Nathan Dudley

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Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley, August 20, 1825 - April 29, 1910, soldier, served as Brigadier General for the Union side during the American Civil War. Often remembered for his part in this war, where he led the 30th Massachusetts Volunteers and spent time as aide to Major General Nathaniel Banks, his military career in fact continued until 1889. He spent much of his career on the Indian frontier, and did much good service which has been somewhat overshadowed by his part in the Lincoln County War.

1 Lincoln County War
2 Subsequent career
3 External links
4 Other references

[edit] Lincoln County War

Dudley's part in the Lincoln County War of 1877-1879 is at best controversial and at worst despicable. Dudley was commanding officer of the local Fort, Fort Stanton. Despite orders not to interfere in civilian matters, he intervened, nominally to protect civilians. In fact he seems to have favored the Dolan faction throughout. Attempts to have him removed as commander went all the way to the Secretary of War, but were refused. Susan McSween, wife of one of the key participants, Alexander McSween, caused charges to be filed in 1879 against Dudley. Having been implicated by Billy Campbell in the murder of Huston Chapman, Dudley was removed by General Hatch as commander on March 7th 1879, and a court of inquiry into his actions was commissioned. In July 1879, the inquiry ruled that a court martial against Dudley was not justified, and Dudley was transferred to Fort Union. Dudley was also found not guilty in his trial for arson in November 1879.

Dudley was not always so fortunate at the hands of justice, and on two occasions was found guilty at court martial for drunkenness and "behaviour unbecoming."

[edit] Subsequent career

Towards the end of his career, he assisted Colonel George Buell's expedition against Victorio, which indirectly caused Victorio's death at the hands of the Mexican army, and in 1887, as a Colonel of the 1st Cavalry, he organised the suppression of unrest on the Crow Nation reservation, during which the leader of a faction of the Crow, Sword Bearer, was killed.

Promoted in 1904, during his retirement, to regular army Brigadier General, Dudley died in 1910, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.