His outspoken opposition to the nationalization of his men cost him his command and sparked a feud with the family of Jefferson Davis that spanned from 1862 to 1906.

In 1864, John's son, Col. Ulric Dahlgren, died leading a failed Union cavalry raid with orders to assassinate Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Cabinet.

Charles's other brother, William, spent part of the war in England spying on Confederate purchasing agents.

[4]After the Civil War, Dahlgren had lost his plantation and fortune and moved to New Orleans to practice law.

[1] Thereafter, he moved with his family to Nashville, Tennessee, for several months in 1870, then to Winchester, Virginia, and finally to New York City in 1876, where he worked as a lawyer and public accountant.