Career
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army on April 23, 1861 in an independent company of artillery formed in Pennsylvania. He was promoted in the Regular Army to the rank of 1st lieutenant in the 4th Artillery on the 5th of August of the same year. He received a brevet (honorary promotion) to the rank of major on September 20, 1863.
He remained in the Army after the war and was promoted to captain in 1869, major in 1892, lieutenant colonel in 1899 and to colonel in 1901.
He was promoted to brigadier general the day before his retirement from the Army on August 5, 1903. He was the son of Delaware politician George B. Rodney.
