The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-17

ley is a New England "boy." William W. Dud-
ley was born Aug. 27, 1912, at Weathersheld
Bow, In Vermont. bis FATHER was "A graduate OF
Yale and "a Congregational clergyman. Tie lat
ter never lived outside New England. Colonel
Dudley was educated at New Haven, Conn.
While he was being educated there his father
was engaged in preaching in the various towns
In his State. His father is still living, an old
man, not very vigorous. He was employed by
ence when he was United States Mar
shal. Colonel Dudley left Connecticut
after completing his education, in 1860,
and went to Richmond, Ind, and engaged
with his uncle in the milling business. He went
over the country and bought wheat and shipped
1t TO his uncle. who milled it. He was engaged
listed as "a private soldier July 5. 1851, in the
Nineteenth Indiana regiment, and was unani-
mously elected captain of Company B. 1t was
sent to the Army of the Potomac, and he was in
all the Potomac battles. skirmisees and engage
ments of all kinds, except the battle of Freder-
icksburg, down TO the battle or Gettysburg. He
was hit by the rebels at the first battle of Bull
Run and at Antietam. AT the latter battle his
clothes had seven bullet holes through them.
He was promoted major after the battle of
Gainesville, and Immediately after the battle of
Antletam he was promoted Northumberland.
BE was wounded at Gettysburg the first day of
the fight. He was stationed, with his regiment,
on the extreme left. The order was TO refuse
his flank TO the enemy. While there was q rebel
brigade sweeping down on them, and
everything was dense with smoke, ne
ordered the cOlors TO be carried back. There
were attempts to carry the eolors back, but the
men were shot down IN their tracks. ColOnel
Dudley, anxious to get his regiment back in line,
seized the colOrs and held them high above his
head. He fell with a bullet through his leg, but
he oluDg to the flag, while three men carried him
back, and he succeeded in getting his regiment
in line. He was promoted brevet brigadier-gen-
eral, over his colonel, for gallantry. He laid at
Littletown, near Gettysburg. for hfty-three days
after he was wounded, and was then taken TO
the general hospital at New Haven, Conn,
where he remained until he went into the re-
cruiting service. He went home and recruited
up his regiment, hoping that he could return
with them. He had a saddle made 80 that he
could be tied to it when he rode, but his leg
broke ont afresh, and he had to abandon the
army. He resigned in June, 1864. He then
came to Washington and settled his ordnance
accounts.
In the meantime he took an appointmeneiu the
Pension Office and remained there until
February, 1865. At that time he organ
lied the clerks into a battalion and drilled
them for home defense. 9 There are
clerks now here IN the Pension Office
who were there then and drilled under him He
married while in the pension office, and i'll about
three weeks after was taken down with small
pox. During his illness his wife was assisted in
her care of Dudley by q clerk in the pension
office named William Ford. When Dudley came
back as Commissioner, one of the first men 10
greet him was Ford. Mr.. Ford, a competent
clerk, has been promoted. Colonel Dudley re-
NAMED in the pension office until 1865, when
he W as appointed a captain In the regular army,
with brevet rank OF colonel, and detailed on duty
inspecting provost-marsbai offices. Subsequently
he was made Judge-advOcate ard Inspector Of
the District of Indiana. He received this posi-
ton in March, 1866. and soon afterWard was
nominated for clerk of Wayne county, Indiana,
and held that office for eight years-twO terms.
In the fall of 1874 he began the practice of law.
In 1878 he was appointed United States Mar
shall, which position he held when appointed
Commissioner of Pensions. Mr.. Dudley is now
about forty years old. He is u man OF much
executive ability.