Dorsey received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Great Locomotive Chase in Georgia in April 1862.

The mission involved attempting to disrupt Confederate telegraph, bridge and rail communication.

[3][4] Dorsey, among those who had been captured, managed to escape from the Fulton County jail on 16 October 1862, rejoining his company soon afterwards.

[2] Dorsey married Annie C. Miller shortly after leaving the army.

[5] One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.