Colonel Dudley
Events & Genealogy
Born: Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley
Birthdate: August 20, 1825
Birthplace: Lexington, Massachusetts
Marriage: Elizabeth Gray Jewett on November 12, 1845 at Roxbury, Massachusetts
Children: Granville Winthrop Dudley (1848-1905)
Death: April 29, 1910 at Boston Massachusetts
Cause of death: N/A
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
This Page is under construction, please revisit later for the completion!!
Colonel Dudley was a distinguished Union officer in the US Army during the Civil War. His military career began as a Captain of the 10th United States Infantry and later, he assumed the position of Commanding Officer of the 30th Massachusetts Volunteers and Major of the 15th US Infantry. His remarkable leadership skills led him to earn the title of Lieutenant Colonel by 1860.
Furthermore, Colonel Dudley was involved in several significant military expeditions including commanding the cavalry on Buell’s expedition in Mexico, where they pursued Apache Chief Victorio.
In 1904, Colonel Dudley retired on the list of Regular Army Brigadier General after a distinguished career. It is important to note that Dudley’s military tenure was not without controversy. Specifically, he faced legal charges twice for drunken conduct and once for arson and murder in Lincoln County. Nonetheless, Colonel Dudley’s contributions to the Union Army and his service to the country should not be overlooked.
Complete story of The Life and Times of Lieutenant Colonel Nathan A.M. Dudley coming soon! Please check back soon for bio on Dudley and his interactions in The Lincoln County War
Lieutenant Colonel Dudley’s decision to send his troops into a civilian matter in the town of Lincoln violated President Hayes’ order of non-interference by military installations. On July 18, 1878, Dudley’s primary objective was to protect innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of a battle between citizens. Nevertheless, Dudley was legally charged with arson and murder, but ultimately acquitted of the charges. It’s essential to respect the chain of command in the military, including the instructions from the presidential administration. As per the Military Code of Conduct, soldiers must operate within the ethical and legal confines of their duties. In this specific instance, Dudley’s disregard for his superior’s mandate to remain uninvolved in civilian matters resulted in disciplinary action for himself and his troops when unarmed men were burned out of a home a slaughtered.
Notes
Lt. Col. Dudley was one of 9 or 10 children. It is yet to be determined if New Mexico Indian Affairs superintendent Agent Colonel L. Edwin Dudley is of any relation to Nathan A.M. Dudley
A. Notes from Familysearch.com
Known kids born from father John Dudley (1790-1862) and mother Esther Smith (1791-1853):
1. John W. Dudley (1815-?)
2. Elizabeth Dudley (1818-1905)
3. Sarah Lewis Dudley (1818-1881)
4. Martha Ann Dudley (1823-1886)
5. Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley (1825-1910)
6. Caroline Matilda Dudley (1827-1904)
7. Andrew Jackson Dudley (1829-1831)
8. Charles Henry Dudley (1931-1824)
9. John Edwin Dudley (1834-1869)
1a. 1860 census reports Dudley at Ward 1 in Norfolk, Massachusetts.
2a .1870 Census reports Dudley in Walker, Texas
B. Notes from Find a Grave
BRIGADIER GENERAL CIVIL WAR Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He was a United States Regular Army officer who led a volunteer unit from his home state of Massachusetts. He began the war as a Captain in the 10th United States Regular Infantry, but was appointed Colonel and commander of the 30th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, who he led for much of the early part of the conflict. He later served as an aide to Major General Nathaniel Banks before reverting back to the Regular Army, where he was promoted to Major of the 15th United States Infantry. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on January 19, 1865 for his faithful service. He remained in the Army, and retired with the rank of Colonel in 1889. Dudley played a key role in the Lincoln County War as commander of Fort Stanton in New Mexico Territory. He led troops during the 1878 Five Day Battle of Lincoln during which Alexander McSween was killed and Billy the Kid escaped McSween’s burning house. McSween’s widow Susan made a formal complaint against Dudley that resulted in him being relieved of his command. The Army initially determined his actions did not warrant a court-martial, but he later stood trial at a court-martial where he was accused of arson for the McSween fire and was acquitted. (Findagrave.com)
To order the book on Dudley written by E. Donald Kaye, click the link. (I have not read this book)
https://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Augustus-Monroe-Dudley-1825/dp/1598009656
