Aaron Fletcher Stevens

Aaron Fletcher Stevens (August 9, 1819 – May 10, 1887) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and a two-term U.S. Congressman.

Aaron Fletcher Stevens
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	Edward H. Rollins
Succeeded by	Samuel N. Bell
Personal details
Born	August 9, 1819 Derry, New Hampshire
Died	May 10, 1887 (aged 67) Nashua, New Hampshire
Political party	Republican
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Rank	Colonel Brevet Brigadier General
Unit	1st New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
Commands	13th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Proctor's Creek Battle of Chaffin's Farm

Birth and early years

Stevens was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire on August 9, 1819.[1][2] He spent his childhood in both Londonderry and also nearby Peterborough and attended Pinkerton Academy. He was a machinist, lawyer and state legislator before the Civil War.[1] In 1845, he was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar, and helped found the New Hampshire Republican Party in the mid-1850s.

Civil War

When the Civil War began he joined the 1st New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry as a major.[1] He was mustered out of the volunteers on August 9, 1861.[1] He rejoined the Union Army on September 23, 1862 as colonel of the new 13th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment.[1] He and the regiment participated in the disastrous attack against Marye's Heights in the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Stevens commanded Brigade 1, Division 1, IX Corps (Union Army), Department of Virginia, January – February, 1863 and Brigade 3, Division 1, XVIII Corps (Union Army), Army of the James, from July 31, 1864 to September 29, 1864.[1] Stevens was wounded at the Battle of Fort Harrison on September 29, 1864.[1]

On December 12, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Stevens for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from December 8, 1864, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1865.[3] Stevens was mustered out of the volunteers on June 29, 1865.[1]

Stevens served two terms in the United States House of Representatives, March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871.[1]

Aaron Fletcher Stevens died at Nashua, May 10, 1887.[1] He was buried at Universalist Church Cemetery, Nashua, New Hamphshire.[1][4]

See also

• List of American Civil War brevet generals (Union)

Notes

1. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 509.
2. Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown, Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue. Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990. ISBN 978-1-56013-002-4. p. 585 shows his birth place as nearby Derry, New Hampshire.
3. Eicher, 2001, p. 758.
4. Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown, Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue. Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990. ISBN 978-1-56013-002-4. p. 585.

References

• Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
• Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown, Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue. Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990. ISBN 978-1-56013-002-4.

External links

• General Aaron Fletcher Stevens In the Collections of the New Hampshire State House & State Library
• Library of Congress Bio