The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Cavalry) Francis Safford Dodge, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 29 September 1879, while serving with Troop D, 9th U.S. Cavalry, in action at White River Agency, Colorado. With a force of 40 men Captain Dodge rode all night to the relief of a command that had been defeated and was besieged by an overwhelming force of Indians, reached the field at daylight, joined in the action and fought for three days.