Civil War Union Major General, U.S. Congressman, Washington Territorial Governor. After his graduation from West Point in 1839, he served with distinction in the Corps of Engineers and as an Army officer during the Mexican War. After having led an expedition to map out a proposed railroad route to the Northwest, he resigned from the U.S. Army to assume the post of first Governor of the Territory of Washington, a duty he held from 1853 to 1857. From 1857 to 1861, he was a delegate to the United States Congress from Washington. He entered the Union Army with a commission of Colonel and commander of the 79th New York Volunteer Infantry (the "Highlanders") on July 30, 1861, replacing Colonel James Cameron, who was killed in the First Battle of Bull Run. Promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers in September 1861, he commanded a brigade in operations in South Carolina, taking part in the Union defeat at Secessionville in July 1862. He was then given command of a Division during the Second Bull Run Campaign of August 1862, and, in the September 1, 1862 Battle of Chantilly, Virginia, he was shot in the head and instantly killed while attempting to rally his men. He was posthumously promoted to Major General, US Volunteers in March 1863. His son, Major Hazard Stevens, served as his aide in the battle, and went on to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and to receive a brevet of Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers. Father and son now lay side by side in Newport's Island Cemetery. A monument honoring his sacrifice exists today in the remnents of the Chantilly Battlefield, standing next to a monument to Major General Philip Kearny, who was also killed in the battle.
Civil War Union Major General, U.S. Congressman, Washington Territorial Governor. After his graduation from West Point in 1839, he served with distinction in the Corps of Engineers and as an Army officer during the Mexican War. After having led an expedition to map out a proposed railroad route to the Northwest, he resigned from the U.S. Army to assume the post of first Governor of the Territory of Washington, a duty he held from 1853 to 1857. From 1857 to 1861, he was a delegate to the United States Congress from Washington. He entered the Union Army with a commission of Colonel and commander of the 79th New York Volunteer Infantry (the "Highlanders") on July 30, 1861, replacing Colonel James Cameron, who was killed in the First Battle of Bull Run. Promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers in September 1861, he commanded a brigade in operations in South Carolina, taking part in the Union defeat at Secessionville in July 1862. He was then given command of a Division during the Second Bull Run Campaign of August 1862, and, in the September 1, 1862 Battle of Chantilly, Virginia, he was shot in the head and instantly killed while attempting to rally his men. He was posthumously promoted to Major General, US Volunteers in March 1863. His son, Major Hazard Stevens, served as his aide in the battle, and went on to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and to receive a brevet of Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers. Father and son now lay side by side in Newport's Island Cemetery. A monument honoring his sacrifice exists today in the remnents of the Chantilly Battlefield, standing next to a monument to Major General Philip Kearny, who was also killed in the battle.
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