American Historical Ephemera & Photography Online

STEVENSON, Thomas G. Partly printed document signed ("Tho. G. Stevenson") as Colonel, 24th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. Readville, MA. 7 December 1861. 

One page, 10 1/2 x 16 in. partly printed document, professionally mounted to a backing, folds, some staining, edge wear including small repaired tear at bottom.

Appointing John C. Read a Corporal in Co. C, 24th Massachusetts Volunteers. 

On 3 December 1861, Stevenson was appointed colonel of the 24th Massachusetts Volunteers. He led his regiment in the battles of Roanoke Island and New Bern. Following the capture of New Bern, significant Union reinforcements arrived in North Carolina and Stevenson assumed command of a brigade under John G. Foster. 

When much of the Union forces in North Carolina were recalled to Virginia, Foster's command, including Stevenson brigade, were left behind. He participated in Foster's Goldsborough Expedition and afterward was promoted to brigadier general on 4 December 1862. he then held a series of quiet commands along the Atlantic coast in North and South Carolina. 

During the Siege of Charleston Harbor, Stevenson commanded the 3rd Brigade in Alfred H. Terry's division. He remained in brigade command around Charleston until January 1864. On 19 April 1864, he was placed in command of the 1st Division, IX Corps. Stevenson had previously fought alongside many of the men from IX Corps in North Carolina. Now, he was one of Burnside's ablest division commanders. He led his new division into action at the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. On 10 May 1864, while resting beneath a tree, Stevenson was shot through the head by a sniper's bullet.