Stewart Van Vliet Stewart Leonard Van Vliet ( July 21 , 1815 – March 28 , 1901 ) , was a United States Army officer who fought on the side of the Union during the American Civil War . Early life . Van Vliet was born in Ferrisburg , Vermont , the son of Christian and Rachael Van Vliet , but grew up in Fishkill , New York . He entered the United States Military Academy in 1836 , graduating in 1840 , 9th in a class of 42 . Among the members of his class were several future Civil War generals : Paul Octave Hebert ( 1 / CSA ) , William Tecumseh Sherman ( 6 / USA ) , John P . McCown ( 10 / CSA ) , George Henry Thomas ( 12 / USA ) , Richard S . Ewell ( 13 / CSA ) , James Green Martin ( 14 / CSA ) , George W . Getty ( 15 / USA ) , William Hays ( 18 / USA ) , Bushrod Johnson ( 23 / CSA ) , William Steele ( 31 / CSA ) , and Thomas Jordan ( 41 / CSA ) . Van Vliet was attached in the U . S . 3rd Artillery during the Seminole Wars , seeing action in several engagements , " in one of which he killed an Indian chief in a hand to hand fight . " He served in the Mexican – American War with General Zachary Taylor at the Battle of Monterrey , and under General Winfield Scott at the Siege of Veracruz . After the war , he was stationed in Kansas , helping build forts along the Platte River . He was married at Fort Laramie , March 6 , 1851 , to Sarah Jane Brown , the daughter of Maj . Jacob Brown . In September 1855 , he served in the Sioux Expedition under Col . William S . Harney , and in 1857 , with Col . Albert Sidney Johnston in the Utah War against the Mormons . His obituary provides the following rendition of his participation in that expedition : " He fitted out Gen . Albert Sidney Johnston ' s expedition against the Mormons , who were in open revolt against the United States , and after it started was ordered to go on ahead and communicate with Brigham Young . He made a rapid thousand - mile drive from Leavenworth to Salt Lake City , traveling with his escort of thirty soldiers , in light wagons . On approaching Utah several travelers urged him to turn back , as the Mormons had threatened his life . He was so much impressed by these warnings that he left his little force 150 miles from Salt Lake City , in order not to endanger their lives , and rode into the Mormon stronghold alone . He was treated courteously , and the trouble was settled without bloodshed . " Civil War . Van Vliet was promoted to major on August 3 , 1861 , and Brigadier General , Volunteers , on September 23 , 1861 . During the Civil War , he was chief quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac from August 1861 until July 10 , 1862 . His appointment to brigadier general expired a week later , and he was stationed in New York City for the remainder of the war , coordinating supplies and transportation for troops in the field . In October 1864 , he received brevet promotions to lieutenant colonel , colonel and brigadier general , U . S . Army , and Major General in the U . S . Army and Volunteers . He was again promoted to Brigadier General , Volunteers on March 13 , 1865 . Later life . After the war , he remained in the Regular Army until 1881 , when he retired as Assistant Quartermaster General of the U . S . Army . His last assignment was on the Retiring Board , starting in 1879 . He stayed in Washington , D . C . , after he retired , and died there . He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery . General Van Vliet was a member of the Aztec Club , the Holland Society , the St . Nicholas Society , the Loyal Legion and the Grand Army of the Republic .