The Fort Stevens Post Cemetery

Visitors to this hallowed site, whether in bright sunlight or on a wet overcast day, become aware of an atmosphere of reverence and tranquility. This historic piece of land abounds in local legend and its grave stones are some of the oldest surviving in the county.

Fort Stevens Post Cemetery was established in May of 1868, when the earliest burial was Private August Stahlberger, Battery "C" 2nd U.S. Artillery. His death was first listed as "falling in the river and drowning under the influence." A reputation for heavy drinking was attributed to this for outpost due to the soldiers isolation during their tour of duty. The causes of death are myriad at Fort Stevens but some, like Private Stahlberger add mystery to the local tales, since his official listing was "death caused by blows from a person or persons unknown." Stones marked "unknown" are from drowning at sea, washed ashore near Fort Stevens. The second burial was Private Bernard McCormack, Co. M, 1st Cavalry, a transient between stations. He also drowned in the Columbia.

The site is one of two Army cemeteries still active and accepting Veterans today on the West Coast. The other is Fort Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery, in Vancouver Washington.

The first Fort Stevens Post Cemetery was located about a quarter of a mile south of the Post, on the edge of the road heading out of the garrison. This was later determined to be somewhere between the "East Barracks," used after 1947 as a school house, and the field officer's quarters to the south.

Today's cemetery is the second ?. It was built in 1905 on this elevated ground near the southern limit of the post. This site originally contained only the remains from the first cemetery burials. It was enclosed with the ironwork fence in 1913 and designated as the place of interment for all posts in the Artillery District of Columbia. Fifty known graves at Fort Canby were moved to this sit during this time.

An unusual fact to note is that the graves lie in a North and South direction, instead of the customary East and West, an exception granted due to the slope of the land. The East and West direction is customary so that the person who is buried may "see the sunrise." This custom dates back some 4000 years.

Walking among the grave stones today, a visitor will see that new military headstones have replaced older stones because age and weather had made the older ones unreadable. The new stones are set in concrete to prevent and leaning or sinking in the sandy soil of the site, as happened to many others in the past.

Fort Stevens National Cemetery — now maintained by Willamette NC

Fort Stevens National Cemetery — (formerly know as Fort Stevens Post Cemetery)