Theophilus Lyle Dickey
Encyclopedia
Theophilus Lyle Dickey was an Illinois jurist and military leader.
, Colonel Dickey moved to Macomb, Illinois
in 1834 to study law under Cyrus Walker and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1835. The next year, he moved Rushville, Illinois
where he edited a newspaper and speculated in real estate in addition to his legal practice. In 1839, he again moved, this time to Ottawa, Illinois
where he continued his legal career. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican-American War he raised a company of volunteers and received a commission as captain. At the end of the war, he returned to Ottawa, Illinois and was elected a judge of the Illinois Ninth Judicial Circuit in 1848. He resigned his position as judge in 1851 but continued in the practice of law. He was a prominent political supporter of Stephen A. Douglas
, making many stump speeches for him in 1858 and 1860.
to raise a company of cavalry in August 1861. This company became the nucleus of the 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry
, the recruitment of which resulted in a dispute between Colonel Dickey and Illinois Governor Richard Yates over the commissions to be granted to the officers of the regiment, a valuable tool of political patronage. In the end, Governor Yates accepted Colonel Dickey’s choices and granted them their commissions. The 4th Illinois Cavalry completed its organization and was officially mustered into service on September 26, 1861. The regiment was sent to Cairo, Illinois
soon after it was mustered in.
Colonel Dickey commanded the regiment during the advance of Grant’s army on Fort Henry
, serving as the scouts and screening force, served in a supporting role during the attack on that place, and then again led the advance on Fort Donelson
.
Colonel Dickey’s regiment was shipped to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
where it participated in the Battle of Shiloh
.
Pre-war life
Born in Paris, KentuckyParis, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
, Colonel Dickey moved to Macomb, Illinois
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :...
in 1834 to study law under Cyrus Walker and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1835. The next year, he moved Rushville, Illinois
Rushville, Illinois
Rushville is a city in Schuyler County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,212 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.-Demographics:...
where he edited a newspaper and speculated in real estate in addition to his legal practice. In 1839, he again moved, this time to Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,786...
where he continued his legal career. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican-American War he raised a company of volunteers and received a commission as captain. At the end of the war, he returned to Ottawa, Illinois and was elected a judge of the Illinois Ninth Judicial Circuit in 1848. He resigned his position as judge in 1851 but continued in the practice of law. He was a prominent political supporter of Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen Arnold Douglas was an American politician from the western state of Illinois, and was the Northern Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860. He lost to the Republican Party's candidate, Abraham Lincoln, whom he had defeated two years earlier in a Senate contest following a famed...
, making many stump speeches for him in 1858 and 1860.
Civil War career
Dickey was authorized by the State of IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
to raise a company of cavalry in August 1861. This company became the nucleus of the 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry
4th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry
The 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 4th Illinois Cavalry was mustered into service at Ottawa, Illinois on September 26, 1861....
, the recruitment of which resulted in a dispute between Colonel Dickey and Illinois Governor Richard Yates over the commissions to be granted to the officers of the regiment, a valuable tool of political patronage. In the end, Governor Yates accepted Colonel Dickey’s choices and granted them their commissions. The 4th Illinois Cavalry completed its organization and was officially mustered into service on September 26, 1861. The regiment was sent to Cairo, Illinois
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
soon after it was mustered in.
Colonel Dickey commanded the regiment during the advance of Grant’s army on Fort Henry
Fort Henry
Fort Henry is the name of:*Fort Henry , a 1646 fort near present-day Petersburg, Virginia*Fort Henry , a 1774 fort near present–day Wheeling, West Virginia...
, serving as the scouts and screening force, served in a supporting role during the attack on that place, and then again led the advance on Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson was a fortress built by the Confederacy during the American Civil War to control the Cumberland River leading to the heart of Tennessee, and the heart of the Confederacy.-History:...
.
Colonel Dickey’s regiment was shipped to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee is a historic river landing on the west bank of the Tennessee River in Hardin County, Tennessee. It was named for "Pitts" Tucker who operated a tavern at the site in the years preceding the American Civil War...
where it participated in the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
.