Aaron Fletcher Stevens (August 9, 1819 – May 10, 1887) was a

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

officer during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

and a two-term U.S. Congressman.

Birth and early years

Stevens was born in

Londonderry, New Hampshire Londonderry is a town in western Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. It sits between Manchester and Derry, the largest and fourth-largest communities in the state. The population was 25,826 at the 2020 census. Londonderry is known f ...

on August 9, 1819.Eicher, John H., and

David J. Eicher David John Eicher (born August 7, 1961) is an American editor, writer, and popularizer of astronomy and space. He has been editor-in-chief of ''Astronomy'' magazine since 2002. He is author, coauthor, or editor of 23 books on science and American ...

, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . p. 509. He spent his childhood in both Londonderry and also nearby

Peterborough Peterborough () is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, east of England. It is the largest part of the City of Peterborough unitary authority district (which covers a larger area than Peterborough itself). It was part of Northamptonshire until ...

and attended

Pinkerton Academy Pinkerton Academy is a secondary school in Derry, New Hampshire, United States. It serves roughly 3,269 students, making it by far the largest high school in New Hampshire, more than 1,300 students greater than the Nashua High School South, next ...

. He was a machinist, lawyer and state legislator before the Civil War. 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. He was mustered out of the volunteers on August 9, 1861. He rejoined the Union Army on September 23, 1862 as

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

of the new 13th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment. 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) IX Corps (Ninth Army Corps) was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War that distinguished itself in combat in multiple theaters: the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Corps history Formation, Second Bu ...

, Department of Virginia, January – February, 1863 and Brigade 3, Division 1,

XVIII Corps (Union Army) XVIII Corps was a North Carolina corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Origins and makeup The XVIII Corps was created on December 24, 1862. It was initially composed of five divisions stationed in North Carolina, making it one ...

Army of the James The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of units from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River during the final operations of the American Civil War in Virginia. History The Union Department ...

, from July 31, 1864 to September 29, 1864. Stevens was wounded at the

Battle of Fort Harrison Fort Harrison was a War of 1812 era stockade constructed in Oct. 1811 on high ground overlooking the Wabash River on a portion of what is today the modern city of Terre Haute, Indiana, by forces under command of Gen. William Henry Harrison. It w ...

on September 29, 1864. On December 12, 1864,

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

nominated Stevens for appointment to the grade of brevet

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

of volunteers, to rank from December 8, 1864, and the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1865. Stevens was mustered out of the volunteers on June 29, 1865. Stevens served two terms in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

, March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871. Aaron Fletcher Stevens died at

Nashua Nashua may refer to: * Nashaway people, Native American tribe living in 17th-century New England Places In Australia: * Nashua, New South Wales In the United States: * Nashua, California * Nashua, Iowa * Nashua, Minnesota * Nashua, Kansas City ...

, May 10, 1887. He was buried at Universalist Church Cemetery, Nashua, New Hamphshire.Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown, ''Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue.'' Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990. . p. 585.

Notes

References

* Eicher, John H., and

, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . * Hunt, Roger D. and Jack R. Brown, ''Brevet Brigadier Generals in Blue.'' Gaithersburg, MD: Olde Soldier Books, Inc., 1990. .

External links

General Aaron Fletcher Stevens In the Collections of the New Hampshire State House & State LibraryLibrary of Congress Bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Aaron Fletcher 1819 births 1887 deaths 19th-century American politicians Union Army colonels People of New Hampshire in the American Civil War People from Derry, New Hampshire New Hampshire lawyers Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire People from Peterborough, New Hampshire Pinkerton Academy alumni 19th-century American lawyers

Birth and early years

Civil War

See also

Notes

References

External links