Brig. General Charles Cleveland Dodge (USA)

Brigadier General Charles Cleveland Dodge

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Cleveland_Dodge
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4827/charles-cleveland-dodge

Charles Cleveland Dodge was a Brigadier General in the Union Army during American Civil War and one of the youngest in history, receiving his commission at the age of twenty-one. He was the son of Congressman William Earl Dodge.

American Civil War Service

Dodge was commissioned as a captain in the 1st Battalion, New York Mounted Rifles of the 7th New York Volunteer Cavalry in December 1861, and was soon promoted to Major. He commanded this cavalry detachment during Major General John E. Wool's Norfolk expedition, Prior to this Major Dodge and the Mounted Rifles participated in the clash of iron clads, firing from shore at the CSS Virginia during said Naval engagement.

After the successful seizure, of Norfolk & Gosport Naval Yard, Major Dodge was dispatched to Suffolk on May 12, 1862. This move was to choke off Rebel port and secure roads around the Dismal Swamp. This cut off supplies coming up from Carolina Sounds. Suffolk had been abandoned by rebel forces who withdrew to the Blackwater River. Major Dodge held Suffolk until General Peck was placed in charge and turned Suffolk into a fortress city with 15 miles of defensive works.

Dodge was promoted to the rank of Colonel then General in November 1862. He commanded successful engagements during the Suffolk Campaign and at Hertford, North Carolina. The mounted Rifles under Dodge served as the eyes and ears for General Peck in numerous sorties. Cavalry men under Dodge were the first to detect the movement of Longstreet that led to the siege of Suffolk by Rebel Forces.

He had performed commendably, but his superior Major General John J. Peck, and his Corps commander Maj. Gen. John A. Dix, expressed preference for an older officer to lead the cavalry division. There were no other cavalry officers available with an earlier date of rank, and Dodge refused to be subordinated to someone who was likely to be twice his age, and junior to him in seniority. He resigned in June 1863 in protest, and briefly returned to service with the militia to suppress the New York City draft riots.

Postbellum Service

He then went into business, and was a partner in Phelps Dodge Company., and President of the New York and Boston Cape Cod Canal Company, which was eventually purchased and completed by the U.S. Federal Government in 1914.

He died in New York City, New York in 1910 of pneumonia and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York. His grave can be found in section 33, Ravine Plot, lots 2112 & 2323.
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Name Charles Cleveland Dodge
Enlistment Age 21
Birth Date 16 September 1841
Birth Place Plainfield, New Jersey
Enlistment Date 10 December 1861
Enlistment Place Fort Monroe, Virginia
Enlistment Rank Captain
Muster Date 10 December 1861
Muster Place New York
Muster Company B
Muster Regiment 1st Mounted Rifles
Muster Information Commission
Rank Change Date 30 December 1861
Rank Change Rank Major
Transfer date 3 January 1862
Transfer From Unit B
Transfer To Unit S
Muster Out Date 29 November 1862
Muster Out Information disch for Promo
Side of War Union
Survived War? Yes
Was Officer? Yes
Death Date 4 November 1910
Death Place New York City, New York
Additional Notes 2 Muster 2 Date: 29 November 1862; Muster 2 Unit: 3730; Muster 2 Regiment: U.S. Volunteers General Staff; Muster 2 Information: Commission; Rank Change 2 Date: 05 July 1862; Rank Change 2 Rank: Lieutenant Colonel; Rank Change 2 Information: Not Mustered; Rank Change 3 Date: 13 August 1862; Rank Change 3 Rank: Colonel; Rank Change 4 Date: 29 November 1862; Rank Change 4 Rank: Brigadier General; Muster Out 2 Date: 12 June 1863; Muster Out 2 Information: Resigned.
Title New York: Report of the Adjutant-General 1893-1906; Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders; Dyer: A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion; Heitman: Register of United States Army 1789-1903
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Charles Cleveland Dodge was born on September 16 1841, in Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey, to William Earl Dodge and Melissa Dodge (born Phelps).
Charles had 10 siblings: Norman White Dodge, Anson Greene Phelps Dodge, David Stuart Dodge, William Earl Dodge, Melissa Phelps Dodge, Arthur Murray Dodge, Sarah Olivia Dodge, George Eggleston Dodge, Unknown Dodge and Unknown Dodge.
Charles married Ms. Dodge (born Schieffelin).
They had 2 children: Charles Stuart Dodge and Mary Ethel Cleveland Sanger (born Dodge).
Charles lived at 45 W. 46 Street
He lived in 1855, at E.D. 3, Ward 21, New York City, New York, New York, United States.
Charles passed away on November 4 1910, at age 69 in New York City, New York, United States.
He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, Bronx County, New York, United States