Shenandoah Valley Campaigns of 1864 May-July 1864 40 km | eo ey . shots Sie iw & 2 mb i ar i 7 sy aie ge ; An 1896 letter to Rochester, N anh 7 i . ne 7 “Democrat and Chronicle ove ih re LF If CMY Jie x md d etal regarding Poa ari that d a9: "yg OMY YY ey, he sated s ta Pe a a ne fe wel, CSL 4 ng ai Rt ie N : Ss 2 T Vv | : AS ig! é a | v f 24 . r ; - ae? ry a ran Ky ’ Warrenton? “Fig aap ; “The 21st N. Y. Cavalry crossed the river at Ashby’s Gap, in their advance, and very soon afterwards came upon the enemy in force, in the woods, who opened a sharp fire upon them. They were not nearly sufficient in number to withstand the attack and a retreat was ordered. At this time the captain of C Company was severely wounded and his horse killed, and the captain found himself unable to extricate himself from his fallen horse. With the bullets flying around him, Sergeant Dodds dismounted, disengaged his captain and assisted him onto his own horse, which he also remounted. The enemy had meanwhile got around to the rear, and when our hero.arrived at the ford he found it already occupied. Undismayed by this circumstance he turned his horse along the bank until he came to a favorable spot, when he leaped his horse into the river and swam across under fire, reaching the union lines in safety with his captain, who afterwards recovered and is among those who testified to the war department as to the incident. The evidence submitted shows that this is but one of many occasions in which Sergeant Dodds exhibited "distinguished gallantry in action,” but! will only mention the fact that he was afterwards So severely wounded in the right arm that that member had to be amputated at the shoulder. This, of course, necessitated some time in hospital, but instead of asking for his discharge, Sergeant Dodds rejoined his command as soon as he was able to do so, and served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out with his comrades.” Dodds received the United States’ highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at Ashby’s Gap, Virginia on July 19, 1864. That award was conferred on June 11, 1896. COROURG MUSEUM