|
Colonel Nathan A. M. Dudley |
|
Colonel Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley commanded a brigade in General Auger's 1st Division at Port Hudson. His troops participated in the Battle of Plains Store on May 21, 1863, and in the assault on the Confederate center defended by General Beall's troops on May 27th. Dudley was born in Lexington, Massachusetts on August 20, 1825. He enlisted in the U. S. Army at an early age, and served from 1855 until he retired in 1889. He had a rather mixed military record, being court-martialed three times for drunkenness and conduct unbecoming an officer. Except for the Civil War years, his military service was spent mostly on the frontier. When the war began, he was a captain in the 10th US Infantry. He was appointed colonel and commander of the 30th Massachusetts Volunteers, which he led for much of the early part of the conflict. He later served under Major General Nathaniel Banks before reverting back to the Regular Army, where he was promoted to Major of the 15th U.S. Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers on January 19, 1865 for his faithful service. Dudley is probably best known for his highly questionable behavior in the so-called Lincoln County War in New Mexico in 1878, for which he was the subject of a court of inquiry, suspended of his command, and later brought to trial in 1879. He was acquitted of the charges and continued his military career. He eventually retired from the U. S. Army on Aug. 20, 1889, at the rank of brigadier general. He returned to the east and died of natural causes on April 29, 1910. His body was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
|
|
|
|
Port Hudson Home | Confederate Commanders | Union Commanders |
