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Dodges Who Served
The French Indian War

"Not for fame or reward, not for place or for rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity, but in simple obedience to duty as they understood it. They suffered all, sacrificed all, dared all, and died."
The middle photo is of the Tower at Fort William Henry, one of the forts where battles took place during the French and Indian Wars, and the photos on the left and right of the tower, are of Fort Ticonderoga in the late 1800s before the reconstruction. This fortress changed hands many times in the course of its useful life. It was blown up by the French, abandoned by the British and allowed to molder away to ruin by the Americans. The magnificent (and sometimes controversial) reconstruction we now know as Ticonderoga is a reconstruction created during the early years of the 20th Century. (This text is taken from the linked web site) Read a brief history of the French-Indian wars.
Music of the French and Indian War - Scroll to 'Songs of War' - This site plays the music of each song and includes songs of other wars and other countries as well.

Uniform of the French Indian War:
Just to picture an average American Infantryman in the mid to late war he would probably have a Jacket, Rifleman's shirt or Work Smock, Waistcoat, Shirt, Overalls, Shoes and Snap Brim or Cocked hat. He would be equipped with a Musket, have a Cartridge Box, Sling, or Belly Box on a belt, have a Bayonet and an axe on a baldric suspension. He would have a Knapsack slung high, as well as a tin or wooden canteen. He might have a knapsack of either pattern and within this, in addition to his blanket, extra shirt, stockings, and sundries, might be a Regimental Coat. A tin cup and perhaps a pot would be fastened to his gear somewhere. In cold weather, he would wear the Regimental coat over everything and add mittens. He could have either the Half gaitors or wool leggings.
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John Dodge of Middle Chinnock, Somerset, England, was the father of William and Richard who came to America in 1629 and 1638, respectively. They settled in what is now, Salem, Massachusetts. Tristram Dodge came to Block Island, Rhode Island in 1660/61. He came from England, via Newfoundland, via Massachusetts.
Lineage - Tristram Dodge of Block Island

Israel Dodge: Caulkin's History of New London (Connecticut), page 32, says Israel was of the North Parish when he enlisted in the French War in the expedition against Cape Breton, March 1744-5.

Following their defeat by the British in 1713, and the loss of New Foundland and Nova Scotia, the French desired to defend their fortunes in Canada against further English incursions. France therefore spent millions in gold to build the 'impregnable fortress' of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island at the mouth of the St. Lawrence.

This fortress menaced the New England fisheries and the Governor of Massachusetts Bay conceived a siege to capture the great Bastion. An army of New England militia made an amphibious landing in April, 1745 near Louisbourg.

Israel embarked in this army from New London on April 13, 1745, serving in the command of General Roger Wolcott.

Samuel Eliot Morrison, in his History of the American People, Page 158, relates the episode: (the forces) 'established a beachhead out of reach of the 150 gunned French fortress and conducted the campaign in a spirit of rustic frolic, defying both military discipline and principles of strategy. The Troops captured an outlaying battery from the rear, dragged artillery through supposedly impassable swamps, chased French cannonballs to shoot them back from their own guns and went fishing when they felt like it. ButÉ the net effect of their pluck and enterprise was to discourage and confuse the French commander of Louisbourg that on June 16, 1745 he surrendered both town and fortress.'

Three days after the surrender, on June 19 word was received in New London that Israel had fallen victim to disease. 'Having enlisted in the king's service to go to war,' he made his will March 16, 1744. Will filed Aug 13, 1745. He bequeathed to wife Rachel lands etc., while she remains his widow and to his children, mentioning the girls in the following order as 'first daughter,' 'second daughter,' etc., and calls his son Ezra his 'old son,' and Nehemiah his 'young son.'

Israel was the son of Israel Dodge and Hannah (last name unknown). He was the grandson of Tristram Dodge of Block Island.


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