The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-01-05
GEN. lodge DEAD
Distinguished Graduate and Friend of
Norwich University.

| NORWICH university.
Council Bluffs, Ia, Jan. S.-Gen
Grenville NJ. Dodge, distinguished sol
der and railroad builder, died at his
home here this afternoon
Funeral services on Thursday will
be in charge OF the Iowa national
| guard i'll accordance with Gen.
Dodge's wishes expressed shortly be
fore his death. Two battalions OF
Iowa and Nebraska guardsmen will
act as escort. Gen. Dodges three
daughters will attend the funeral but
his widow who Is III New York, has
announced that she is too i'll to make
the trip.
| Two notable services to his country
assure Major General Grenville Mel
len Dodge a place among the history
makers of the Civil war and recon-
struction periods.
AS "A soldier his yalor is attested by
the fact that four horses were shot
from under him in the battle of Pea
| Ridge, and that he himself received
| wounds in several battles.
AS pioneer in western railroad
building he has the Union Pacific rail
road, whose line he located and whose
construction he superintendent. stand
ing today as a monument to his mem
| DRY.
Some 60 years ago, the then young
Dodge, who had moved from New Eng
| land, where he had studied civil en-.
cheering, to Council Bluffs. Ia, enter
ed the employ of the Illinois Central
railroad. Abraham Lincoln, who had
! done legal work for the same com
pany, met the young Yankee. They
talked of building a railroad over the
Rocky Mountains and beyond The
world had been laughing at the pro
ject. Lincoln and Dodge agreed that
1t was feasible
The federal government shortly af-
terward decided 10 begin surveying
for the proposed line. Dodge jumped
at the chance OF leading The party
Several trips were made as far as the
Rocky Mountains searching for the
most feasible route, the men under
Dodge plunging into many a wilder
ness to meet stubborn resistance on
the part of the Indians.
In the midst OF the undertaking the
Civil war broke, Dodge, born at Dan
yers. Mass. in 1881, was Just 80 years
old. He had had some military train
ing at Norwich university, Mortified.
Vt, from which he was graduated.
and some experience lighting Indians
Securing colonels commission from
his old friend, President Lincoln, he
raised, drilled and equipped at his
own expense the Fourth Iowa Infan.
try Regiment
Within two weeks Col. Dodge was
leading his command against the re.
bells in Northern Missouri His gal
lantry soon afterward at the battle of
Pea Ridge won almost instant promo.
ton to the rank OF brigaGier general.
He lost one-fourth of his entire com
mand but he saved the day for the
federal army. ilie again distinguish
ed himself i'll The decisive battle of
the Atlanta campaign, July %, 1864,
when he defeated Gen. Hoods desper.
ate movement TO the rear of the Army
OF the Tennessee
Later while standing in trench be
fore Atlanta, Gen Dodge was shot
and severely wounded in the head.
After the fall of Vicksburg he re-
ceiyed appreciative recognition from
Gen. Grant, being promoted 10 major
general and given command of the
Sixteenth Army corps.
The hanging of Sam" Davis, a Con
federate spy who was captured in Ten
nessee, was one of the incidents of
Gen. Dodges career. On Davis were
found complete plans OF the fortifica-
tons at Nashville, which evidently, he
had received from some federal off.
Ger high in authority. Gen Dodge Of
fered the young spy his freedom if he
would reveal the name OF his inform
ant, but the accused man refused.
Hair dozen times before sending the
man to the gallows, Gen. Dodge offer
ed him immunity. The spy went to
his death with his lips closed He
was the bravest man that ever died.
said Gen. Dodge.
When Gen Dodge retired in 1866.
it was to go back to railroad building.
Once. in the meantime, Lincoln had
summoned Dodge to Washington for
conference on the route. Dodge sug-
gested Omaha as the eastern terminus
OF the railway and it was at his sug-
gestion that this decision was made.
Work had progressed but slowly how
ever, up to 1866, when Dodge took
charge again. by May 1867 he had
10000 men along the river Platte, and
he kept them steadily moving west
ward Within three years the last
spike was driven.