The Battle of Fort Stevens was a key moment in the American Civil War. It happened on July 11–12, 1864, near Washington, D.C.. This battle was important because it was the only time during the war that a sitting U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, came under enemy fire. This article tells you about the brave Union Army units and their commanders who defended the capital. The Confederate forces involved are listed in a separate article: Fort Stevens Confederate order of battle.
Understanding Military Ranks
In the army, different ranks show who is in charge. Here are some of the ranks you'll see in this article:
- MG means Major General. This is a very high-ranking officer.
- BG means Brigadier General. This officer commands a brigade, which is a large group of soldiers.
- Col means Colonel. A colonel usually leads a regiment.
- Ltc means Lieutenant Colonel. This officer is second-in-command of a regiment.
- Maj means Major. A major is an officer who helps lead a battalion or regiment.
- Cpt means Captain. A captain typically commands a company of soldiers.
You might also see these letters:
- w means a soldier was wounded during the battle.
- k means a soldier was killed during the battle.
Defending Washington D.C.
The Union Army had many different groups of soldiers ready to protect Washington D.C. Major General Alexander McDowell McCook was in charge of the overall defenses of the Potomac River and the city. He had important officers helping him, like Lieutenant Colonel Barton S. Alexander as the Chief of Engineers, who helped build and maintain the forts.
Emergency Division: Ready for Anything
The Emergency Division was a special group led by Brigadier General Montgomery C. Meigs. These soldiers were often made up of people who worked for the army in other jobs, like quartermasters (who handle supplies). They were called into action quickly to help defend the city.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Other Units |
|
Emergency Division
BG Montgomery C. Meigs
|
First Brigade
BG Daniel H. Rucker
|
- Quartermaster's employees (people who usually manage supplies)
- Detachment from Provisional Brigade (a small group from another temporary unit)
|
| Second Brigade
BG Halbert E. Paine
|
- 2nd District of Columbia: Col Charles Madison Alexander
- 12th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps (soldiers who were veterans or had minor injuries)
- Quartermaster's employees, three companies
|
| 3rd Brigade
Col Richard Butler Price
Col Addison Farnsworth, July 12
|
- Quartermaster's employees
- Convalescents (soldiers recovering from illness or injury)
|
| Cavalry
|
- Dismounted cavalry detachment: Maj George G. Briggs (cavalry soldiers fighting on foot)
- 25th New York Cavalry (dismounted): Maj Charles J. Seymour
|
VI Corps: Experienced Fighters Arrive
The VI Corps was a group of experienced soldiers led by Major General Horatio G. Wright. These troops were rushed to Washington D.C. just in time to help defend the city against the Confederate attack. They played a very important role in the battle.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Other Units |
|
First Division
BG David A. Russell
|
1st Brigade
Col William H. Penrose
|
- 4th New Jersey: Cpt Ebenezer Davis
- 10th New Jersey: Ltc Charles H. Tay
- 15th New Jersey: Ltc Edward L. Campbell
|
| 2nd Brigade
BG Emory Upton
|
- 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery: Col Ranald S. Mackenzie
- 65th New York: Col Joseph E. Hamblin
- 67th New York: Cpt Henry C. Fisk
- 95th Pennsylvania: Maj Francis Joshua Randall
- 96th Pennsylvania: Ltc William S. Lessig
- 121st New York: Maj Henry Galpin
|
| 3rd Brigade
Col Oliver Edwards
|
- 2nd Rhode Island: Cpt Elisha Hunt Rhodes
- 5th Wisconsin Battalion: Cpt Charles W. Kempf
- 6th Maine Battalion: Maj George Fuller
- 37th Massachusetts: Ltc George Montague
- 23rd Pennsylvania: Col John F. Glenn
- 49th Pennsylvania: Maj Amor W. Wakefield
- 82nd Pennsylvania: Ltc John M. Wetherill
- 119th Pennsylvania: Ltc Gideon Clark
|
|
Second Division
BG George W. Getty
|
1st Brigade
BG Frank Wheaton
|
- 62nd New York: Cpt Lewis J. Stewart
- 93rd Pennsylvania: Ltc John S. Long
- 98th Pennsylvania: Ltc John B. Kohler
- 102nd Pennsylvania: Maj Thomas McLaughlin
- 139th Pennsylvania: Maj Robert Munroe
|
| 2nd Brigade (Vermont Brigade)
BG Lewis A. Grant
|
|
| 3rd Brigade
Col Daniel Bidwell
|
- 7th Maine: Cpt John W. Channing
- 43rd New York: Cpt Volkert V. Van Patten
- 49th New York (battalion): Ltc George W. Johnson (mw), Cpt Erastus D. Holt
- 77th New York: Ltc Winsor B. French
- 122nd New York: Maj Jabez M. Brower
- 61st Pennsylvania (battalion): Cpt William H. Rodgers
|
| Artillery |
Artillery Brigade
Col Charles H. Tompkins
|
- 5th Maine Light Artillery: Cpt Greenlief T. Stevens
- 1st Massachusetts Light Artillery, Battery A: Cpt William H. McCartney
- 1st New York Light Artillery, Battery: Cpt Andrew Cowan
- 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery C: Cpt Richard Waterman
- 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery G: Cpt George W. Adams
- 5th U.S. Artillery, Battery M: Cpt James McKnight
|
XIX Corps Detachment: Reinforcements Arrive
A part of the XIX Corps, led by Major General Quincy A. Gillmore, also joined the defense. These units were important reinforcements, adding more soldiers to the Union lines.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Other Units |
|
First Division
BG William Dwight
|
1st Brigade
Col George L. Beal
|
- 29th Maine: Ltc Charles S. Emerson
- 30th Massachusetts: Col Samuel D. Shipley
- 114th New York: Col Samuel R. Per Lee
- 116th New York: Col George M. Love
- 153rd New York: Col Edwin P. Davis
|
| 2nd Brigade
BG James W. McMillan
|
- 12th Connecticut: Ltc Frank H. Peck
- 13th Maine: Col Henry Rust II
- 15th Maine: Col Isaac Dyer
- 47th Pennsylvania: Col Tilghman H. Good
- 8th Vermont: Col Stephen Thomas
|
| 3rd Brigade
Col Leonard D. H. Currie
|
- 30th Maine: Cpt George W. Randall
- 133rd New York: Cpt Anthony J. Allaire
- 160th New York: Ltc John B. Van Petten
- 165th New York: Maj Felix Agnus
- 173rd New York: Maj George W. Rogers
|
| Division Artillery |
- New York Light Artillery, 5th Battery
- 1st Rhode Island Artillery, Battery D: Cpt William W. Buckley
|
|
Second Division
BG Cuvier Grover
|
3rd Brigade
Col Jacob Sharpe
|
- 38th Massachusetts: Ltc James P. Richardson
- 128th New York: Ltc James P. Foster
- 156th New York: Ltc Alfred Neafie
- 175th New York: Cpt Charles McCarthey
- 176th New York: Maj Charles Lewis
|
| 4th Brigade
Col David Shunk
|
- 8th Indiana: Ltc Alexander J. Kinney
- 18th Indiana: Ltc William S. Charles
- 24th Iowa: Ltc John Q. Wilds
- 28th Iowa: Ltc Bartholomew W. Wilson
|
XXII Corps and Washington's Department: Local Defenders
The XXII Corps and the Department of Washington were responsible for the ongoing defense of the capital. Major General Christopher C. Augur was in charge of these forces. They included soldiers stationed in and around Washington D.C., ready to protect the city at all times.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Other Units |
|
Defenses North of the Potomac
BG Martin D. Hardin
|
1st Brigade
Col James M. Warner
|
- 151st Ohio: Col John M. C. Marble
- 13th Michigan Battery: Lt Charles Dupont
- 14th Michigan Battery: Cpt Charles Heine
- 9th New York Heavy Artillery (detachment)
- 1st Pennsylvania Artillery Battalion: Maj Joseph M. Knap
- 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery D: Cpt William M. Buckley
- 2nd U.S. Artillery, Battery I
- 3rd U.S. Artillery, Battery G
- 4th U.S. Artillery, Battery A: Lt Rufus King, Jr.
|
| 2nd Brigade
Ltc Joseph A. Haskin
|
- 150th Ohio: Col William H. Hayward
- 170th Ohio: Col Miles J. Saunders
- New Hampshire Heavy Artillery, 1st Company: Cpt Charles H. Long
- 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery L: Cpt Franklin C. Gibbs
- 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery: Cpt John Norris
- 2nd U.S. Artillery, Battery I: Lt William P. Graves
- 7th Veteran Reserve Corps
- 21st Veteran Reserve Corps
|
| 3rd Brigade
Ltc John H. Oberteuffer
|
- Massachusetts Heavy Artillery (detachment)
- 3rd U.S. Artillery, Battery G: Lt Herbert F. Guthrie
- 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery
|
|
Defenses South of the Potomac
BG Gustavus A. DeRussy
|
1st Brigade
Col Joseph N. G. Whistler
|
- 145th Ohio: Col Henry C. Ashwill
- 147th Ohio: Col Benjamin R. Rosson
- 164th Ohio: Col John C. Lee, Ltc Augustus S. Bement
- 1st Maine Artillery, Battery A: Cpt Albert W. Bradbury
- Maryland Light Artillery, Battery A: Cpt James H. Rigby
- Maryland Light Artillery, Battery D: Cpt John M. Bruce
- 6th Massachusetts
- 18th Massachusetts (detachment)
- 1st New York Light Artillery, Battery K: Cpt Solon W. Stocking
- 5th New York Battery: Cpt Elijah D. Taft
- 84th New York
- 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Battery G: Cpt Beldin Spence
- 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Battery H: Cpt Andrew Fagan
- 1st Rhode Island Artillery, Battery H
- 1st U.S. Artillery, Battery E
- 2nd U.S. Artillery, Battery G: Lt James E. Wilson
|
| 2nd Brigade
Col Thomas Wilhelm
|
- Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, 15th Company
- 16th Massachusetts Independent Battery
- Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Battery C: Capt James Thompson
- Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Battery I: Cpt Robert J. Nevin
- 1st New York Heavy Artillery, Battery K
- 17th New York Artillery, Independent Battery
- 169th Ohio: Col Nathaniel Haynes
- 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, Battery H: Cpt Crawford Allen
- 1st U.S. Artillery, Battery E: Lt Frank S. French
|
| 3rd Brigade created 10 July
Col William Smith Irwin
|
- Maryland Artillery, Battery D
- 136th Ohio: Col William Smith Irwin
- 142nd Ohio (detachment)
- 166th Ohio: Col Harrison G. Blake
- 16th Indiana Battery: Cpt Charles R. Deming
- Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, 15th Company: Cpt Joseph M. Parsons
- 1st New York Heavy Artillery, Battery F: Cpt William R. Wilson
- 1st Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Independent Battery
- 72nd Pennsylvania (detachment)
- 106th Pennsylvania (detachment)
|
| 4th Brigade created 2 July
Maj. Charles C. Meservey
|
- 66th New York (detachment)
- 136th Ohio (detachment)
- 10th New York Heavy Artillery (detachment)
- 1st West Virginia Light Artillery, Battery C: Cpt Wallace Hill
- 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, Company A
- 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry (detachment)
|
| Cavalry
Col Charles Russell Lowell
|
- 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry: Ltc Caspar Crowninshield
- 13th New York Cavalry: Col Henry Gansevoort
- 16th New York Cavalry: Col Henry M. Lazelle
|
|
District of Washington
Col Moses N. Wisewell
|
1st Veteran Reserve Brigade
Col George W. Gile
(attached to Hardin's Division)
|
- 1st Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps
- 9th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps
- 6th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps
- 19th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps
- 20th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps
- 22nd Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps
|
| Not brigaded
|
- 27th Pennsylvania, Company F
- 150th Pennsylvania, Company K
- Union Light Guard (Ohio Cavalry)
- U.S. Ordnance Detachment
|
|
Cavalry Division
Col William Gamble
|
1st Division
Cpt Benjamin Rockafellow
|
- 1st Brigade: Lt Charles Parker (Detachments of 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan cavalry regiments)
- 2nd Brigade: Lt William J. Allen (Detachments of 4th, 6th and 9th New York and 17th Pennsylvania cavalry regiments)
- Reserve Brigade: Lt Marcellus E. Jones (Detachments of 19th New York, 6th Pennsylvania, 1st Rhode Island, 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th U.S. cavalry regiments)
|
| 2nd Division
Cpt James T. Peale
|
- 1st Brigade: Lt George W. Brooks (Detachments of 1st Massachusetts , 1st New Jersey, 10th New York, 6th Ohio, 1st and 3rd Pennsylvania cavalry regiments)
- 2nd Brigade: Cpt Robert A. Robinson (Detachments of 1st Maine, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 13th and 16th Pennsylvania cavalry regiments)
|
| 3rd Division
Maj Henry W. Sawyer
|
- 1st Brigade: Cpt Robert Loudon (Detachments of 1st Connecticut, 2nd Ohio, 18th Pennsylvania, 2nd, 3rd and 5th New York cavalry regiments)
- 2nd Brigade: Lt George W. Byard (Detachments of 8th Illinois, 3rd Indiana, 1st Ohio, 1st Vermont, 8th, 22nd and 25th New York cavalry regiments)
|
|
District of Alexandria
BG John P. Slough
(not engaged)
|
2nd Veteran Reserve Brigade
Col William H. Browne
|
- 3rd Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps: Ltc John Spiedel
- 12th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps: Col Addison Farnsworth
|
| Not brigaded |
- 1st District of Columbia: Ltc Robert Boyd
- Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Battery H: Cpt William Borrowe
- 8th Illinois Cavalry, Company D: Cpt Henry J. Hotop
- 1st Michigan Cavalry, Company D: Cpt Thurlow W. Lusk
|
Key Commanders on the Front Lines
During the battle, several commanders were responsible for specific parts of Washington's defenses. They oversaw the soldiers and forts in their assigned areas.
| Commander |
Area of Command |
| Alexander M. McCook |
Defenses of the Potomac River & Washington (overall command) |
| Quincy A. Gillmore |
Northeast Line: From Fort Lincoln to Fort Totten (XIX Corps, Detachment) |
| Montgomery C. Meigs |
Northern Line: From Fort Totten to Fort DeRussy (this included Fort Stevens) (Quartermaster Corps) |
| Martin D. Hardin |
Northwest Line: From Fort DeRussy to Fort Sumner (1st Division, XXII Corps) |
| Horatio G. Wright |
Reserve troops (VI Corps) |
