The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-06-20
Death of 1t. George stevens

We heard with regret-painiul regret,n few
days since, of the death Of It, GEoRGE STr-
VEINS, much beloved son of Henry Ste
vens, Esq. of Bnrnet,-which occurred by
drowning, in the Rio GrandG, while attempt
ing TO cross that River in connection with
Gen Taylors Army.
We publish below n copy of Il letter address,
ed to his father, and received the 18th inst,
from Lieut. Potter in relation to the death and
burial Of Lieut.. Stevens,
Army of Occupation, Camp opposite }
Mntamoras, May 30, ls4O. )
DEAN Sm:--I have the painful duty Of an
nouncing TO yoursefS family the melancholy
news of the death fyour son, 1t. GEoRGE STE-
vESs, of the I'd Regt, u. S. Dragons He
wns drowned on the 18th of the present month,
while attempting 10 cross the Rio Grande,-
while crossing the river, with his company,
his horse became FESTIVE and he lost his seat in
the saddle, his foot caught in the stlrruP and by
the continual plunging ofhis horse -he was
held under water. Every attempt was made
TO rescue him, hut in win. His remains were
recovered on the morning of the 2Oth and IN
TERED in Fort Brown, with the honors due n
brnye and accomplished soldier. Lieut. Ste
vens was universally beloved and esteemed by
his own Regiment, and by all that knew him
and his loss viii be regretted by all. had
the honor of being one of his most intimate
friends and was also a member of his class at
the Military Academy. Lieut. SIS personal at
fairs will be- attended 10 by the officers of his
Regiment, from whom you will probably re-
cciye every information in their possession.
have the honor TO be your most obt servt.
j. II. POTTER, I'd 1t. I'd Regt. INIT.
In dispatch of Gen. Taylor to the War
Department, we find the annexed paragraph:
al deeply regret to report that Lieut. George
Stevens, very promising young oihcer oil inc
I'd Dragons, was accidentally drowned this
morning while attempting to SWIM the river
with his squadron
1t Stevens was born June g, 1871 If he
had been spared until the sth inst he would
have been % years Of age.
He graduated at the Military Academy, West
Point, June ls43. Previous to his receiving the
appointment as Cadet, he was for some time
a student nj the Grammar School at Lyndon,
and at the Newbury Seminary, also for a time
a student at Peacham Academy. II is years
the 18th ofthe present month since he left his
home for the Military Academy at West Point.
During the first four years Of his absence, ne
visited his parents twice. He left his home
for the Army, Oct. 10, ls43, and joined his
Regiment at Fort Jesup, La. August, ls44,
the Commanding officer AT Fort Jesup received
dispatches from our Charge at Houston, Texas
-thesr dispatches were entrusted TO Lieut..
Stevens Il were by. him brought 20 Washing
ton Lieut. s was then sent by the Execu-
tive with dispatches to our Charge at Houston,
Texas. He travelled on horseback from Fort
Jesup to Houstan, and back again, near 500
miles, gong aud coming The route he trav-
ellcd in 10 days, and was detained two days at
Houston with his favorite Gray Horse, which
he called "Ethan Allen" His Regiment left
Fort Jcsup last July for Corpus Christi during
this expedition, Lieut.. $. ofhcisted as ToPo-
| graphical Engineer, After arriving with he's
Regiment at Corpus Christi he was detached
with 20 Dragons 20 accompany the Pnymns'
ter OF thc American Army 10 San Antonio
/ For a portion of the time his Regiment was al
Corpus Christi, Lieut. oificiated as AdJntnni
/ to his Regiment He marched with the A.
merican Army TO the Rio Grande opposite
Maiamoras, now For, Brown After said fort
was completed, he marched with Gen Taylor :
Army to Point isabel, May ID. The next day
he wrote to his parents giving the position OF
the two Armies and the probability OF an I'M
mediate engagement He belonged to Capt
Mays Company of Dragons, which made
some Of the last and most desperate charges
upon the Mexican artillery in the actions OF
the sth and 9th, and in the latter captured the
Mexican General Vega, In both of these ae
tons 1t S escaped unhurt. We have every
reason TO believe that Lieut.. Stevens dis
charged every duty assigned him in faithful
manner. He was a faithful representative OF
the Green Mountain Boys, and from Lieut.
Potter's letter it appears he was universally
beloved by his Regiment and those with whom
he was acquainted.