Dewey, Joel Allen, 1840-1873

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Dewey was born in Georgia, Vermont, the son of Horace and Harriet (Peck) Dewey. He entered Oberlin College in 1858, but withdrew in October 1861 when he accepted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 58th Ohio Infantry. He was promoted to captain and served in the 43rd Ohio Infantry. Dewey was engaged at New Madrid, Iuka, Corinth, and on garrison duty in Tennessee.

He was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 111th U.S. Colored Infantry. He led a brigade in operations in Alabama, and was captured by Nathan Forrest's cavalry near Athens, Georgia. After he was exchanged, he served in Alabama and Tennessee for the remainder of the war. He was promoted to brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers on November 20, 1865, at the young age of 25, although his nomination was not sent to the U.S. Senate by President Andrew Johnson until January 13, 1866 and the U.S. Senate did not confirm the appointment until February 23, 1866. He resigned from the volunteer service on January 1, 1866, having declined a captaincy in the Regular Army. He was mustered out on January 31, 1866.

After the war, he studied law at the Albany, New York, Law School, graduating in 1867, and moved to Dandridge, Tennessee, where he practiced law. He was Attorney General of the Second District of Tennessee from 1869 until his death in 1873, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is buried in Dandridge, Tennessee.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Philip Case Lockwood memorial collection of Civil War portraits and autographs, 1862-ca. 1886. Houghton Library
referencedIn Consolidated File for Colonel Joel A. Dewey, 111th USCT Infantry Regiment United States. National Archives and Records Administration
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Military Service Record of Joel A Dewey, 111th US Colored Infantry United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1867 - Dewey, Joel A - File No. D42 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1865 - Dewey, J A - File No. D816 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf 1866 - Dewey, J A - File No. D11 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Dewey, Joel A - Unit: 43rd Infantry, Company: H - Enlistment Rank: Lt, Discharge Rank: Capt United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Claim Number 736, Brigadier General Joel A. Dewey United States. National Archives and Records Administration
contributorOf Dewey, I A - State: Ohio - Year: 1866 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
Place Name Admin Code Country
Albany NY US
Oberlin OH US
Mississippi MS US
Tennessee TN US
Vermont VT US
Corinth MS US
New Madrid MO US
Knoxville TN US
Subject
Civil War, 1861-1865
Corinth, Battle of, Corinth, Miss., 1862
Island No. 10 (Mo. and Tenn.), Battle of, 1862
Iuka, Battle of, Iuka, Miss., 1862
Prisoners of war
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Occupation
Lawyers
Union Army soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1840-09-20

Death 1873-06-17

Male

Americans

English

Related Descriptions
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SNAC ID: 36893420