Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-06

this afternoon.
Two notable services to his country
assure Major-Cenera; Grcnvilic Mellcn
Dodge place among the history makers
OF the Civil War and reconstruction
periods
As n soldier his valor is attested by tho
fact that four horses we're shot from
under him in the battle of Pea Ridge,
and that he himself received wounds In
several battles.
AS pioneer in western railroad build
Ing he has the Union Pacific railroad.
whose line he located and whose con-
structon no superntended. standing to-
day as monument to his memory.
Some sixty years ago. the then young
Dodge, who had moved from New Eng
land. where he had studied civil engineer
Ing. to Council Bluffs. In. entered the
employ of the Illinois Central railroad.
Abraham Lincoln, who had done legal
work for the same comSeny, mot tho
young Yankee They talked OF building
railroad over the Rocky Mountains and
beyond Tho world haG been laughing
at the project Lincoln End Dodge agreed
that II was feasible
The federal government shortly after
ward decided to begin surveying for the
proposed limo. Dodge jumped NJ the
chance of leading the party. Several trips
were made as far as the Rocky Noun
tains searching for the most feasible
route. the men under Dodge punging into
many wilderness to meet stubborn re-
sistance on the part Of the Indians.
In the midst of the undertaking the
civil War broke Dodge. born at Danvers
Mass. in 1881, was just 20 years old lie
had had some military training at Nor
wich University. in Vermont, and some
experience lighting Indians. Securing n
colonels commission from his old friend,
President Lincoln. he raised, drilled and
| equipped at his own expense the Fourt h
Iowa infantry regiment.
Within two weeks colonel Dodge was
leading his command against the rebels
| IN northern Missouri. His gallantrv soon
afterward at the battle Of Pea Ridge won
almost instant promotion to the rank Of
| hrigadiergeneral He lost one fourth Of
| his entire command hut he saved the day
for the federal army lie again dstin-
guished himself in the decisive battle Of
the Atlanta campaign, July % 1864. when
he defeated Gen. Hoods desperate move
ment to the rear Of the Army of the Ten
nessee.
! Later while standing in trench before
| Atlanta. General Dodge was shot and sa-
verely wounded in the head
After the fall of Nicksburg he received
appreciative recognition from General
Grant. being promoted to ma general
and given command of the eth army
corps.
| The hanging OF Sam Davis. a con fed
crate spy who was captured In Tennessee.
was one Of the incidents Of General
Dodcc's career. On Davis were found
complete plans Of tho Notifications AT
Nashville. which. evidently. he had re-
cevcd from some federal officer high II,
authority. General Dodge offered tho
young spy his freedom If he would reveal
the name of his informant. but the &C.
cused man refused. Half n dozen times I've
fore sending the man TO the Eallows, Cen
cral Dodge offered him immunity. The
spy went to his death with his lips closed
He was the bravest man that ever died. "
said General Dodge.
When General Dodge retired IN 1896, /!
was to get back to railroad building. Once
in the meantime. Lincoln had summoned
Dodge To Washington for n conference n,
the route Dodge suggested omaha as tho
eastern terminus of the railway and il
was AT his suggestion that this decision
was made, Work had progressed hu'
slowly. however, up To 1856, when Dodge
took charge again. Fly May 1861 he ha.
1000 men along the river Platte. and M
kept them steadily moving westward
Within three years the last spike Wa,
driven.
In addition to his military service an