Richard S. Dillon

Richard S. Dillon was born in New York State, around 1830. By 1862, he was working in Detroit as a "moulder", an occupation that had something to do with the casting of iron.

Richard S. Dillon helped to recruit and organize Company A, and was appointed its First Lieutenant. The commission was dated July 26, 1862. Together with the rest of his company, he was mustered into federal service on August 13, 1862. Before the 24th left Detroit, the Moulder's Association presented Lieutenant Dillon with a fine sword.

He was promoted to Captain on June 1, 1863, but for pay purposes, he was mustered at that rank on June 22, 1863.

Captain Dillon was wounded four times at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. The most severe wound was in his leg. In his official report, Colonel Morrow said that "Captain Dillon commanded his company with skill and behaved very handsomely." Richard Dillon made a remarkable recovery and returned to duty with the regiment on August 30, 1863.

He was appointed Acting Assistant Inspector General of the First Brigade (the Iron Brigade) on Jan. 6, 1864. He held this post until August 5, 1864.

Dillon fought with the Regiment during at least a portion of Grant's Overland Campaign. Although the regiment was not heavily engaged at Mine Run, they did take a few prisoners. Reportedly, Captain Dillon acquired a fine sword from one of these prisoners. Whether he still possessed the sword presented to him before the regiment left Detroit is unclear.

Captain Dillon was detached on recruiting service in Michigan from August 6 until November 2, 1864. After returning from recruiting duty, Captain Dillon was placed in charge of the division pioneers (now the 3rd Division, 5th Corps). He held this post even after the 24th was sent west to Springfield, Illinois. He finally rejoined the regiment on May 30, 1863 after Lee's surrender. Thus he was not present during Lincoln's funeral.

He was promoted to Brevet Major on April 9, 1865 for "meritorious services during the campaign which terminated with the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia under General R. E. Lee.

During his military service, Richard Dillon was in the battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, the Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church (Cold Harbor), the assault on Petersburg, the siege of Petersburg, Dabney's Mill, Boydon Plank road, White Oak Ridge, Five Forks, and Appomattox.

He was on the Mud March, the Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, the Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run and the Raid to the Meherrin River.

He mustered out with the regiment on June 30, 1865 at Detroit.

After the war, Richard Dillon joined the Fairbanks Post #17, Grand Army of the Republic.

Richard S. Dillon died at Detroit on May 3, 1886.

The photograph of Richard Dillon is courtesy of the State Archives of Michigan. Used with permission