tennman

Van Dorn certainly had bodyguards - several in fact - but because the jealous husband (Dr. George Peters) and his family were regulars around Van Dorn, he just walked right in, past the Confederate guards to Van Dorn's office. Here is another good source of information on Earl Van Dorn and the Van Dorn Fandom page. It's fascinating that this story isn't better known today. He was by far the most interesting man in the Civil War.