![]() Francis Safford Dodge Brigadier General, United States Army |
![]() |
Born
at Danvers, Massachusetts on September 11, 1842, he served in the Civil
War as Private and Corporal, 23rd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, October
9, 1861-December 19, 1863. Appointed First Lieutenant, United States Colored
Cavalry, December 20, 1863, and the promoted through the ranks to Brigadier
General, January 23, 1904. Retired by operation of law on September 11,
1906.
He was breveted February 27, 1890 for action against hostile Indians at Colorado, September 29-October 1, 1879. He received the Medal of Honor, March 22, 1898, for "most distinguished gallantry" against Indians near White River Agency, Colorado, October 2, 1879. He served in North and South Carolina, 1861-63, in Virginia, 1863-64, Texas, 1864-65, and after the Civil War at various posts throughout the West. After his retirement, he served as Director, American Surety and Trust Company. He died in Washington, D.C. on February 19, 1908 and was buried in Section 3 (Grave 1874) of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Mary Hunt Dodge (1847-1931) is buried
with him.
LEAVENWORTH, Kansas, October 11, 1879 – General Pope, Commander of the Department of Missouri, yesterday issued general orders highly complimentary to Captain F. S. Dodge of the Ninth Cavalry. The following is an extract: The Department Commander takes peculiar pleasure
in exercising his privilege thus publicly and formally to express his high
appreciation and hearty commendation of the gallantry and soldierly conduct
of Captain Francis S. Dodge, Ninth Cavalry, and the officers and men of
his Company D, Ninth Cavalry, in forcing a junction with the forces under
Captain Payne, Fifth Cavalry, which were beleaguered by the hostile Indians.
The report in which this result is announced is written with severest brevity
and shows that Captain Dodge, in addition to his other qualities, possesses
that perfect model which should always characterize the true soldier.
His conduct is help up for the emulation of the officers in this Department
and will be duly brought to the notice and consideration of the Government.
WASHINGTON, February 20, 1908 – Brigadier General Francis S. Dodge, USA, retired, who was awarded a Medal of Honor by Congress for distinguished gallantry at the battle of White River in Colorado, in the Indian campaign in the sixties, died at his residence here yesterday. General Dodge was born in Danvers, Massachusetts,
September 11, 1842. He joined the Twenty-Third Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry in the Civil War. Serving with that regiment for two years and
later was appointed a First Lieutenant in the Second United States Colored
Volunteer Cavalry. He was mustered out of service with the rank of
Captain. General Dodge was engaged in the operations of the Army
of the James, was in the action of Fair Oaks, the capture of Fort Fisher,
and the campaign of North Carolina. After being mustered out of volunteer
service he joined the regular army and received a commission as a First
Lieutenant of the Ninth Cavalry, a colored regiment. He was promoted
to Captain in 1867. While in commend of his company of forty men
and on scouting duty in Northwestern Colorado in 1879, General Dodge heard
of the attack of the White River Utes on the command of Major Thomas F.
Thornburg. He immediately marched his force to the relief of the
Major and fought off the Indians for three days until aid arrived.
For this action General Dodge received a Medal of Honor from Congress and
the rank of Major in 1890. He afterward was transferred to the Pay
Department and service in Havana during the yellow fever epidemic, which
disease he contracted. He was appointed Brigadier General in 1904,
and two years later was placed on the retired list.
Rank and organization: Captain, Troop D, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: Near White River Agency, Colorado, 29 September 1879. Entered service at: Danvers, Massachusetts. Born: 11 September 1842, Danvers, Massachusetts. Date of issue: 2 April 1898. Citation: With a force of 40 men rode all night to the
relief of a command that had been defeated and was besieged by an overwhelming
force of Indians, reached the field at daylight, joined in the action and
fought for 3 days.
![]()
![]() Photograph By M. R. Patterson, October 2002 Webmaster:
Michael Robert Patterson
Updated: 25 September 2000 Updated: 19 October 2001 Updated: 10 October 2002 Updated: 15 March 2003 Updated: 16 October 2007 Updated: 21 January 2008 |
![]() |