Stewart Leonard Van Vliet (July 21, 1815 – March 28, 1901), was a United States Army officer who fought on the side of the Union during the American Civil War.

Early life

Van Vliet was born in Ferrisburg, Vermont, the son of Rachel Hough and Christian Van Vliet. He grew up and was educated in Fishkill, New York. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1836, graduating in 1840, 9th in a class of 42. Among the members of his class were several future Civil War generals:

Paul Octave Hebert Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

(1/CSA), William Tecumseh Sherman (6/USA),

John P. McCown John Porter McCown (August 19, 1815 – January 22, 1879) was a career officer in the United States Army, fighting in the Mexican–American War and in the Seminole Wars. He also served as a general in the Confederate Army during the American ...

(10/CSA),

George Henry Thomas George Henry Thomas (July 31, 1816March 28, 1870) was an American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and one of the principal commanders in the Western Theater. Thomas served in the Mexican–American War and later chose ...

(12/USA),

Richard S. Ewell Richard Stoddert Ewell (February 8, 1817 – January 25, 1872) was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee ...

(13/CSA),

James Green Martin James Green Martin (February 14, 1819 – October 4, 1878) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Early life Martin was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the son of Dr. William D. Martin an ...

(14/CSA), George W. Getty (15/USA), William Hays (18/USA),

Bushrod Johnson Bushrod Rust Johnson (October 7, 1817 – September 12, 1880) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War and an officer in the United States Army. As a university professor he had been active in the state militias of Kentucky and Tenness ...

(23/CSA), William Steele (31/CSA), and Thomas Jordan (41/CSA). Van Vliet was attached in the U.S. 3rd Artillery during the Seminole Wars, seeing action in several engagements, "in one of which he killed an Indian chief in a hand to hand fight."Ullery, part iii, p. 162 He served in the Mexican–American War with General Zachary Taylor at the Battle of Monterrey, and under General Winfield Scott at the Siege of Veracruz. After the war, he was stationed in Kansas, helping build forts along the Platte River. He was married at Fort Laramie, March 6, 1851, to Sarah Jane Brown, the daughter of Major Jacob Brown. In September 1855, he served in the Sioux Expedition under

Col. 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 of ...

William S. Harney William Selby Harney (August 22, 1800 – May 9, 1889) was a Tennessee-born cavalry officer in the US Army, who became known during the Indian Wars and the Mexican–American War for his brutality and ruthlessness. One of four general officers ...

, and in 1857, with Col. Albert Sidney Johnston in the Utah War against the

Mormons Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...

. His obituary provides the following rendition of his participation in that expedition: "He fitted out Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's expedition against the Mormons, who were in open revolt against the United States, and after it started was ordered to go on ahead and communicate with Brigham Young. He made a rapid thousand-mile drive from Leavenworth to Salt Lake City, traveling with his escort of thirty soldiers, in light wagons. On approaching Utah several travelers urged him to turn back, as the Mormons had threatened his life. He was so much impressed by these warnings that he left his little force 150 miles from Salt Lake City, in order not to endanger their lives, and rode into the Mormon stronghold alone. He was treated courteously, and the trouble was settled without bloodshed."

Civil War

Van Vliet was promoted to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

on August 3, 1861, and brigadier general, Volunteers, on September 23, 1861. During the Civil War, he was chief quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac from August 1861 until July 10, 1862. His appointment to brigadier general expired a week later, and he was stationed in New York City for the remainder of the war, coordinating supplies and transportation for troops in the field. In October 1864, he received

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

promotions to

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

, colonel and brigadier general, U.S. Army, and major general in the U.S. Army and Volunteers. He was again promoted to brigadier general, Volunteers on March 13, 1865.

Later life

After the war, he remained in the Regular Army until 1881, when he retired as Assistant Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army. His last assignment was on the Retiring Board, starting in 1879. He stayed in Washington, D.C., after he retired, and died there on March 28, 1901. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. General Van Vliet was a member of the Aztec Club, the Holland Society, the St. Nicholas Society, the Loyal Legion and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Notes

References

* Boatner, Mark M., ''The Civil War Dictionary,'' New York: Vintage Books, 9188, October 1991 edition, pp. 867–868. * Obituary, ''New York Times'', March 29, 1901 * Peck, Theodore S., compiler, ''Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861-66. Montpelier, VT.: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co., 1892, p. 731. * Ullery, Jacob G., compiler, ''Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont,'' Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, part iii, p. 162.

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