Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Francis Safford Dodge received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1879 at White River Agency, Colorado during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Troop D, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Dodge was 36 years old.
8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 2, 1898, 18 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
Dodge was born on November 9, 1842 in Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts. Dodge died on February 19, 1908 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 65. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Dodge is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With a force of 40 men rode all night to the relief of a command that had been defeated and was besieged by an overwhelming force of Indians, reached the field at daylight, joined in the action, and fought for three days.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- November 9, 1842Born in Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts
- September 29, 1879Act of valor — White River Agency, ColoradoAge 36. Troop D, 9th U.S. Cavalry
- April 2, 1898Medal of Honor presented
- February 19, 1908Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 65.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Francis Safford Dodge (September 11, 1842 – February 19, 1908) was a US Army officer with the rank of Brigadier General, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Indian Wars. He also served as Paymaster General.
From the Wikipedia article “Francis S. Dodge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
