Enoch Steen

Enoch Steen
Steen's signature on 1827 survey document
Born	(1800-02-22)February 22, 1800 Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Died	January 22, 1880(1880-01-22) (aged 79) Jackson County, Missouri
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1832–1866
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	1st United States Dragoons; 2nd United States Cavalry
Commands held	Fort Webster (New Mexico); Fort Buchanan (Arizona); Fort Walla Walla (Washington); Union Army fort at Sandy Hook (New York Harbor); Fort Lyon (Colorado)
Battles/wars	Battle of Buena Vista; Indian skirmishes; American Civil War

Enoch Steen (February 22, 1800 – January 22, 1880) was a United States military officer and western explorer. He joined the United States Army in 1832, serving at posts throughout the United States, including many remote locations in the west. During his military service, Steen explored parts of the western United States including large areas of southern New Mexico and southeastern Oregon. He served as the commander of several Union Army forts during the American Civil War. Today, there are landmarks in Oklahoma, Oregon, and New Mexico named in his honor; however, many of the place names are misspelled as Stein.

Steen was born on 22 February 1800 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. His parents were Frederick Steen and Katherine Rector Steen. He was the third of five children. His family moved to Missouri when he was young. Growing up on the American frontier, Steen became a well known woodsman and hunter. As a young man, Steen worked as a surveyor before joining the volunteer Mounted Rangers as a second lieutenant on 16 July 1832.

Steen transferred to the United States Army's 1st United States Dragoons as a second lieutenant on 19 September 1833. He was one of the initial cadre of officers to stand-up this historic cavalry unit. In 1834, he was stationed at 1st Dragoon headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1835, he accompanied Colonel Henry Dodge on an expedition up the Platte River, following its south fork to the Rocky Mountains and then returning by way of Bent's Fort, the Arkansas River, and the Santa Fe Trail. Later that year, Steen joined Colonel Stephen W. Kearny on an expedition along the Platte and then east to the Missouri River, meeting with Potawatomi Indians at Council Bluffs before returning to Fort Leavenworth.