Daniel Allen Dorsey (December 31, 1838 – May 10, 1918) was an American soldier who fought in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. Dorsey received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

, for his action during the

Great Locomotive Chase The Great Locomotive Chase (a portion of the Andrews' Raid or the Mitchel Raid) was a military raid that occurred April 12, 1862, in northern Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia during the American Civil War. Volunteers from the Union Army, led by civ ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

in April 1862. He was honored with the award on 17 September 1863.

Biography

Dorsey was born on 31 December 1838 in

Lancaster, Ohio Lancaster ( ) is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, and its county seat. The population was 40,552 at the 2020 United States census, making it List of municipalities in Ohio, Ohio's 30th largest city, having surpassed Warren, Ohio, Warren and Fin ...

, and joined the 33rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry at

Portsmouth, Ohio Portsmouth is a city in Scioto County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Located in southern Ohio south of Chillicothe, Ohio, Chillicothe, it lies on the north bank of the Ohio River, across from Kentucky and just east of the mouth of th ...

, on 18 September 1861. Within a few months he was promoted to corporal, in November 1861. He was one of 22 men who took part in what later became known as the

. The mission involved attempting to disrupt Confederate telegraph, bridge and rail communication. The men, known as ''Andrews' Raiders'', under the direction of

James J. Andrews James J. Andrews (c. 1829 – June 7, 1862) was a Kentucky civilian who worked for the Union Army during the early years of the American Civil War. He led a daring raid behind enemy lines on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, known as the ...

, boarded a train in Georgia. On April 12, after the train had stopped in

Big Shanty Kennesaw is a suburban city northwest of Atlanta in Cobb County, Georgia, United States, located within the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. Known from its original settlement in the 1830s until 1887 as Big Shanty, it became Kennesaw under it ...

, they commandeered the train and headed for

Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...

. While being pursued by the Confederates, they destroyed track and telegraph lines along the way. They abandoned the endeavor before reaching Chattanooga and were soon captured. Some of the men were hanged and others taken to prison camp. Dorsey, among those who had been captured, managed to escape from the Fulton County jail on 16 October 1862, rejoining his company soon afterwards. After this event Dorsey was also involved in the

Battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 18–20, 1863, between the United States Army and Confederate States Army, Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a U.S. Army offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign, in southe ...

in September 1863. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1863 and then as a first lieutenant in 1864. He mustered out of the army on 24 August 1864, with disability. Dorsey married Annie C. Miller shortly after leaving the army. They resided in Circleville, Ohio and produced six children together. He eventually separated from his family and died on May 10, 1918, in Kansas. His remains are interred at the Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorsey, Daniel A. 1838 births 1918 deaths People of Ohio in the American Civil War Union army officers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Great Locomotive Chase

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References