidd”
Written by: James Harvey Kidd (author) & Eric J. Wittenberg (Editor)
Hardcover: 140 pages
Publisher: Kent State University Press
Date of First Edition: March 2001
ISBN-10: 0873386876

 
Details about “Glory Enough For All: Sheridan’s Second Raid and the Battle of Trevillian Station”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Bison Books
Date of First Edition: 2001
ISBN-10: 0803259670

Details about “With Sheridan in the Final Campaign Against Lee”
Written by: Frederick C. Newhall (author) & Eric J. Wittenberg (Author/Editor)
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
Date of First Edition: July 2002
ISBN-10: 0807127566

 
Details about “Little Phil: A Reassessment of the Civil War Leadership of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
Date of First Edition: 2002
ISBN-10: 1574885480

Details about “Protecting the Flanks: The Battles for Brinkerhoff’s Ridge and East Cavalry Field, Battle of Gettysburg, July 2-3, 1863”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Paperback: 203 pages
Publisher: Ironclad Publishing
Date of First Edition: September 1, 2002
ISBN-10: 0967377021

Details about “The Union Cavalry Comes of Age: Hartwood Church to Brandy Station, 1863”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
Date of First Edition: 2003
ISBN-10: 1574886509

Details about “Battle for Monroe’s Crossroads and the Civil War’s Final Campaign”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Hardcover: 366 pages
Publisher: Savas Beatie, LLC
Date of First Edition: April 15, 2006
ISBN-10: 1932714170

Details about “Plenty of Blame to Go Around: Jeb Stuart’s Controversial Ride to Gettysburg”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg & J. David Petruzzi
Hardcover: 456 pages
Publisher: Savas Beatie, LLC
Date of First Edition: September 1, 2006
ISBN-10: 1932714200

Details about “Rush’s Lancers: The Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Westholme Publishing
Date of First Edition: January 1, 2007
ISBN-10: 1594160325

 
Details about “One Continuous Fight: The Retreat From Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia”
Written by: Eric J. Wittenberg, J. David Petruzzi & Michael F. Nugent
Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: Savas Beatie, LLC
Date of First Edition: June 2008
ISBN-10: 193271443X