John Dunlap Stevenson | |
---|---|
Born |
Staunton, Virginia |
June 8, 1821
Died | January 22, 1897 St. Louis, Missouri |
(aged 75)
Buried | Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri |
Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
Years of service | 1846 - 1847, 1861 - 1870 |
Rank |
Colonel Brevet Major General |
Commands held | 7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry |
Battles/wars | |
Other work | Law |
John D. Stevenson (June 8, 1821 – January 22, 1897) was an American attorney, politician, and soldier in the U.S. Army in two wars. He was promoted to brevet major general of volunteers at the end of the American Civil War.
After attending the College of South Carolina, he began practicing law in Franklin County, Missouri, in 1842. He served as a company commander in the 1st Missouri Mounted Volunteers during general Stephen Kearny's invasion of the New Mexico Territory in the Mexican-American War. Stevenson later became a member of the Missouri state legislature. Even though he had been born in Virginia and had graduated from college in South Carolina, he became a strong supporter of the Union cause.
On November 29, 1862, he was made brigadier general of volunteers in the Union Army. He commanded the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XVII Corps, referred to as the "Irish Brigade" during the Vicksburg Campaign. He is most famous for making a charge at the Battle of Champion Hill which broke the Confederate left flank. He participated in the subsequent siege and mine explosion at Vicksburg. He later commanded the District of Corinth.
After the war, he was made a brevet brigadier general in the Regular Army and then practiced law in St. Louis, Missouri, after retiring from the military. He is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.