William R. Dodsley

Englishman William R. Dodsley was working as a clerk in Detroit during the summer of 1862. He enlisted in company H as First Sergeant on August 5, 1862 at Detroit. He was 22 years old.. He was mustered into federal service on August 13, 1862.

O. B Curtis recounts some interesting anecdotes of Dodsley's service. During the early training of the Regiment on September 27, 1862 while conducting a mock battle, "...a soldier shot off his ramrod which struck Orderly Sergeant W.R. Dodsley" (p.56). One can only imagine the inexperienced fumblings of the Regiment during this exercise which was being witnessed by Governor Blair, of Michigan.

Young Dodsley was a fine soldier. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant December 29, 1862, and was mustered at that rank on the same day. During the action at Fitzhugh's Crossing, Dodsley was sent to inform the skirmishers of the army's withdrawal. Dodsley was the last man in the last boat to push off for the north bank of the Rappahannock. (Curtis p. 128)

He was wounded in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1863. In fact, he had the dubious distinction of being the first officer hit in that bloody engagement. Apparently his wound, in the shoulder, was not too severe. After recovering, he was promoted to First Lieutenant of company K on September 1, 1863 and mustered at that rank on September 7, 1863. He was promoted again to Captain of company K on November 22, 1863 and was mustered on February 4, 1864.

The battle of North Anna was very inauspicious for the remaining fragments of the proud Twenty-fourth. After being struck in the flank by a confederate counter attack, the once mighty Iron Brigade fled. Dodsley along with Lieutenants E. B. Welton and George A. Ross, Sergeants C. H. Chope and Robert E. Bolger, and Captain Wood, the A. A. G. of the Iron Brigade, rallied some 50 men around a battery of artillery and helped stop the on-rushing confederates. (Curtis p. 251).

During late June 1864, the Regiment's strength was at low ebb. Numbering 1030 men when they left Detroit, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was down to less than 100 effectives. At one point K was down to just three: Captain Dodsley, Sergeant Ira Fletcher, and Private Elijah Little. O. B. Curtis relates that "during this period it afforded amusement to witness the evolutions of this company." (p. 275).

William R. Dodsley mustered out with the survivors of the Regiment at Detroit Michigan, June 30, 1865.

William Dodsley 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 (field of Cold Harbor), Assault on Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run, and Dabney's Mill. He was with the Regiment on the Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland expeditions, the Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnaissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road, and the raid to the Meherrin River.

William Dodsley served on Court Martial while in front of Petersburg, Virginia and was on the General Court Martial while at Camp Butler, Illinois. William had the notable distinction of serving as a Guard of Honor over President Abraham Lincoln's remains, while they lay in state at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on May 3, 1864.

William Dodsley was appointed honorary commander of the twenty-fourth Michigan during the observances at Michigan Day at Gettysburg in 1889.

Possible Relatives:

Simon Dodsley Simon.Dodsley@bankerstrust.com

John Mellors jemello@wn.com.au

Dodsley photograph taken from Smith.
Signed Dodsley CDV courtesy of the Dearborn Historical Museum. Used with permission.
Post-war Dodsley Photograph (c. 1890) taken from O. B. Curtis