Union Soldier. On 1 July , 1861 he enrolled as a musician in the 13th Ohio Volunteer Regiment. He was discharged on September 28, 1862, at Louisville, Kentucky. It was in this unit is where he received his nickname Dixie.
He re-enlisted on June 4, 1863 as a 2Lt of Battery B, the 11th Regiment by Governor Smith of Vermont.
He enlisted 7 Dec 1863, in Company L, of the 11th Vermont Infantry. Promoted to Corporal on 23 Mar 1864; promoted to 1SGT on 29 May 1864. Captured at the Battle of Weldon Railroad in Petersburg, Virginia, on 23 Jun 1864 and became a prisoner at Andersonville Prison. Dickinson was paroled on 16 Dec 1864.
The 11th Vermont Infantry was also known as the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery; the names were used interchangably for most of its career.

Union Soldier. On 1 July , 1861 he enrolled as a musician in the 13th Ohio Volunteer Regiment. He was discharged on September 28, 1862, at Louisville, Kentucky. It was in this unit is where he received his nickname Dixie.
He re-enlisted on June 4, 1863 as a 2Lt of Battery B, the 11th Regiment by Governor Smith of Vermont.
He enlisted 7 Dec 1863, in Company L, of the 11th Vermont Infantry. Promoted to Corporal on 23 Mar 1864; promoted to 1SGT on 29 May 1864. Captured at the Battle of Weldon Railroad in Petersburg, Virginia, on 23 Jun 1864 and became a prisoner at Andersonville Prison. Dickinson was paroled on 16 Dec 1864.
The 11th Vermont Infantry was also known as the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery; the names were used interchangably for most of its career.