Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley – Brigadier General, United States Arm

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Born in Masschusetts on August 20, 1825, he died on April 29, 1910 and was buried in Section 1, Grave 8, Arlington National Cemetery.

He was a Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General and a Regular Army officer who led a volunteer unit from his home state of Massachusetts in the Civil War. He began the War as a Captain in the 10th United States Infantry. He was subsequently appointed Colonel and commanding officer of the 30th Massachusetts Volunteers, 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 a Major of the 15th US Infantry.

Captain, 10th Massachusetts Infantry, 7 May 1861; Colonel, 30th Massachusetts, 1 March 1862; mustered out of the United States Volunteers, 16 February 1865; Appointed Major, 15th United States Infantry, 13 September 1864; Breveted Brigadier General, United States Volunteers.  Received brevets for Baton Rouge and Port Hudson, Louisiana, war service.  Commanded 3rd Brigade,1st Division, XIX Corps; 1st Brigade, 1st Division, XIX Corps; 4th Brigade, Cavalry, XIX Corps; 1st Brigade, Cavalry, XIX Corps; 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XIX Corps; 1st Brigade, 1st Division, XIX Corps; Second Brigade, 1st Sub District of Middle Tennessee.

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Nathan Augustus Monroe Dudley
Born: August 20, 1825. Died: April 29, 1910.

Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Regular army officer who led a volunteer unit from his home state of Massachusetts. Began the War as a Captain in the 10th US Infantry. He was appointed Colonel and commander of the 30th Massachusetts Volunteers, 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 U.S. Infantry. Brevetted Brigadier General, U.S.Volunteers on January 19, 1865 for his faithful service.

Arlington National Cemetery Section 1, Grave 8

Additional Information Courtesy of E. Donald Kaye

Dudley is presented here as a Civil War commander, which he was, but he served from 1855 until he retired in 1889. Most of his work was on the Indian frontier. He is, unfortunately, best known for his despicable behavior in the so-called Lincoln County War in New Mexico in 1878. He did good service in Kansas and Nebraska, and in New Mexico albeit not in Lincoln.

At an advanced age he commanded the cavalry on Buell’s expedition into Mexico chasing the Apache chief Victorio, and he defeated the Crow “magician” Sword Bearer during his last command, which was as Colonel of the First Cavalry.

He was promoted on the retired list to regular army Brigadier General in 1904, as it says on his tombstone.

He was convicted not once but twice at General Courts-Martial for drunkeness on duty and “conduct unbecoming, ” and he had  various other misadventures.

As you can see on the photos you have of his tombstone at Arlington, it does not say on it but should have said on it: “He had friends in high places.” Those friends included General W. T. Sherman who during Dudley’s ” time of need” happened to be General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army. I’m sure you don’t want much of this in a biography, but I thought you might be interested personally.

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Seated in the rocking chair is Major General Christopher 
Columbus Augur and seated to his left is
Colonel Nathan A. M. Dudley
Photo Courtesy of the  Archives, Louisiana State University

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