Aaron Fletcher Stevens

Aaron Fletcher Stevens (August 9, 1819 – May 10, 1887) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and a two-term U.S. Congressman.

Birth and early years

Stevens was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire on August 9, 1819. He spent his childhood in both Londonderry and also nearby Peterborough and attended Pinkerton Academy. He was a machinist, lawyer and state legislator before the Civil War. In 1845, he was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar, and helped found the New Hampshire Republican Party in the mid-1850s.

Civil War

When the Civil War began he joined the 1st New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry as a major. He was mustered out of the volunteers on August 9, 1861. He rejoined the Union Army on September 23, 1862 as colonel of the new 13th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment. He and the regiment participated in the disastrous attack against Marye's Heights in the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Stevens commanded Brigade 1, Division 1, IX Corps (Union Army), Department of Virginia, January – February, 1863 and Brigade 3, Division 1, XVIII Corps (Union Army), Army of the James, from July 31, 1864 to September 29, 1864. Stevens was wounded at the Battle of Fort Harrison on September 29, 1864.

On December 12, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Stevens for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from December 8, 1864, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 10, 1865. Stevens was mustered out of the volunteers on June 29, 1865.

Stevens served two terms in the United States House of Representatives, March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871.

Aaron Fletcher Stevens died at Nashua, May 10, 1887. He was buried at Universalist Church Cemetery, Nashua, New Hamphshire.