 Dickey was authorized by the State of Illinois to raise a company of cavalry in August 1861.This company became the nucleus of the 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, the recruitment of which resulted in a dispute between Colonel Dickey and Illinois Governor Richard Yates over the commissions to be granted to the officers of the regiment, a valuable tool of political patronage.In the end, Governor Yates accepted Colonel Dickey's choices and granted them their commissions.