Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-18
The Battle of Chantilly--why It was
fought--Incidents of Stevens Death
His Last Words.

The Battle of Chantilly--why II was
fought--Incidents Of Stevens Death
His Last Words.
-ill Correspondence Of the N v, Ttibune.l n
WASHINGTON, Sept. S, 1862.
The same hour that Gen.. Stevens was
killed in battle number OF prominent gen.
tlemen filing influential positions were in
consultation in this city and in other parts
Of the country, with view Of having him
assigned to the command of the Army Of
Virginia. Successive manifestations Of in.
capacity during a year Of war have caused
thinking men TO cast about for leader
These gentlemen had fixed upon Gen. Isaac
II. Stevens as the man. His splendid con-
dect In the battles of Friday and Saturday
had Just directed attention to hint was
remembered that in pure capacity he had
always been first, having taken the honors
at West Point with scarcely an effort, and
though old political enemies, these men re-
solved to ask that he be given a leading
command-while they were consulting he
led on his men AID fell. raayu.f = !.
The importance OF the engagement OF
Monday night which lost to the country
Kearney and Stevens lras not been general
by understood. The truth is, il was not a
mere episode made noteworthy by the death
OF two such leaders, but crisis where moth.
ing but decision and sacrifice on the part OF
those leaders availcd tolpreveut disasters,
| The army was retreating from Centreville.
The battle was fought against Rebel force
that had penetrated five miles nearer Wash
ington than our rear and was moving 70
strike upon the flank. Gen. Stevens's di
vision, the advance Of Reno $ corps, was or
the. left of the road taken by the trains,
and intercepted the enemy: tic saw that
the Rebels must be beaten back at once, OF
during the night they wculd stampede The
wagons, and probably so disconcert our re
treat that the last divisions would fall {
prey to their main force. He decided I,
ing back for support. Having made his dis
head Of the 10th (Highlanders.) Sool
meeting whitening fire, and the Color Ser
geant, Sandy Campbell, a griszled ol,
Scotchman being wounded, they faltered
One of the color guard took up the Tag
> when the General snatched it from him. :
5 The wounded Highlander at his feet cried
, "For Gods sake, General, don't yoa TAX
the colors they u shoot you IL you do /
The answer was, "Give me the colorsi j
7 they DOR follow now, they never will !
! and he sprang forward, crying. I'VE are q
. Highlanders; follow, His6lsnders. n
Highlanders did follow thcir Scottish ohiei
but while sweeping toward . bail struck bin
l on his right temple. He died instantly. A
j hour afterward when taken. up, his hand
t were still clenched around the. flagstaff. /,
A moment after receiving the colors, hi
D son, Capt. Hazard Stevens, fell wounded
and cried 10 his father that he was hurt
With but glance back, that Roman fath
, or said ''I can't attend to you now, Has
t zard. Corporal Thompson, see to my boy.
The language | have given as Genert
, Stevcns's was taken down upon the field b
! a member of his Staff. He had often re
!, marked that if it were his fate to fall
a battle, he hoped he should be shot throug
n the temple and die instantly.