24th Massachusetts Infantry - General Killed at Spotsylvania

Item CDV-10615

Description

24th Massachusetts Infantry
United States Volunteers - General Staff
Killed at Spotsylvania
Thomas G. Stevenson
Colonel & Brigadier General
Backmark: Boston
Identified in period ink
CDV is from the Mike McAfee Collection

THOMAS GREELY STEVENSON

Stevenson, Thomas G., brigadier general, was the son of
Honorable J. Thomas Stevenson of Boston, Mass., born in 1836, and
early manifested a predilection for military life, having risen
from the ranks to major of the 4th battalion of Mass. infantry,
which position he held at the commencement of the war. He had
an unsurpassed reputation as a drill-master and his command,
which was brought to a high degree of discipline, became the
school of many young officers afterward distinguished in the
Federal service. In the fall of 1861 he recruited the 24th
Mass. infantry, which originally formed part of Foster's
brigade in Burnside's expedition to North Carolina, and as its
colonel participated in the capture of Roanoke Island and New
Berne, February and March, 1862, and in various minor operations
immediately succeeding those events. After holding for some
months the outpost defences of New Berne, he conducted several
expeditions within the Confederate lines and on Sept. 6
successfully defended Washington, N. C. against an attack by a
superior force. He had charge of a brigade in the movements on
Goldsboro and Kinston and in December, 1862, was appointed a
brigadier-general of volunteers and when Gen. Foster organized
the expedition for operations against Charleston, in Feb.,
1863, received command of a brigade in Gen. Naglee's division.
His appointment as brigadier-general was confirmed in March,
1863, and during the succeeding summer he saw much active
service in the neighborhood of Charleston, assisting in the
reduction of Morris Island and the assault on Fort Wagner,
where he commanded the reserves. He returned to the north in
the fall to recruit his health and subsequently was appointed
by his old commander, General Burnside, who had a high
appreciation of his capacity, to command the 1st division of
the 9th corps. General Stevenson was killed near Spotsylvania,
Va., on May 10, 1864.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8