The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-28


GEN. ISAAC !. eTEvENs.
Today the birthday of Gen. 1sssc !. Ste
vsns, the first governor OF Washington
territory. will bs celebrated 1T Waiia
Wsila.
Gen. Stevens birthday deserves to b
celebrated. He was the ablest and most
versatile man that ever resided In An ON.
cial capacity upon the Pacific coast. He
vas . scholar; no was graduated IT the
head Of his class at West Point in 1889.
Among his classmates were Gems. Hailecx.
Rickettsi Ord and Candy. He WAS .
scholar. an engineer. . soldier, an able ex-
scntive and administrator. an able and
ardent politician. man OF large literary
culture and . patriot without guile. He
was man Of simple bat striking individu-
slity: he dressed plainly, even to utter
caseisssness. He was distinguished in the
Mexican war for skill snd daring courage.
Although he came OF Massachusetts
family he Was an unfiinching Democrat;
his Democracy was so intense that he
refused to follow the Douglass Democracy
In 1850, but sided With tho Breckenridge
wing, 40 for that matter did Edwin NJ.
Stanton. Daniel 8. Dickinson. Benjamin y.
Butler. Caleb Cushing. jeremiah s. Black
and many other men who ultimately be-
came war Democrats. Gen. Stevens was
strong partisan and In politics he was
not . ssntimentalist, and hs stuck by
President Buchanan 90 long as he believed
that Buchanan meant, like President Jack
son. 10 stand by the Union. but the mo-
ment news came of tho firing on Sumter
Gen. Stevens at once started for Washing
ton City 10 offer his sword to Abraham
Lincoln. He was q perfectly sincere.
frank, dauntiess man. and he never hssi-
sated . moment ~ 70 his duty when the
dag was actually fred upon. Up TO that
time, able soldier ~ he Was and knowing
what war meant. he stood by his party,
hoping for peace because he knew what
the tremendous and fsr-reach,ng consc-
quences Of civil war meant Once having
cast his fate with that Of the Union he
was ono Of the very boldest, ablest and
most aggressive generals in the Union
army.
His great professional ability and daring
was we'll known Ut Washington City and
he was given an important command in
the frst military and naval expedition
cent against Charleston. He saw at once
that James island was key to tho de-
fences Of Charleston. and on June L. 1861.
no assaulted Fort johnson at Secession
willie with Characteristic vigor and daring.
His s,orming party consisted of Eominaiiy
twelve regiments of infantry and three
batteries Of artillery. and out Of perhaps
5000 men engaged he did not retreat until
he had lost $50 killed and wounded.
The dcfea. of Mcclellan on the peninsula
forced the government to order Gen.
Stevens and bis division TO the defense OF
Washington City. lilo joined Gen. Pope's
army before Washington City in August,
lS62. and was killed at Chantiily, Va.
September !. issSs. while repaising = night
attack OF tho enemy under Stouewall
same evening, Gen. stevens fell while
personally leading his men into action.
ard his son Hazard Stevens fell wounded
Jus. before his father WAS killed. Had
Jackson succeeded in this attack of the
evening OF September l Popes retreatins
army would have been cut off from Wash.
ington City. and Jsckscn's final repulss
was due TO tho energy and daring Of Gems
Stevens and kearncy. Al IL was Ne lost
$50 men before Jackson was driven off.
Had not Gen. Stevens lost his life thi,
day while personally leading his men
against tho enemy. he would have been
made comnander-in-ehisf of the Array 81
the Potomac. His elassmate, HaIleck
Was Al that time high in the confidence a
Lincoln. aud he urged the elevation o.
e,evens. and President Lincoln fully sp
rreciated the professional skiL Acapacity
aad daring courage OF the man.
Gen. stevens belongs to that roll OF bril-
liant Union generals who fell in hat,is
just when the highest command Vas with
in his reach. AZ the sirne Of his death h
Was bat u years old. His great talents 10,
war wsrc conceded on all sides. He had
no personal enmliies or Jesloa,ies 10 crap.
PIE him bad he taken com N and az ths
sAftUy o. soe a@HE0se re served IN th<
Department. Of the South: had no, been
involved in the controversies between Nc.
Cletlan and Pope; Re VAS trusted asd be-
hsved n by al the soanl soldiers Of the
army; he Was man Of moral courage
stern individuality and independence: ns
never would have male McClegian's mi.
take Of attempting 10 he anything hn, 8
terrible soldier; be Was ss enerx~tss sad
sudseioas as Hancock or Sheridan. and
he Was . man OF more absolutely latsiges
tusi and versatile talents and culture ,As
snv other military man Of hts day. lis
vas no, afraid Of responsibility. he Away.
accepted and even eeurtsd Is; 10 bad M
politics" after he drew his sword. be VS..
as great less ~ the Array Of the poiauas,
IS pesAix MAS ~ Nareteen al Marc Il
and isnaes AZ Asrssn. fer bis capacity foi
war ~as oi he very higaess character. ~
''enginser" general Il tie war approaches
Gen. Stevens a. . ne.a Co.'s u aaaer ear,