RANSOM OLIVER DODGE -- 11th CAVALRYPATROLLED ALONG THE POTOMAC - Ransom Oliver Dodge\'s place of birth wasWillsboro in Essex County. His Civil War muster roll records give hisplace of birth as Jay, Essex County, New York.After leaving his wife, Betsey O'Brien at home with his children, heserved in Company K of the 11th New York Cavalry Regiment, also called\"Scott\'s Nine Hundred," from March 8, 1862 through March 12, 1865. Theregiment organized on Staten Island with 72 privates. Before they leftfor Washington, two had been discharged, one had died, and seventeen haddeserted. Two of the deserters were David Bean and John Daby whoenlisted with him in Au Sable Forks.Ransom entered service at the rank of private on March 8, 1862. For thefirst few months of their service, the regiment patrolled the capitalwith the Military District of Washington and, in June, started scoutingup and down the Potomac River.After winter quarters of 1862/63, the 11th was again scouting along thePotomac. On June 27th, near Fairfax Court House they were in battle,less than a week after Ransom was promoted to the rank of corporal. Herethey had 55 men captured and several others killed and wounded. Threedays later at Bolivar Heights overlooking Harper's Ferry, they had 17more men captured. The regiment then traveled east on the Potomac forthe next two months. While at Edward's Ferry about 30 miles upstreamfrom Washington on August 27th, Ransom was captured and taken South.After spending seven months in a Confederate prison, he was released onMarch 14, 1864. It looks like he was sent to hospital in Memphis, TN,from where he was sent home to recuperate. On March 12, 1865, he wasadministratively mustered out from the hospital.According to the 1865 Census, Ransom was farming again in Jay, NY, withhis wife and five children. The couple eventually would have a family oftwelve.He died June 11, 1897 in Jay and was buried in the Central Cemeterythere. After his death, his widow was awarded a pension based on hisservice at the rate of \$8 per month, which she received until 1915 whenshe died and was buried with him.
