Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Grenville Mellon DODGE
Grenville M. Dodge, has distinguished himself as a civil engineer, and as an officer in the war of the Rebellion. He entered the Military University at Norwich, Vt., in 1847, and completed his course of education under Capt. Partridge. In 1851 he removed to Illinois and participated in the construction of the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. In 1853 he was appointed assistant engineer of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad in Iowa, now called Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. In 1855, he was engaged in opening a farm with his father and brother in Nebraska. Driven from that by the Indians he settled in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and for several years engaged in engineering, banking and real estate business. He was active and influential in advancing the interests of that city.
At the breaking out of the Rebellion he was sent by the Governor of Iowa to Washington to arrange for the arming and equipment of the Iowa troops. He returned and raised the fourth Iowa Infantry Regiment, of which he was commissioned as Colonel, and also raised the second Iowa Battery,reporting with both to Gen. Fremont at St. Louis, and joined the army of the Southwest. He bore a prominent part in the famous battle of Pea Ridge, where the rebel power was broken in Missouri and North Arkansas. He had three horses shot under him and was severely wounded, and for his gallantry was made Brigadier General at the request of Major General Halleck.
After recovering from his wounds he was assigned to the command of the district of Columbus, Kentucky.
In 1862, immediately after the battle of Corinth, he was appointed to command the second division of the army of the Tennessee in the district organized and commanded by Gen. Grant.
Gen. Dodge was soon afterwards assigned to the command of the district of Corinth. In the spring of 1863 his men were occupied in driving back the forces of Gens. Forrest and Roddy and other rebels, and harassing the rear of Gen. Bragg's army. He also organized and equipped large numbers of loyal white Alabamians and colored troops.--On July 5, 1863, he was appointed to command the left wing of the 16th Army Corps, and joined Gen. Sherman in his march to Chattanooga, and wintered with his men on the line of the Nashville & Decatur railroad. In the spring of 1864 he was entrusted with the advance of the Army of the Tennesee in the Atlanta campaign. For his brave and faithful services in this campaign he was made Major General by the government at Washington. When the confederates under Gen. Hood made the fierce attack under which Gen. McPherson fell mortally wounded, Gen. Dodge's corps bore the brunt of the encounter, and through his skill and intrepidity, rescued the army of the Tennesee, and turned the tide of battle, capturing 8 flags and a very large number of prisoners. The corps was in all the battles in the march to Atlanta and lost more in proportion to its size in killed and wounded than any one of that army.
During the siege of Atlanta Gen. Dodge was again wounded, receiving a gun shot in the forehead while he was in a rifle pit on the skirmish line superintending an advance; this was on the 19th of Aug. 1864. As soon as he was again fit for duty, he reported and was assigned by President Lincoln to the Department of Missouri, where he relieved Gen. Rosecranz. The National troops in Missouri had become quite demoralized, and the State overrun by guerillas. Gen. Dodge brought order out of anarchy. At the same time Kansas and Utah were merged into his command, adding greatly to his cares and responsibilities. He received the surrender of 4000 of Gen. Kirby Smith's army in Arkansas and of Jeff Thompson with 8000 in Missouri.
The war being closed, Gen. Dodge's command was changed to include the Indian Country, embracing Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Western Dakotah, Montana and Utah.
In June 1866 he was at his own request relieved from further military duty. His resignation having been accepted, he was appointed chief engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad.
For a long time he had given much attention to the contemplated enterprise, making important surveys and taking counsel of President Lincoln and other leading men of the nation. He was very active and influential in laying out the route and forwarding the work. While away from home in July, 1866, he was nominated for Congress by the Republicans of Western Iowa and elected over a popular competitor by 5000 majority. In the House of Representatives on the Committee on Military Affairs he gave special attention to the re-organization of the army and defence of the border against Indians. He declined a renomination, and returned to the plains and mountains to push on the Pacific Railroad, supervising its relations with the government, seeing the law was strictly adhered to, and that the work was well done. After the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1868, he became chief engineer of the Southern Pacific, now Texas & Pacific Railroad, having charge of the survey and construction. Since then he has been engaged in the management of the Union Pacific and other Western Railroads, with his home in Council Bluffs, but spending most of his time in New York.
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