Career
He should not be confused with the legislator Caleb Dorsey, a cousin, who also lived in the same region of California. Dorsey was a resident of Pike County, Missouri and served as Sergeant Company Doctorate, 2nd United States Cavalry from 1855-1861.
During the Civil War he served as Major in the 4th Cavalry Regiment of the Second Division of the Missouri State Guard.
Given authority to recruit a regiment for the MSG he served as colonel of his own provisional unit This regiment was nearly destroyed at the Battle of Mount Zion Church in December
1861. Dorsey was captured February
15, 1862
Dorsey commanded a cavalry squadron in Confederate service in November 1862 in Arkansas, and after several engagements it disbanded sometime in 1863. Dorsey was recruiting again in Northeast Missouri in advance of Sterling Price"s Raid into Missouri in 1864.
He was unable to join the raiders and eventually made his way to Arkansas with a much reduced command. These were merged into Slayback"s battalion to form a regiment with Dorsey serving as Lieutenant
