Colonel Joseph B. Dodge (USA)

Civil War Union Army Officer. Colonel, 30th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was the leading spirit in the recruiting of Company B and Company I, both for the 13th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was elected to the position of captain of Company B. Upon the occasion of the organization of the regiment he was surprised to receive a commission as lieutenant-colonel and on October 5, 1861, he left with his regiment for the front.

In April, 1862 he was promoted to the position of colonel of the regiment the former colonel having died of wounds received at the Battle of Shiloh on the 7th of that month. The ensuing fall he was placed in command of the Second Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps, which he retained until the consolidation of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps, after the Battle of Chickamauga.

In December, 1863, he was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., where he remained as president of the court-martial for the district of Tennessee until August, 1864. He then rejoined his old regiment in the Atlanta campaign, remaining with it until the organization was mustered out of service, September 20, 1864.

He was never severely wounded, although he had seven different horses shot from under him. He was captured once, during a severe night battle, but while being taken to the confederate lines he escaped by a ruse and his two captors were taken prisoners instead by the union forces.

He was quite prominent in political affairs in Kosciusko County and in the state. He filled many important county offices; that of County Treasurer about four years.

Rev. A. Laing, of Joliet, Illinois who was a member of the 30th Regiment says, "I do not hesitate to say of Col. Dodge that he was the coolest man under fire that I ever saw. His cheek did not flame with excitement nor blanch with fear in deadly conflict. His voice had the same calm tone, his step, the same measured tread, amid the iron hail and thunder of artillery as it had at the quiet drill in camp." Colonel Joseph B. Dodge died at his home.