Born in Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, February 25, 1843. Enlisted at Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio, October 21, 1861, in Co. C, 43rd O. V. I. This regiment was organized at Camp Andrews, Mount Vernon, Ohio, February 7, 1862, under command of Col. J. L. Kirby Smith (a nephew of the rebel Kirby Smith), whose brilliant outset was cut short by a wound received at the battle of Corinth, Miss., October 4, and died October 12, 1862. The regiment was assigned to the command of Brigadier Gen'l. John Pope and in the Ohio Brigade, composed of the 27th, 39th, 43rd and 63rd O. V. I. 1st Division Army of Mississippi. Its first engagement was at New Madrid, and it bore a conspicuous part in all the movements of Pope's army, at Island No. 10, and in the capture of Gen. McCall, at Tiptonville, Tennessee. The Ohio Brigade was prominent in the battles around Corinth, under Halleck, when Rosecrans met Price and Van Dorn at Iuka, and here the 43rd and 63rd withstood the terrible assault of the rebels in their efforts to capture Battery Robinnett and Battery Williams. Here they fought hand to hand, contested against and whipped the pride of Price and Van Dorn's army. Here the gallant Col. Smith was wounded and died a few days after. They then went to Oxford, Miss., and against Forrest in west Tenn., and in Gen. Dodge's raid into Alabama in 1863, and went with General Sherman from Memphis to the relief of the Army of the Cumberland. In December, 1863, the regiment almost unanimously re-enlisted as veterans and went on a furlough of 30 days in Ohio. They captured the town of Decatur, Ala., then returned to take part in Sherman's march to the sea and up through the Carolinas, and at River's Bridge fight, the Col. (Swayne) losing a leg, and in charging a battery commanding the bridge completely routing the rebels. The regiment marched to Washington and took part in the Grand Review and was sent to Louisville, Ky., thence to Ohio, and was mustered out July 13, 1865, after a faithful and honorable service. Comrade Rodgers was in all its marches, skirmishes and battles during its long service, and only lost five ddays during that time. He may well be proud of the record of the 43rd O. V. I., and so may his children be proud of their father's service, rendered in defence of the dear old flag.