History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 157

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 157

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

559

DANVERS.

portant campaign up the Tennessee Valley to the neighborhood of Decatur, in the rear of Bragg's army, breaking up its connections and cutting off and wast- ing its supplies, and aiding in the rout and destruc- tion of that general's forces. The Confederate gov- ernment estimated the stores and property of various kinds which he thus destroyed at many millions of dollars. On July 5, 1863, he was appointed to com- mand the left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps, with headquarters at Corinth, Miss. In connection with a movement from Vicksburg, he made a raid on Grenada, of that State, which drove the enemy south of the place, and resulted in the capture of an immense number of cars and locomotives. While at the head of the Sixteenth Army Corps he joined General Sher- man in his march to Chattanooga, and wintered with his men on the line of the Nashville and Decatur Railroad. "He is an able officer," wrote Grant to Sherman, "one whom you can rely upon in an emer- gency." And the reliance was to be on his skill and energy as an engineer, as well as on his sagacity and prowess as a warrior. Grant could not subsist his forces at Chattanooga except as the Nashville and Decatur Railroad should be rebuilt ; and this hercu- Jean task was fulfilled by General Dodge with amazing despatch and efficiency. Within about forty days he reconstructed and completed the whole line, including one hundred and eighty-three bridges, trestles and other structures, while in the same period he captured Decatur, Ala., with all its garrison, in a well-planned night attack. In the spring of 1864 he was entrusted with the advance of the Army of the Tennessee, one of the three armies consolidated for the Atlanta cam- paign. As the mighty host moved forward, Dodge drove back the enemy on their railway at Resaca, and participated in the battle at that place a few days later. He repulsed a dangerous night attack of the foe at Nickajack Creek, Dallas, and it was his men who reached nearest the rebel lines on the crest of Kene- saw Mountain. At Ruff's Mills he defeated a strong force from General Hood's Corps, and shortly after- ward constructed, with his usnal lightning speed and wonderful skill, a substantial double-track bridge across the Chattahoochee, seventeen hundred feet long and twelve feet high, over which the entire Army of the Tennessee, with all its trains and artil- lery, marched with safety. For his brave and faithful and effective services in this campaign he was made major-general by the government at Washington. When the Confederates under General Hood made the fierce attack under which McPherson fell mortally wounded, Dodge's corps bore the brunt of the encoun- ter, and through his skill and intrepidity, rescued the Army of the Tennessee and turned the tide of battle, capturing eight flags and a very large number of prisoners. Says a competent authority : "It was one of the fiercest-fought contests of the whole war. It is not too much to say that here, as at Pea Ridge, Gen- eral Dodge saved the Union army from terrible disas-

ter. Riding rapidly up and down his lines, he encour- aged his men to hold their ground or die in the attempt. This corps was in all the battles in the march to Atlanta, and no one, in proportion to its size, in the whole consolidated army, lost so many killed and wounded."

During the siege of Atlanta General Dodge was himself again wounded, receiving a gun-shot in the forehead while he was standing in the rifle-pit on the skirmish line, superintending an advance. This was on the 19th of August, 1864. The writer of this sketch contributed some account of the hero and this peril to his life, together with a narrative of occur- rences that took place immediately afterward, to the Danvers Mirror, in 1877; and the following extract from his communication may not be amiss here :

" The papers, I remember, reported him killed, and some of them gave obituary notices of him, which the general must have read some time afterward with a lively interest. Our sorrow was, however, soon turned to joy, for it was soon announced that he was not dead, but was still living and would doubtless recover. In his weakened condition he was granted a furlough, and took the opportunity to visit his friends at the East and there recruit his strength. I met him on his way to Boston, on board one of the Sound steamers. It had been many years since I had seen him, but I readily recognized him among the passengers who swarmed the deck, and we had a long chat about the recent occurrences, and the great events of the war, and about old personal friends and associations. I told him that Edward Everett was to speak on the afternoon of the next day at Faneuil Hall, in advo- cacy of the re-election of Abraham Lincoln, and that he ought certainly to be present. He said he had never heard Mr. Everett, and expressed a desire and purpose to be there. On our arrival at the Parker House early the next morning, I looked into the first- issned papers and ascertained who were the commit- tee of arrangements for the meeting. The notices made mention of various distinguished men who were expected to grace the occasion, but the name of Gen- eral Dodge was not in the list, for none knew of his coming. I immediately despatched a messenger to one of the committee, and informed him that General Dodge had just arrived in town. The general was speedily waited upon and invited to a place on the platform, with other eminent men, at the approaching meeting. The hour of assembling came at length, and I was with the crowd on the floor. By and by the long line of State and city officials, and of the gifted sons of Massachusetts who usually surrounded the matchless orator whenever he spoke in public there in Boston, began to file up from below and to appear upon the stage, where they seated themselves as best they could. The general was there, occupying a place at the left of the speaker and near the front of the platform, and arrayed, like certain other army officers who were with him, in his military costume.

560

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Charles G. Loring presided, and in his opening and well-prepared address, referred to some of the renowned heroes of the war and friends of the country. I doubt whether he knew that General Dodge was close at hand. Certainly the thousands before him did not. But Mr. Everett did, and I shall never forget the thrilling effect which his words and action produced, when, on being presented to the vast multitude, he came forward in his most spirited, yet ever graceful manner, and said, with eloquent voice, that the chair- man had given us the names of not a few who had deserved well of the nation, and whom they all delighted to honor, but he had forgotten to mention one who was present with them, who was fresh from the battle-fields, and who could tell us that all was well at the seat of war-Major-General Dodge, of the Army of the West. The enthusiasm was very great, and cries immediately came from all parts of the hall -" Dodge!" "Dodge!" "Dodge!" until the modest soldier was obliged to rise and allow himself to be seen of the assembled thousands. The applause that greeted him was simply tremendous, and the scene which was there witnessed, as the Western warrior with his ghastly wound, and the polished and silver- tongued orator of the East, stood side by side hefore the excited multitude, only lacked one thing to make it beggar all description. A master of the art like Mr. Everett could not fail at such a moment. "Yes! fellow-citizens," he exclaimed, with deepening emo- tion and ringing tones, as he pointed his quivering finger at the brow of the hero-" Yes, fellow-citizens, and wearing upon his forehead honorable scars, which he gained while imperiling his life in the defence of the Union !" This was the needed climax, and it was perfect. I think I do not say too much when I add that what I have here described was the most interest- ing and inspiring incident of the occasion, and I felt quite satisfied with the success of my little plan, and the reception which was extended to the Danvers sol- dier hoy. The honors which were showered upon him a few days later, in his native town and its vicin- ity, your readers all remember."

Concerning the terrible wound which the general had received, a writer said: "The ball struck the forehead at the upper edge over the left eye, tore off a portion of the scalp, and then, passing backwards, tore a gutter two or three inches in length through the scalp, The skull is not fractured, though it re- ceived a severe stroke. He was immediately conveyed to his quarters, where he now lies. He will be sent North as soon as practicable."

As soon as he was again fit for duty, General Dodge once more reported to General Sherman, who thought he was still too weak to continue the great march to the sea, aud President Lincoln, at the instance of General Grant, assigned him to the Department of the Missouri, where he relieved General Rosecranz. The national troops in Missouri had become quite demoralized, and the State was run over by guerillas

and marauders. General Dodge brought order ont of anarchy, notwithstanding he had been called upon to send the great body of his organized troops to Gen- eral Thomas at Nashville, who, by this timely aid, was all the more enabled to win the glorious victory he gained immediately afterwards. At the same time, Kansas and Utah were merged into his com- mand, adding greatly to his cares and responsibil- ties. Winter had come, and the States and Territo- ries which were entrusted to him were vast in extent ; yet he set in motion the fresh forces he had raised from the loyal men iu each county, broke up the bands of guerillas and marauders, and compelled the Indians, who were warring on the settlements from the Red River of the North to the Red River of Texas, to sue for peace. He received the surrender of four thousand of Kirby Smith's army in Missouri and of the Confederate General Jefferson Thompson, with eight thousand officers and men in Arkansas. His experience and observations in these parts of the country led him to advocate the handing over of the Indian tribes to the War Department, to be treated as wards of the nation and as no longer inde- pendent and treaty-making powers.

Of the military merit and the patriotic services of this gallant and battle-scarred soldier of the Union, it is meet that we should here let those testify who have been most competent to judge and from whose words there is no appeal. Among them are the greatest of the generals and not a few of the war Governors and other illustrious leaders of the na- tion's cause, to say nothing of the concurrent and unanimous voice of subordinate officers aud privates in the armies which he commanded. He continu- ously and abundantly shared the trust and admira- tion of General Grant, through whose influence or direct appointments he was repeatedly promoted to higher positions and honors, as has already been suf- ficiently indicated. Their strong friendship for each other remained unbroken, and is a matter of history. Ex-Governor Noyes, of Ohio, himself a maimed and noble veteran of the war, says: "We all regarded General Dodge as one of the best officers of the army, -a man of great practical, common sense, of distin- guished gallantry, of a patriotic spirit and of mili- tary genius." General Sherman writes: "General Dodge is one of the generals who actually fought throughout the Civil War with great honor and great skill, commanding a regiment, brigade, division, and finally a corps d'armée, the highest rank command to which any officer can attain." General Sheridan acknowledges the timely and effective aid he received from him while he himself was chief quartermaster and chief commissary, and says that he "did splen- didly " at Pea Ridge, and was "spoken of by officers and men of the army in the very highest terms." Governor Kirkwood, of Iowa, writes: "General Dodge is one of the very best military men from this State. He is emphatically a fighting man. There is not a

561

DANVERS.

more gallant soldier in the army, nor one more worthy or capable." Said the excellent Senator Grimes : "There are very few officers the eqnal, and none the superior, of General G. M. Dodge, of this State, now and for a long time in command at Cor- inth, Miss. He has always been selected for the most responsible posts, and has always filled the highest expectations formed of him." Judge Dillon, the eminent jurist, testifies : "No officer in the ser- vice from Iowa has acquired more just and deserved distinction ; no one has been more faithful, and I may and should add, more useful and efficient;" and in the same connection he speaks of "his great expe- rience, his sleepless vigilance, his nnconquerable en- ergy, and, above all, his solid judgment and great practical talents." Major General Oglesby, anxious to serve the country's best interests, urged on Pres- ident Lincoln his uomination as major general, say- ing : " I know of no officer at this time more deserving, nor of any who seeks the honor less. I am willing to be held reponsible for his official acts." But it is not necessary to proceed further with such tributes, which might easily be multiplied to whatever extent.

Another momentous service was entered upon by General Dodge after the war was ended. Soon after he first went to the West, and while yet a youth, he wrote to his father a prophetic letter, which was pub- lished in the local paper in his native town, and in which he indicated a plan or route for a transconti- nental railway. It was a cherished dream which one day he was to see realized, and that, too, very largely through his own instrumentality. To this end, ex- tensive surveys and reconnoissances were made by him as early as between the years 1853 and 1858. The Union Pacific Railroad was chartered by the United States Government, July 1, 1862, and the next year the first regular organization was effected, General John A. Dix being elected President. Other surveyors were in the field, and the work was in process of construction during the war. When the bloody conflict was well over, General Dodge was unanimously chosen by the directory as the chief engineer of the line. This was on the 1st of May, 1866. The service was most congenial to him, and he readily accepted it, General Sherman, who was in command of the vast department beyond the Missis- sippi, yielding his consent as General Dodge resigned for the purpose his commission in the army. The latter entered upon his new undertaking with all his accustomed courage and zeal, and "organized a sys- tematic exploration of the country from the Arkansas River on the South to the Sweet Water on the North, and developed the country with preliminary lines from the mouth of the Lodge Pole through to the California State line." His judgment, long years be- fore, as to the best practicable route for the road, was confirmed by these fresh and extensive surveys, and the Union Pacific of to-day follows very nearly the line which he himself was the first to mark out.

Scarcely had he begun thus to superintend this colossal enterprise, when his grateful and admiring fellow-citizens in Iowa, while he was absent from home, nominated him, in July, 1866, as representa- tive to Congress. Although he had been and still was an ardent Republican, aud had been a warm friend and supporter of President Lincoln and other great men of the party, it would have been strange if his name should have failed to win the sympathy and favor of men of other political associations. Consenting to be a candidate, he was triumphantly elected by about five thousand majority over a very popular competitor; but after serving for a single terin at Washington, he declined to allow his name to be used agaiu in this connection, choosing rather to return to a more uninterrupted, personal supervis- ion of his responsible and gigantic interests and cares in the West. As a member of the National House of Representatives, he served on the Committee on Mil- itary Affairs, secured the reimbursement of Iowa for her expenses during the war, gave special attention to the re-organization of the army and to the defence of the horder against the Indians, and advocated the claims of the Union Pacific Road upon the country's favor and support. He was not a frequent speaker on the floor; but whenever he felt called upon to address the house, his words were pertinent and weighty, and were listened to with marked attention. Yet his influence was more particularly exercised in a practical direction, and his exceptionally large and intimate acquaintance with military matters and with the immense Territories of the West, with all their native tribes and boundless resources and capabil- ities, enabled him to be a most valuable counsellor and helper in many important questions of legislative or governmental action.

From May, 1866, until May, 1869, the corps of engineers under the direction of General Dodge had ron uot less than fifteen thousand miles of instru- mental lines and made as many as twenty-five thou- sand miles of reconnoissances, so as thoroughly to develop the country and determine the location of the road. Impressive or astonishing as may seem the bare statement, it yet fails to give any adequate idea of the toil and the hardships that were endured, and the difficulties and perils that were overcome, in this three years' service. The engineers were fre- quently exposed, not only to severe inclemencies of the weather and to much scarcity of food and water, but also and especially to the hostility of the Indians, whose roving bands or more formidable organized forces beset them and threatened them from begin- ning to end. Nothing could be done without the protection of troops; but even with this safeguard, members of the corps were often killed, and their parties dispersed. Again and again General Dodge and his men were obliged to give battle to these wily and savage foes, and rout them, and pursue them to a distance, so that the work could go on. It was not

562

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

alone that his explorers and surveyors had to find their hazardous way across streams, and through for- ests, and along deep valleys, and over high moun- tains, and amidst heavy falls of rain or snow ; but at every point the location of the line had to be deter- mined, with the utmost scientific skill, with reference to the extraordinary natural features of the territory, its climatic influences and the grade and protection necessary to guard the road against the effects of storms and . floods. Not only was the general the chief engineer of the road, but he was also the agent and trustee of the company, to secure its right of way, to receive and dispose of the lands granted to it by the United States government and to lay out and locate the towns and town sites along the route. If he was brave to fight and strong to scatter the Indian bands that molested him, he knew well how to treat with them, dealing with them equitably and never betraying their confidence. So far as his engineering achievement was concerned, the chief difficulty was to be met in carrying the road over the Rocky Moun- tain range. But this Titanic work was accomplished at length. The tracks of the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific finally met on Promontory, and as the lightning flashed the intelligence to the nations, "swiftly the telegrams of congratulation began to pour in upon the then most conspicuous engineer in the world." General Sherman sent word to him: "All honor to you, to Durant, to Jack and Dan Casement, to Reed and the thousands of brave fel- lows who have wrought out this glorious problem spite of changes, storms, and even the doubts of the incredulous, and all the obstacles you have now hap- pily surmounted." General Dodge was immediately charged with the delicate task of adjusting the rela- tions between the two roads, and this, too, after much negotiation, was successfully done. And so another great victory was won in the brilliant and eventful career of this gifted and enterprising son of old Essex. In the prosecution of the undertaking, other difficulties than those which have been particularly referred to had to be met. There were unfriendly criticisms, and unfounded accusations, and nameless hindrances on the part of politicians and newspapers. But the general knew what he was about. The gov- ernment saw, as well as himself, the unspeakable importance of this transcontinental railway to the nation then and in all the future. While he was in Congress and while he was out of it, he commanded the entire confidence of Lincoln and Johnson, Grant and Sherman, and all the leading men at Washing- ton, as well as the officers of the company whose sal- aried servant or agent he was. Such was his influ- ence with them that, in connection with others whose names will ever be honorably associated with the work, he was instrumental in securing the constantly favorable action of Congress, and so making sure the end in view. More and more, as the years go on, the vastness and beneficence of this service will be appa-

rent, and the approving words of the several sneces- sive committees appointed by Congress to examine, investigate and report in relation to it will find a still ampler justification.

While General Dodge still held the position as chief engineer, the famous Chinese embassy, with Anson Burlingame at its head, visited America, passed over the Union Pacific Road, and made known their desire to secure the services of some one who should take charge of like public works in their own vast empire. President Grant at once rec- ommended to them General Dodge, who signified his readiness to accept the position, willing to serve for a limited time and desiring to see the country; but Burlingame died shortly after, and the plan was abandoned.

In 1868 General Dodge was elected a director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, and has since remained in that relationship. The same year he was delegate-at-large from Iowa, and the chairman of the Iowa delegation to the National Republican Con- vention at Chicago, and was very influential in deter- mining the results of the proceedings of that occasion. When, in 1870, the Iowa Legislature passed a law for the erection of a new State-house, he was made a member of the Board of Capitol Commissioners, and was charged with the duty of supervising the work. It was in 1870, also, that he tendered his resignation as the chief engineer of the Union Pacific, and received the "very hearty thanks" of the company for his "eminent services," Oakes Ames, the presi- dent, writing to him a letter in which he said, "When we consider the great difficulties and dangers that beset you on all sides while locating the road through an uninhabited country, and the rapidity with which the work was accomplished, we are gratified and sur- prised that you should have finished this work in so per- fect and acceptable a manner." Early in April, 1872, he became the chief engineer of the company which had contracted to build the Texas and Pacific Railway, and has continued for ten years to develop the wild regions, and bring to light the hidden resources of the territory south of the Red River, as before he had rendered a like, yet larger, service north of it. A portion of the latter line was built by the Pacific Railway Improvement Company, a corporation which he organized, and of which he became the president. Of other such companies he has also been president : the American Railway Improvement Company. the International Railway Improvement Company, the Texas and Colorado Railway Improvement Company and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Com- pany, and he is, at present, the president of the Pan Handle Construction Company and the Colorado and Texas Railway Construction Company. These lines have been projected with the view of connecting together the most important and widely-separated points in the West and Southwest, and of opening the vast interiors to the tide of immigration and

Eng ª ny AH Ritchie

PHAWentworth

563

DANVERS.

travel, and to the commerce of river, gult and ocean. One has but to study a little the advancing railway system that is spreading over all those immense tracts of territory, to see what an inestimable service General Dodge is still rendering to his country and to the future.

Of all his pioneer life, and his explorations iuto every part of this mighty domain; his personal ven- tures, perils and escapes ; his extensive banking and stock operations and connections ; his active partici- pation in political conventions and campaigns, and in reunions of military organizations ; his repeated visits abroad and tours in other lands ; his business interests at Council Bluffs and vicinity, and his domestic rela- tions, there is not space here for us to write as we gladly would. In character he is modest, earnest, faithful and true. He is quiet, but forcible in con- versation, using no superfluous words, but expressing his thought in language that is simple and direct. Possessed of a friendly spirit toward all, and most affectionate in his relations to family and kindred, he is an object of great regard and pride at home, and amongst all who know him. In person he is of medium height, of spare build and agile frame, with strongly marked features, indicative, in every line, of the patience and perseverance, the intelligence, courage and energy, that have crowned his career with such success.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 157

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538