DEATH OF CAPTAIN DODGE
Twenty-fourth Infantry Has Now Lost All its Captains
WASHINGTON, July 30, 1898 – A telegram received from Santiago announces the death of Captain Dodge of the Twenty-fourth Infantry, well known in the West. Adjutant General Corbin was deeply affected today on receiving this news. The Captain was Lieutenant in the same company that former General Corbin's first command when he became a Captain, and he looked upon him almost as a younger brother.
If anything was wanting to show the extraordinary high rate or mortality among the officers of the American Army engaged in the battles before Santiago, it is supplied by the statement at the War Department that with the death of Captain Dodge the Twenty-fourth Infantry has lost every Captain of the regiment. All the other Captains have been killed in action, when Captain Dodge, the sole survivor, was stricken with yellow fever, which led to his death yesterday.
The President and Secretary Alger have not overlooked the sacrifices made by the officers of Shafter's army, and have determined to do what they can to provide for their families. A few vacancies among the Second Lieutenaancies in the regular army still exists, and some of these will be filled by appointing the sons of some of the officers who lost their lives on the battlefield. The War Department is now taking steps to ascertain the particulars regarding the families of these officers.
Captain Dodge was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, forty-four years ago. He entered the Army as a private in 1875, and served until 1878, when he was appointed to the Infantry and Cavalry School, from which he graduated in 1883. He had already been Second Lieutenant in 1878, and on graduation he was made First Lieutenant. His commission as Captain dated from December 4, 1895. At one time he was assigned to duty in the Adjutant General's office, at the War Department. He was one of the few officers who first served as private and afterwards acquired a technical military education and received commissions. Up to the opening of the war, he had been stationed in New Mexico, Montana and Arizona. He was well and favorably known in Washington society, in which city he usually resided when on leave.
Spanish-American War Report:
Captain Charles Dodge of the Twenty-fourth Infantry, who received a wound in the engagement (battle of Santiago), was born in the District of Columbia and was graduated from the Infantry and Cavalry School of 1883.
He enlisted as a Private in the Regular Army and on July 14, 1875 was made a Sergeant. His commission as Second Lieutenant of the Twenty-fourth Infantry was issued on October 25, 1875, and he was promoted to a First Lieutenantcy on June 30, 1883. He was made Captain of the Twenty-fourth Infantry on December 4, 1895.
The private memorial of this casualty of the Spanish-American War in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery reads:
“Captain and Brevet Major, 24th United States Infantry.
Born: Georgetown, D.C., January 8, 1854.
Died: Siboney, Cuba, July 30, 1898.”
Charles Dodge, Jr. of Washington, D.C.
Private and Sergeant, General Service, 14 June 1875 to 28 October 1878
Second Lieutenant, 24th U. S. Infantry, 25 October 1878
First Lieutenant, 30 June 1883
Regimental Adjutant, 1 January 1884 to 30 April 1895
Captain, 4 December 1895
Died 30 July 1898
DODGE, CHARLES
- CAPT US INF
- VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
- DATE OF DEATH: 07/30/1898
- DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
- BURIED AT: SITE LOT 291
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
DODGE, KATHERINE TAYLOR WIDOW OF CHARLES W
- DATE OF DEATH: 06/26/1919
- DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
- BURIED AT: SECTION EDIV/ SITE LOT 291
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY - WIFE OF CW DODGE, CAPTAIN, 24th INFANTRY
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard