Daniel Webster Dodge

Civil War History of 

Daniel Webster Dodge

Daniel Webster Dodge was born August 25, 1841 to David and Mahalia Nichols Dodge residents of a farm located in Summerhill Twp Crawford county, between Norrisville and Conneautville. 

December 16, 1860 Daniel Webster Dodge, brick maker, age 21 years, physical description: 5’ 11, " blue eyes, light brown hair and light complexion Enlisted in Co. I of 59th Regiment at Conneautville, PA. 

Daniel fought in numerous battles prior to being taken prisoner at a battle near Centerville, Va. Daniel was held at General Lee’s Calvary Camp near Centerville until liberated on August 29, 1862. He was then assigned to Camp Parole in Annapolis MD where all liberated prisoners were sent prior to returning to their Units. By October 1862 he was back serving with his unit. 

Some time in 1863 the original 59th Regiment became the PA 2nd Calvary therefore Daniel was then serving with Co. I of the 2nd Calvary. The men of the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry were provost guards, skirmishers, sharpshooters, scouts, messengers, couriers and supply line guards. 

July 1, 1863 the Battle began at Gettysburg. It seems certain by that time Daniel was back serving with Company I of the 2nd Calvary. 

On July 3. 1863 men of Company I, 2nd Calvary were being held in reserve at Lesiter House which was being used as General Meade’s headquarters. When the house came under extreme fire by the Confederates, General Meade, with a small group of Calvary moved down to Power’s Hill. The rest of the men fighting with the 2nd Calvary stayed in their defensive positions in the barnyard of the abandoned Leister House. Later a portion of the Calvary moved to defend a hilltop position. After the battle a unit of the 2nd Calvary moved 2,500 prisoners to Westminister, MD. Through August and September of 1863 a part of the men of the 2nd Calvary were guards for General Mead. 

It’s not known if Daniel sustained the wound to his left hand while fighting at Gettysburg or some time later. For whatever reason, his wound was not recorded in his official service records but in a letter sent home to his family he told them he had suffered a glancing shot to his hand but not to worry because it was healing. On close examination of Daniel’s tintype one can see the condition of his left hand. Close examination reveals surgical stitches are drawing and holding his fingers together in a straight stiff position Daniel’s three year enlistment was up on December 16, 1863 and he was officially discharged but on December 17, 1863, while stationed at Beanton Station, Virginia he re-enlisted. He was promoted to Corporal with Company I in the 2nd Calvary. 

On June 10, 1864 Daniel sustained a gunshot to the right breast and shoulder and was given leave for one month. 

It seems Daniel was back with his unit only a very short interval after recuperating from his shoulder wound when he was taken prisoner on August 18, 1864 at the battle of Deep Bottom Swamp, Virginia. He was first taken to Libbey Prison and was held there for I8 days then he was moved September 5, 1864, to Bell Island. He was there one month then October 5, 1864 was taken to the prisoner of war camp at Salisburg, North Carolina. 

Daniel survived as a prisoner of war at Salisbury prison from October 5, 1864 until March 14, 1865. By then, the end of the war was near and instead of the Confederates transferring prisoners of Salisbury further south to another prison some of the extremely sick prisoners were released. Daniel, along with fellow survivors, made it hack to Camp Parole, Annapolis, MD. After a brief recovery time, Daniel was given 30 days furlough then discharged by General Order on June 13, 1865. Daniel eventually received a very small pension after problems with the War Department. 

Daniel went back to the Conneautville area where his parents were still living and on April 13, 1866 he purchased thirty acres of land in Summerhill Twp. from Wilbur B. and Francis D. Wood of Meadville. The date of his marriage to Margaret Clancy is not known but their first child, Mary Elizabeth Dodge was born January 17, 1867; Lousia Jane was horn March 17, 1868; David Edward on February 20, 1870 and Clarance Monroe July 1, 1879. 

Obituary Conneautville Courier April 20, 1910: 

Daniel W. Dodge died at his home in Summerhill Twp. on Wednesday night of pneumonia in the 69th year of his age. Mr. Dodge was born and spent his life in the township in which he died. He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in Company I, Second PA Calvary, recruited in Conneautville. He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Louis Mosbacher of Meadville, and Mrs. G W. Ingols of Conneautville, and one son, Clarence Charles Reed of the U.B. Church at Norrisville, officiating and interment in Conneautville cemetery. Deceased was a member of the Conneautville Post of the G.A.R. and was buried with the honors of the order. 

True age of Daniel at his death was 68 years, 7 months, 18 days. 

Tintype of Margaret Clancy who became the wife of Daniel Webster Dodge. 

The two tintypes were contained in a folded, very old, double picture holder. The holder was discovered in a very yellowed, white stationary type envelope with the two pictures still intact. A notation on the outside of the envelope read. “Daniel carried these pictures during his civil War service," "upon arriving home he handed them back to Margaret.”

I believe they were engaged during the years he was in service and married when he got back home.