Quartermaster Joseph B. Dorr

Quartermaster Joseph B. Dorr, was born in Western New York August 25, 1825; removed to Buffalo in 1845 and to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1847; commenced the publication of the Western Democrat at Andrew in 1849, and three years later removed to Dubuque and entered into partnership with D. A. Mahoney and published the Dubuque Herald. In 1855 he bought out his partner's interest in the Herald and published the paper alone until 1861. When the war broke out, his loyalty caused him to sink party and financial interests and tendered his services to the Governor of the State. He was commissioned Quartermaster of the 12th Iowa November 5, 1861, and entered at once upon the discharge of his duties. He was with his regiment constantly until the battle of Shiloh when he was captured and confined at Macon, Ga. With Lieutenant Elwell of Company E, he escaped from prison and made his way to the Union lines. He then applied for and received authority to raise a regiment of cavalry in Iowa. He enlisted 1,700 men and on the 30th day of September 1863 was mustered into United States service as Colonel of 8th Iowa Cavalry. During the summer of 1864 he was commanding his regiment in the Atlanta campaign. In one of the cavalry raids to the rear of Atlanta he was wounded, his regiment surrounded and nearly captured. Colonel Dorr refused to relinquish the command; ordered and led a charge which broke the enemy's lines and enabled a part of his regiment to escape. The wounded Colonel was captured and taken to Charleston, S. C., where he, with other officers, was placed under the fire of the Union guns, and remained there until October when he was exchanged and returned to his command. He was in active service in Tennessee and Georgia during the winter of 1864-5. In this service he contracted disease of which he died, in the service, May 28, 1865.

SOURCE: David W. Reed, Campaigns and battles of the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 254-5