Richard Irving Dodge
Encyclopedia
Richard Irving Dodge was a colonel in the United States Army
.
Dodge was born in North Carolina
and died after a long and successful career in the U.S. Army. He began as a cadet in 1844 and retired as a Colonel May 19, 1891.
Dodge was Aide-De-Camp to General William Tecumseh Sherman
from 1881–1882. In the second publishing of his memoirs General Sherman wrote, "... the vacancy made by Colonel McCook was filled by Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, Twenty-third Infantry
then serving at a cantonment on the Upper Canadian—an officer who had performed cheerfully and well a full measure of frontier service, was a capital sportsman, and of a perfect war record. He also remained with me until his promotion as Colonel of the Eleventh Infantry, 26 January 1882."
Dodge married into a distinguished military and political family on March 3, 1858 in New York City
. His wife, Julia Rhinelander Paulding, was the granddaugher of General William Paulding
of the War of 1812
and one time Mayor of New York City
, and the great-granddaughter of General William Paulding of the American Revolution
and one of the first members of the Provincial Congress. The author and Secretary of the Navy under president Van Buren, James Kirke Paulding
, was Julia's great uncle. John Paulding
, a captor of the British spy John André
, was a cousin of her grandfather.
To protect settlers traveling to the American west the army set up camps and forts along the favored routes. In Kansas in 1851 on the Santa Fe Trail
a Colonel I. Dodge established Fort Dodge which lasted a short time. In 1864, General Grenville M. Dodge
established a large fort in the same area on the north bank of the Arkansas River. The site was selected by Col. James Hobart Ford
for whom the county was later named, and the fort was named Fort Dodge in the General's honor. "Fort Dodge was one of the most important forts on the Western frontier." Commanders at the fort included George Custer
and Col. William H. Lewis. In July 1872, Richard Irving Dodge was in command at Fort Dodge and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
needed a station on the Arkansas River. A site was selected five miles west of the fort and a town company organized by Dodge and his officers, R.M. Wright was elected president, and the quartermaster, Major E. B. Kirk, was secretary and treasurer. The town was named Dodge City in Richard Dodge's honor. Dodge City later became famous for its wildness, its Boot Hill cemetery, and gunslinging lawmen like Wyatt Earp
and Bat Masterson
.
based on the description of it by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Irving Dodge in 1875. There has been a dispute over the name since that time.
"The Black Hills: A Minute Description of the Routes, Scenery, Soil, Climate, Timber, Gold, Geology, Zoölogy, etc., With an Accurate Map, Four Sectional Drawings, and Ten Plates from Photographs, Taken on the Spot." Minneapolis: Ross & Haines, Inc., 1965. Facsimile reprint of 1876 edition.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Dodge was born in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and died after a long and successful career in the U.S. Army. He began as a cadet in 1844 and retired as a Colonel May 19, 1891.
Dodge was Aide-De-Camp to General William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
from 1881–1882. In the second publishing of his memoirs General Sherman wrote, "... the vacancy made by Colonel McCook was filled by Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, Twenty-third Infantry
23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 23rd Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army originally formed on June 26th 1812. The 23rd saw action in 14 battles during the War of 1812...
then serving at a cantonment on the Upper Canadian—an officer who had performed cheerfully and well a full measure of frontier service, was a capital sportsman, and of a perfect war record. He also remained with me until his promotion as Colonel of the Eleventh Infantry, 26 January 1882."
Dodge married into a distinguished military and political family on March 3, 1858 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. His wife, Julia Rhinelander Paulding, was the granddaugher of General William Paulding
William Paulding, Jr.
William Paulding, Jr. was a United States Representative from New York and a Mayor of New York City. Born in Philipsburgh , Westchester County, he completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in New York...
of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and one time Mayor of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the great-granddaughter of General William Paulding of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and one of the first members of the Provincial Congress. The author and Secretary of the Navy under president Van Buren, James Kirke Paulding
James Kirke Paulding
James Kirke Paulding was an American writer and, for a time, the United States Secretary of the Navy.-Biography:...
, was Julia's great uncle. John Paulding
John Paulding
John Paulding was a militiaman from the state of New York during the American Revolution. In 1780, he participated in the capture of Major John André.-Revolutionary History:...
, a captor of the British spy John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
, was a cousin of her grandfather.
Three Dodges in Kansas
Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
a Colonel I. Dodge established Fort Dodge which lasted a short time. In 1864, General Grenville M. Dodge
Grenville M. Dodge
Grenville Mellen Dodge was a Union army officer on the frontier and during the Civil War, a U.S. Congressman, businessman, and railroad executive who helped construct the Transcontinental Railroad....
established a large fort in the same area on the north bank of the Arkansas River. The site was selected by Col. James Hobart Ford
James Hobart Ford
James Hobart Ford was a Union general during the American Civil War, notable for his contributions in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the war.-Early life:...
for whom the county was later named, and the fort was named Fort Dodge in the General's honor. "Fort Dodge was one of the most important forts on the Western frontier." Commanders at the fort included George Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
and Col. William H. Lewis. In July 1872, Richard Irving Dodge was in command at Fort Dodge and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
needed a station on the Arkansas River. A site was selected five miles west of the fort and a town company organized by Dodge and his officers, R.M. Wright was elected president, and the quartermaster, Major E. B. Kirk, was secretary and treasurer. The town was named Dodge City in Richard Dodge's honor. Dodge City later became famous for its wildness, its Boot Hill cemetery, and gunslinging lawmen like Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
and Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson
William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph...
.
Devil's Tower
A 1906 presidential proclamation named a butte in Wyoming as Devils Tower National MonumentDevils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower is an igneous intrusion or laccolith located in the Black Hills near Hulett and Sundance in Crook County, northeastern Wyoming, above the Belle Fourche River...
based on the description of it by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Irving Dodge in 1875. There has been a dispute over the name since that time.
Published work
- Hunting Grounds of the Great West Published by Chatto & Windus, 1877, London, England. (Introduction by William Henry Blackmore.)
- Our Wild Indians, A. D. Worthington and Company, 1883, Hartford, Conn, USA. (Introduction by General ShermanWilliam Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
.) - The Enlisted Soldier, 1886.
"The Black Hills: A Minute Description of the Routes, Scenery, Soil, Climate, Timber, Gold, Geology, Zoölogy, etc., With an Accurate Map, Four Sectional Drawings, and Ten Plates from Photographs, Taken on the Spot." Minneapolis: Ross & Haines, Inc., 1965. Facsimile reprint of 1876 edition.
- The Black Hills Journals of Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, Edited by Wayne R. Kime, University of Oklahoma Press, September 1996.
- The Powder River Expedition Journals of Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, Edited by Wayne R. Kime, University of Oklahoma Press December 1997.
- The Indian Territory Journals of Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, Edited by Wayne R. Kime, University of Oklahoma Press, October 2000.
- The Sherman Tour Journals of Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, Edited by Wayne R. Kime, University of Oklahoma Press, August 2002.
Biography
- Kime, Wayne R., Colonel Richard Irving Dodge: The Life And Times of a Career Army Officer, University of Oklahoma Press, March 30, 2006.