Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-10-25

Over the tide corpse is going.
Brigadier General Stevens.
We copy from the Providence Joxrsal, the
following brief sketch Of the public life Of the
late Gen. Stevens:
General Stevens was born in Andover. in
the State of Massachusetts,, where his father
still survives him. He was in the forty.fifth
year Of his age. His childhood aud youth
were remarkable for studious habits. He IN.
tered the Military Academy at West Point
in 1886, and graduated in 1889 with the first
honors Of his class. ST. high did hs stand
above all others in his class, that it 10 said
there were fifteen degrees between himself
and the cadet next in rank. He learned al
most by intuition, . single reading of the
most abstruse proposition in mathematics b.
ing sufficient to enable him to master it. Gen.
Halleck was his classmate, and stood next
but ono to him at their graduation. His
course at the academy is remembered - ~.
markablc for industry, scholarship and high
personal character.
In July. ls4O. lie was promoted to first
lieutenant of engineers, and from that period
to the breaking out Of the Mexican war. he
was employed upon government forti6cations
on the New England coast. He was sta
toned for a time at Fort Adams with the
late Col. James L. Mason. While there he
became acquainted wi III and m.r.ied his
wife, Margaret Hazard, daughter Of the late
Benjamin Hazard of Newport.
Gen. Stevens served with much distinction
through the entire Mexican war. He served
in General Scott's stah, and was brevettrd
captain for gallant and meritorious conduct
in the battles Of Contrpras and Cherubusco.
and major for gallant and meritorious conduct
in the battle Of Chepultspec. and was severe.
" wounded in the suburbs Of San Cosme.
city Of Mexico, Sept. 18th, l647, while in
Gen. Worth's division.
Probably no two men in the engineer corps
Of our whole army in Mexico, OF their grade,
were more gifted or rendered more sffsctivs
and distinguished service than Stevens aud
Mason.
After the war, Stevens was attached to the
Gvodstic survey Of the coast Of fhs United
States. He remained in that department un.
til the election or President Pisrcs, 40 princi.
pal assistant to Professor Bache. and had
charge Of the Coast Survey Office in Wash.
ington from lS49 to 1853. Here hr devsl.
Opsd executive and administrative talent Of
the highest order. Hs was warm. polite, !
and psrsonal friend Of the President. aud
was by him. soon after bic Inauguration. ap.
pointed Governor Of Washington Territory.
AT the same time and in connection with his
Governorship he was placed in charge Of the
Pacific railroad, known a. the northern or
Oregon route. In the organisation Of bic
parture for Washington Territory. hs dis
played gr~at knowledge Of every thing nses~.
sary for the undertaking. sound Judgement
and discrimination in the selection Of men
and means, and 10 said to have dsyoted him.
self personally to the work with an energy
and perseverance rarely equallsd. His sur.
vey embraced great variety of subjects not
Immediately connsctsd with the location Of
the road. Hs has since Published . narrative
Of the expedition. replets with useful and val.
uabls information for Ill classss, and bsauti.
fully illnstratsd. In connection with this sur
vsy let a. state single fact. illustrative Of
bic remarkable power Of memory. H. direct.
ed bic ouartermaster to make report Of ell
the expenses Of the expedition, from ito d..
psrtprs from It, PAIL til its arrival At The
;asSth of ths Oregon river. When Il was
furnished, b tod bic quartssmastsr hs had
made mistake of so,ns twenty thousand DOL
lars, and sealing hilnsslf In bis tent. dissetsd
the oAicsr 70 note the issms Of expense - b.
shoxld give them from memory. The result
was eorrsstion Of the account By some
twenty thousand dollars. which was sabss.
qssatly verified.
On arriving At Olympia. b catered On bic
DATES of 0ovsruos. and commsucsd ths o..
canisa>iou II ths dilIseat departments At ths
tsssitaeial govssnnsst. i WIN b psmsm.
hsss1 that ew lats Gihed al mnsh hmsatsd
1ojIsv.1swasuan. Chas]se B. Naesn. was ~
osssvlasy a etate. Too much psaisa eannos
b bsstewed upon BIZ eoadues In 81 various