The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-26
GEN. DICKINSON
DIES OF OLD AGE
Last Adjutant General of
Civil War.
PROMOTED FROM THE RANKS
One Of First to Respond to Call to
Arms-Rose to Command Army
of Potomac.

Gen. Joseph Dickinson. the last adiu-
tant general who held the rank during
the civil war died this morning at his
residence, $50 Tennessee Avenue north
east
His death was due to a complication
of diseases incident TO old age.
General Dickinson was stricken i'll
about five months ago. His condition
became so serious that he was forced
to give up his work in the Pension
Office. where ne was employed as an
examiner. For the past five months he
had been confined 10 his bed.
Ali through his delirium General Dick
inson rehearsed the scenes of war In
which he had taken part. He believed
himself to be on the field of battle, and
gave orders TO his men as he did dur
ing the war.
General Dickinson is survived by a
widow.
Career of General Dickinson.
General dickinson was born in Phila-
delphia December %, $780, and was
descended from Pennsylvania family
distinguished for heroic patriotism in
the Colonial days. His maternal grand
father and four granduncles fought in
the Revolutionary war under Washing
ton. His father was a survivor Of the
war of 1a2, and with nine other mem
bers of he family served also in the
Union army during the rebellion
Early in 1861 General Dickinson blew
the buge notes assembling the Twenty
sixth Pennsylvania Infantry which
started for Washington wholly unequip
ped and unarmed. The regiment later
accompanied the Sixth Massachusetts,
on its memorable passage through Bal
timore. and was afterwa5d recognized
as one of the first Of the three years
volunteers.
Rapid Promotion.
General Dickinson became a member
of the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania May
s. 1861, as a first lieutenant and adju-
tant. He was commissioned captain and
assistant adjutant general. United
States Volunteers, August %, 1861, and
exactly one year later was appointed
major and assistant adjutant general.
November 10. 1862. he was promoted to
the rank OF lieutenant colonel, and was
subsequently brevetted colonel and
brigadier general for. gallantry in action.
AT the battle of Williamsburg he was
wounded, but his injuries did not in
capacitate him from work, and he con-
tinued to serve with his regiment He
was severely WOUNDED at Far OAKS.
Va. in 1862. and was again severely
wounded at the battle Of Gettysburg.
An Unparalleled Record.
His record in the Adjutant Generals
Department. in the field. is without
parallel. Having originally entered the
service as an adjutant of his regiment,
he successfully became adjutant gener-
al of brigade. division, corps. grand
division. and of the Army Of the Poto-
mac. having been appointed to the lat
ter position when General Hooker took
command of the department.
General Dickinson took part in all the
great battles and skirmishes of the
Army of the Potomac. Upon the re-
tirement of General Hooker as head of
the department. and the assumption of
the command by Mai. Gen. George G..
Meade. he remained on duty on the
staff.
Chosen for Important Conference.
While at Taneytown. Nd, General
Meade showed his great confidence
and appreciation Of General Dickinson
military skill by selecting him for the
important duty of proceeding to Gettys-
burg on the evel of June 80. for a con-
sultation with Gen. John Buford then
holding the town with mis- cavalry. 1t
was upon the conclusions and judgment
OF Generals Buford and Dickinson, with
the enemy's forces rapidly concentrate
ing about the outskirts of the town,
that a stan officer was dispatched with
orders to General Reynolds to move his
command to Gettysburg.
General Dickinson was mustered out
of the service January "a. 1864, and since
then had resided in Washington. For
a number OF years he was employed
as an examiner In the Pension Office.