This is the story of three brothers from Massachusetts who fought for the Union in the War Between the States. Their names' were Philip, George and John Dodge and they are my ancestors. They came from the small village of North Leverett, MA, which is on the northern border of Massachusetts where Vermont and New Hampshire meet the Bay State. Each of the brothers had a different fate befall him after joining "The Boys in Blue".

Philip Martin Dodge

Philip Martin Dodge was 22 years old when in Springfield, MA, he enlisted in Co. G, 10th MA Vol. Inf. on Oct. 13, 1862. He then promptly deserted in November, 1862. It would appear that army life was not to his tastes. Philip was able to stay ahead of the Provost Marshall for some time, but on September 3, 1863 he was arrested in Sunderland, MA, and returned to the 10th MA on November 10, 1863.

This was followed by Philip reenlisting as a Volunteer Veteran on December 21, 1863. It appears that he actually served less than 90 days in uniform since his date of enlistment, but anyone who has worked for the government has seen stranger things happen. The reasonable explanation is that the enlistment of the 10th MA as a regiment expired, and he chose to stay on. He did see action in Grant's Virginia campaign. He fought with the 10th MA at Spotsylvania and received at wound to the leg.

On June 20, 1864 he was transferred to Co. F, 37th MA. Philip continued with the Army of The Potomac through Cold Harbor, the Petersburg siege and the pursuit to Appomattox. After which the 37th MA was disbanded and he completed his enlistment in Co. K, 20th MA. He was mustered out on July 16, 1865.

Philip lead a reckless lifestyle after his discharge. He was married three times, was reported to be overly fond of cider and women and was arrested and jailed at least two times: in 1878 and 1884. He died after a stroke on Sept. 8, 1912 and is buried in the Dwight Cemetery, Belchertown, MA. A GAR marker shows "Co. G, 10 Mass. Inf."

George Hubbard Dodge

George Hubbard Dodge, at the age of 18, was the next oldest brother to enlist. He mustered into Co. B, 27th MA Vol. Inf. on Dec. 22, 1863. George had received some education before becoming a soldier and wrote several letters home during his time in the Union Army. The regiment became part of the 1 Brigade, 2 Division, 18th Army Corp, Army of the James. In his letters home he constantly refers to having no money and asked his parents to send him funds.

In May, 1864 he contracts Typhoid Fever and is sent to a hospital in Norfolk, VA. to recover. George returned to the 27th MA. on May 21 and wrote a letter home from "Camp Balls Hill". In this letter he tells his parents he is unsure of the fates of his brother John and Charley Wright, another local boy, following a battle on May 16th while he was in the hospital. George goes on to state that Co. B and the regiment had been in action for 9 days straight and "lost 29 men and a lieut last Monday". He goes on to state that his Co. has lost 46 men over the last 9 days and there are only 16 men and Capt. Caswell fit for duty. The letter also gives insight to the fatalistic outlook and morale of the Union foot soldier being ordered to attack Confederate positions day after day during the drive to Petersburg and Richmond in the spring of '64. George states that with 16 men and an officer in his company they were ordered to "pitch into the Rebs this afternoon. The papers tell how we are whipping the Rebs, but I say is a damd (sic) lie. The Rebs are whipping us like the devil." He finishes the letter by telling his parents he does not know if brother John and Charley are killed or prisoners and asked them to send him money. It would be his last letter home.

The 27th MA was transferred, to the Army of the Potomac and on June 3, 1864 was ordered to assault the Confederate works at Cold Harbor, VA. Pvt. George Hubbard Dodge, age 19, placed his rifle on his shoulder and advanced towards the Southern entrenchments. He was shot through the thigh, 11 close to the body" and taken to a nearby field hospital for treatment of the wound. Milo Hildreth, of the U.S. Christian Commission, would write three letters home to George's parents. One letter for each day he lingered in the field hospital. Mr. Hildreth states on June 5th that the surgeons do "not deem it best to take off the leg". On the 6th, he writes that George cannot speak much, but wished to be remembered by his family. Mr. Hildreth also states that someone has taken all of George's money, his pocket knife, and personal possessions. The last letter of the 7th states that George has died and been buried in a marked grave "by the side of quite a number of others who have died in hospital". David and Sophia Dodge, the brothers' parents, received letters only 15 days apart stating that of their three sons fighting, one was missing in action and one was dead. George Dodge was laid to rest in the Cold Harbor National Cemetery after the war.

John Miles Dodge

John Miles Dodge was the youngest and the last of the brothers to wear the Union blue. He was age 16 and lied about his age, when he enlisted with his older brother George in Co. B, 2 7th M.A. He wrote no letters home that have survived the passage of time. John remained with Co. B, while his brother George was recovering in the hospital. On May 16th, 1864, John took part in the battle of Drury's Bluff, (see The Zouave, Winter, '96, vol. X, #4). He was taken prisoner in this engagement and sent to Andersonville on May 23. There is no record of the fate of the other local boy Charley Wright.

John stated that the food at Andersonville was usually corn meal, uncooked. This food would be withheld for several days if the prisoners were to be punished. John Dodge returned home on June 26, 1865. He was not yet 18 years of age. John was unable to walk when he arrived and had to be carried into his home. A harsh year and half of military service in the life of a young man. His health never recovered from his ordeal and he was granted a pension of $10 a month for chronic rheumatism and heart disease. John Dodge died in 1892 and is buried in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, North Leverett, MA. His grave marker bears the inscription "PVT. CO. B, 27 MASS INF, Prisoner of War at Andersonville".

Conclusion

That is the brief history of the military service of one family's sons in the conflict between the Blue and the Gray. Three brothers with very different fates, one a deserter who returned to stayed to the end, one whose life ended when he was too young, alone and in pain and the last a POW in a hell hole. I was able to learn about my ancestors through the archive section on Massachusett's Civil War regiments at the Boston Public Library. The staff at the National Battlefield Park, Richmond, VA, was extremely helpful in locating George Dodge's grave and information about the 2 7th MA envolvement in the charge at Cold Harbor. For anyone interested in researching ancesters they might have had in the conflict, the local library and historical societies are a great starting point. The National Park Service at battlefield sites have listings of the grave markers and other information related directly to the battlefield site, but you must know what you are looking for before you arrive. I was fortunate to be able to learn about those men and their sacrifices before they'll lost to the passage of time.

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