Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-09-15
Col. Augustus W. Dorsey.
Pikesville. Md, Sept, 9th, 1911.

Mr.. Editor :AWill you kindly indulge me
and give space in your valued paper for
a few imperfect lines on the death of one of
Maryland's most distinguished ex-Confed-
crate officers and citizens, Lieut.. Colonel
A. W, Dorsey of Brookeville. Md.
know that my effort to write tribute
to the memory Of the gallant officer will be
a very imperfect one, as no one, care not
how gifted he may be, can in a single
newspaper article outline the magnificent
personality of Col. Dorsey as soldier-a
follower of the starry Cross" that he loved
so well and to which he devoted the best
part of his young manhood.
Col A. W. Dorsey was more universally
known than any officer of his rank in that
grand aggregation of bold riders. the cavalry
corps of the Army of Northern Virginia.
led by that immortal spirit. Major General
j. f. B. Stuart. The name of the Colonel
was household word in that branch of
the service, not only with the cavalry but
through the entire Army of Northern Vir-
GINA. His deeds of valor and his skillful
handling of his men have often brought
from the lips of his commanding officer
General Stuart. words of the highest COM
mendation. He was brave soldier, aud
the battle cry was to him as sweet music.
He was always in the front of his command.
a leader that no man hesitated to follow
There is not battle field on which the
Army of Northern Virginia was not an
actor--on which Colonel Dorsey was not
a most important factor. From First Ma
nassas to Appomattox his magnificent per-
sonality was in evidence. keeping in mind
the words of the Spartan mother to her
warrior son. Bring home your shield, or
be brought home on it," Colonel Dorsey
won his spurs as member of and later
on as the Captain of Company X. First
Virginia Cavalry. all of which were Mary
landers.
Colonel Dorsey was the son of Samuel
Owings Dorsey and Mary A. Griffith. Of
Anne Arundel county. Md. His ancestors
came to Maryland at a very early date,
and were distinguished in the history of
the State. He was born April goth. 1899.
At the commencement of the struggle
between the States he enlisted in the
Howard Dragons. June LIST. 1861. at Lees
burg. Va, commanded by the late Capt.
George X. Gather. 1t was not many months
before he was noted as one Of the most
gallant and intrepid soldiers in that mag
nificent troop. and promotion followed
rapidly until. in the fall of 1888, he became
its Captain. Captain Gather having re-
signed and gone to Europe After the
death of Lieut. Colonel Riogely Brown,
commanding the First Maryland Cavalry.
the authorities at Richmond. va. began to
look for successor to the gallant officer.
The fame of Col. A. W. Dorse, had reached
the War Department at Richmond. not
only from the complimentary illusions to
him in the reports of General Stuart and
others, but the Richmond press had teemed
with instances of his courage and leader
ship, So their eyes naturally turned in the
direction of that modest, unassumIng Cap
tain Of CompanyK. First Virginia Cavalry.
Capt. A.W. Dorsey. At first he declined the
promotion as Lieut. Colonel. commanding
Firet Maryland Cavalry. for fear that he
would be separated from his old troop that
bad been so dear to him in the preceding
years. After receiving assurances from
the department at Richmond that his COM
pany would be transferred with him and
retain their old letter X, he at last con-
scented, and on the 9th of August, 1854.
he received his commission as Lieut.. Colo
mel. commanding First Maryland Cavalry
per special orders. 1876. Adjutant Generals
Office. Richmond, Va.
Time would fail me and would weary
you and the reader if would pen only one
half of the many instances in which Col.
Dorsey distinguished himself while their
commander. Ii was his regiment. under
his command. that struck the very last
blow at Appomattox. and was one of the
very last commands to disband after the
surrender of Gen. X. f. Lee. April 9th,
1865. at Cloverdale, Va Col Dorsey had
the distinguished honor of assisting his
commander from the field at Yellow Tav-
ern. Va, May 18th. 1854, when he was
MORALLY wounded When Col Dorsey went
to the assistance of Gen. Stuart and placed
him against tree until a gentle horse
could be found to take him from the field.
Gen. Stuart said to him:
Capt Dorsey. return TO your command
and drive the enemy back, that he feared
he was mOrtally wounded and would be
Of no more service"
Col. Dorsey said to him
General. will not leave you until you
are in place Of safety
Gen. Stuart then said:
Take the papers from my inside pocket
and keep them out of the enemy's hands
at all hazards.
Capt. Dorsey did so. turning the papers
over to Major General Fitz Lee.
Col. Dorsey was wounded in the side by
a pistol ball at Catlet Station, Va. August
22nd. 1862 Arm broken at Fredericks-
burg. Va. November 9Th. 1852. Severely
wounded in the hip at husband October
18th. 1868 Saber cut over the head at
Raccoon Ford November 9th, 1868 Badly
shot in the neck at Fishers Hill. Va. Sep
tember 22nd, 1864.
From Manassas to Appomattox. what
glorious record Should not the grand old