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Civil War Soldiers - Stevens
| Stevens, Isaac I., major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Andover, Mass., in 1817. He graduated at West Point
in 1839, ranking first in his class, and was commissioned second
lieutenant of engineers. In 1840 he became first lieutenant and was
employed upon the fortifications of the New England coast until the
Mexican war, at that time being adjutant of engineers. He was attached
to Gen. Scott's staff and for gallant and meritorious conduct at the
battles of Contreras and Churubusco was brevetted captain, and major
for his heroic conduct at the storming of Chapultepec and the city of
Mexico, where he received a severe wound from which he never fully
recovered. Upon his return to the United States he was selected by
Prof. Bache to perform the duties of chief of the coast survey at
Washington. In 1853 he resigned his commission and accepted the
appointment of governor of Washington territory, where he became known
as an able executive officer, displaying the most unremitting devotion
to the interests of the territory. During the administration of
President Buchanan he represented Washington territory as delegate in
Congress for two terms. He was the chairman of the Breckinridge
executive committee in the presidential campaign of 1860; but when the
Southern leaders declared for secession he openly denounced them and
stood by the Federal government, strongly urging President Buchanan to
remove Secs. Floyd and Thompson from the cabinet and trust to the
counsels of Gen. Scott. At the close of the session of Congress Gov.
Stevens proceeded to Washington territory, but upon hearing of the
attack upon Fort Sumter returned to Washington and offered his
services to the government. He was appointed colonel of the 79th N. Y.
Highlanders. He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers on
Sept. 28, 1861, and accompanied Gen. Sherman to South Carolina, where
he bore a prominent part in all the battles near Port Royal. He was
then transferred to North Carolina, whence he came to Virginia in the
corps of Gen. Reno and was promoted to the rank of major-general of
volunteers, his commission bearing date of July 4, 1862. He was in all
the skirmishes along the Rappahannock under Gen. Pope and fought most
gallantly in the battle of Chantilly, where he was killed Sept. 1,
1862. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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