Frohne's Historic Military
Authentic history you can trust!**SOLD**
**SOLD**
Dodge, Grenville M., major-general, was born in Danvers,
Mass., April 12, 1831, was graduated in Capt. Partridge's
military academy, Norwich, Vt., in 1850, and in 1851 moved to
Illinois, going thence to Iowa, and was employed as a civil
engineer in railroad construction work until the outbreak of
the Civil war. He was sent to Washington in 1861 to secure
arms and equipments for the Iowa troops, was successful in his
mission, and on returning to Iowa was appointed colonel of the
4th Iowa regiment, which he had raised. He served in Missouri
under Fremont commanded a brigade in the Army of the
Southwest, and a portion of his command took Springfield, Feb.
13, 1862, opening Gen. Curtis, Arkansas campaign of that year.
At the battle of Pea ridge he commanded a brigade on the
extreme right, had three horses shot under him in that
engagement and was severely wounded in the side. For
gallantry he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers,
March 31, 1862, and in June of that year he took command of
the district of the Mississippi and built the Mississippi &
Ohio railroad. He was one of the first to organize negro
regiments. He defeated Gen. J. B. Villepigue on the Hatchie
river, Oct. 5, 1862, captured Col. W. W. Faulkner and his
forces near Island No. 1O, and in the autumn of 1862 was
placed in command of the 2nd division of the Army of the
Tennessee. During the Vicksburg campaign, with headquarters
at Corinth, he made frequent raids, and indirectly protected
the flanks of both Grant and Rosecrans, and for his services
was placed at the head of Gen. Grant's list of officers
recommended for promotion. He distinguished himself at the
battle of Sugar valley, May 29, 1864, and at Resaca, May 14
and 15, 1865, and for his services at these engagements was
promoted major-general of volunteers June 7, 1864 In the
Georgia campaign he led the 16th corps of Sherman's army and
distinguished himself at Atlanta, July 22, withstanding with
eleven regiments, a whole army corps, and at the siege of that
city, on Aug 19, where he received a wound so severe as to
incapacitate him for service for some time. He succeeded Gen.
Rosecrans in the command of the Department of Missouri in
Dec., 1864, became commander also of the Department of Kansas
and the territories in Feb., 1865, breaking up bands of
guerrillas and marauders and defeating hostile Indians, and
receiving the surrender of Gen. Smith's army in Missouri, and
Gen. Merriwether Jeff Thompson's command in Arkansas. Gen.
Dodge was chosen chief engineer of the Union Pacific railroad
on May 1, 1866, and resigned from the army to accept the
office. He served in the 40th Congress, 1867-69, as
representative from Iowa, but declined renomination. He was
chief engineer of the Texas & Pacific railroad from 1871 to
1881, and then removed to New York city. Gen. Dodge was a
delegate to the Republican national conventions of 1868 and
1876, held the office of president of the Society of the Army
of the Tennessee, and was at one time commander of the Loyal
Legion. He was appointed major-general in the war with Spain,
in 1898, but declined the honor.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
