Addison J. Hodges (November 26, 1842 – July 28, 1923) was a decorated hero of the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. He was born in Hillsdale, Michigan.

War service

Hodges mustered on 15 June 1861 to Company B of the 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. According to the

Military Times Sightline Media Group, formerly Gannett Government Media and Army Times Publishing Company, is a United States company that publishes newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications about the U.S. and other militaries. The company's '' ...

Hall of Valor, "on 3 May 1863, while serving with Company B,

47th Ohio Infantry The 47th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment had 14 Medal of Honor recipients, the most of any Ohio regiment during the war. Service The 47th Ohio Infantry Regiment was org ...

, in action at

Vicksburg, Mississippi Vicksburg is a historic city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat, and the population at the 2010 census was 23,856. Located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana, Vic ...

. Private Hodges was one of a party which volunteered and attempted to run the enemy's

batteries Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

with a

steam Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization ...

tug A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, suc ...

and two

barge Barge nowadays generally refers to a flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. The first modern barges were pulled by tugs, but nowadays most are pushed by pusher boats, or other vessels ...

s loaded with subsistence stores." Hodges and nine others in Company B did this while

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

batteries were

shooting Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missiles can ...

at them "under cover of

darkness Darkness, the direct opposite of lightness, is defined as a lack of illumination, an absence of visible light, or a surface that absorbs light, such as black or brown. Human vision is unable to distinguish colors in conditions of very low lu ...

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

William Henry Ward William Henry Ward on 30 April 1872 was granted a USA patent for "Improvement for collecting electricity for telegraphing" (). He theorized that an "electrical layer in the atmosphere" could carry signals like a telegraph wire, and thus is sometimes ...

asked for ten volunteers, but originally got twelve. He got permission to take the twelve. Hodges was one of the original volunteers, but as many more men wanted to go, Hodges sold his spot. When Ward found out, he made Hodges go as well. These fifteen were joined by fifteen men of the 27th Missouri. The tug towing the barges took a direct hit, blew up, and sank. The explosion set the two barges on fire. Sixteen of the thirty-five were taken prisoner. Only four of the thirty-five evaded capture. Fifteen had perished. The ten Prisoners of War from the 47th were freed when Vicksburg surrendered in July. Rank and organization: Private, Company B,

. Place and date: At Vicksburg, MS., May 3, 1863 Citation:

Was one of a party that volunteered and attempted to run the enemy's batteries with a steam tug and 2 barges loaded with subsistence stores.

After liberation, Hodges rejoined the 47th and was promoted to Corporal. Hodges mustered out near Atlanta in May and liberated in September and mustered out 26 September 1864.

Post War

Hodges returned to Adrian, Michigan and married Eliza C Colvin. They had three children. Hodges was awarded his Medal of Honor "for extreme bravery under fire" on December 31, 1907.

Notes

References

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External links

Civil War Index: 47th Ohio Infantry Soldier Roster
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hodges, Addison J. 1842 births 1923 deaths Union Army soldiers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Military personnel from Michigan People from Adrian, Michigan

War service

Post War

See also

Notes

References

External links