... notify the authorities of the enemy's proximity, and the militia, home guard and private citizens were hurried to the trenches. Dahlgren's original purpose was to cross the James River at either Jude 's ferry, on the Morson place, or at Manakin ferry, three miles below, and to approach Richmond by the south bank of the James. Reaching Belle Isle, he proposed to liberate the 12,000 Federal prison...