Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-10-18
Death of Gen. I. I, Stevens.

Death OF Gen. I. I. Stevens.
A correspondent of the New York Tribune
in describing the battles which took place
near Fairfax and Centreville, on the first ol
September last. has the following relative to
tho death Of Gen. Stevens, late of Washington
Territory. who fell in the battle of Chantilly
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.-The same hour
that Gen. Stevens was killed in battle mum.
Der Of prominent gentlemen filling 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
ot incapacity during year of war have in
duced thinking men to cast about for leader.
These gentlemen had fixed upon Gen. Isaac
l. Stevens as the man. His splendid conduct
in the battles of Friday and Saturday had
Just attracted attention to him. 1t was re-
membered that in pure capacity he had al
ways been first, having taken the honors at
West Point With scarcely an effort, and though
old political anemies these men resolved to
ask that he be given a leading command
while they were consulting he led on his men
and fell.
The importance of the engagement of Mon
day night, which lost to the country Kearny
and Stevens, has not been generally under.
stood. The ruth is. it was not mere epi-
sode, made noteworthy by the death of two
such leaders, but a crisis, where nothing but
decision and sacrifice on the part of those
leaders availet to prevent disaster.
The army vas rctreating from Centreville.
The battle was fought against rebel force
that had penetrated five miles nearer WASH
ington than our rear, and was moving to
strike upon the flank. Gen. Stevens division
the advance of lteno's corps was on the left
of the road takca by the trains, and intercept
ed the enemy. He saw the rebels must be
beaten back at once, or during the night
they would stampede the wagons, and prob.
ably so disconcer our retreat that the last d.
visions would fall prey to their main force.
He decided to attack Immediately, at the
same time sending back for supplies. Having
made his dispositions. he led the attack on
foot, at the head Of the Seventy-ninth (High-
landers.) Soon meeting wi!hering fire, and
the Color Sergeant, Sandy Campbell. griz-
zlrd old Scotchman, being wounded, they fall
tered. One of the color guard took up the
FLAG, when the General snatched it from him.
Tho wounded Highland at his feet cried,
For Gods sake, General, don't yox take the
colprs; they'll shoot you if you !" The
answer was, 1Give me tho colors IF they
don't follow now. they never will" and he
srrang forward, crying, "Wc are all High
lanlcrs; follow, Highlanders; forward, my
llishanders The Highlanders did follow
Their Scottish chief, but while sweeping for
wa,d ball struck him on his right temple.
lie died instantly. An hour afterwards,
when taken up his hands were still clenched
around the staff
A moment after seizing the colors. his son,
Capt. Hazard Stevens, fell wounded, and
cried to his father that he was hurt. With
but glance back, that Roman father said: ii
can't attend to you now, Hazard; Corporal
Thompson, see to my boy"
The language l have given as Gen. Stevens,
wa. taken down on the field by member Of
his staff. He has often remarked that il it
were his fate to fall in battle. he hoped that
h. should be shot in the temple and die in
stantly.