Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Daniel Allen Dorsey received the Medal of Honor for his actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 33d Ohio Infantry. Dorsey was about 24 years old.
The medal was presented on September 17, 1863. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Dorsey was born on December 31, 1838 in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. Dorsey died on May 10, 1918 in Leavenworth, Kansas, at the age of 79. He is buried at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Dorsey is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
One of 19 of 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanaooga and Atlanta.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Timeline
- December 31, 1838Born in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio
- April 1862Act of valor — GeorgiaAge about 24. Company H, 33d Ohio Infantry
- September 17, 1863Medal of Honor presented
- May 10, 1918Died in Leavenworth, KansasAge 79.
- Resting placeLeavenworth National CemeteryLeavenworth, Kansas
Biography
Daniel Allen Dorsey (December 31, 1838 – May 10, 1918) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Dorsey received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Great Locomotive Chase in Georgia in April 1862. He was honored with the award on 17 September 1863.
From the Wikipedia article “Daniel A. Dorsey”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Further reading
- The Great Locomotive Chase: The First Awarded Medals of Honorcmohs.org · 2022
