Clement was born on August 21, 1821 in Norwich, Connecticut, United States, was of Southern parentage, his father being Lieut. Clement W. Stevens, United States Navy, and his mother, Sarah J. (Fayssoux) Stevens, a daughter of Dr. Peter Fayssoux, Revolutionary surgeon-general of South Carolina. Leaving the navy, Lieutenant Stevens soon removed his family to Florida, and thence, in 1836, to Pendleton, South Carolina.
Clement, after enjoying several years of travel and adventure as secretary to his kinsmen, Commodore William B. Shubrick and Commodore William Bee, in 1842 forsook the sea to enter the Planters' & Mechanics Bank, in Charleston, eventually becoming cashier.
Enterprising and energetic, he also joined the firm of Hacker and Pickens, pioneer railroad contractors, and by 1861 was a successful business man.
This battery, built on Morris Island, was shielded with railroad T-iron. It was perhaps the first armored fortification ever constructed, and was used successfully in the bombardment of Fort Sumter.
As a volunteer aide to his brother-in-law, General Barnard E. Bee, Stevens was severely wounded at Manassas. Recovering, he commanded a militia regiment at Charleston, but was soon elected colonel of the 24th South Carolina Infantry, of which Ellison Capers was lieutenant colonel.
Stevens' skilful handling of flank detachments contributed greatly to the Confederate victory at Secessionville, June 16, 1862, and in 1863 he fought with Gist's brigade through the Vicksburg campaign. Transferred to Bragg's army, he led his regiment with reckless bravery at Chickamauga and was again badly wounded.
Although physically shattered, he was promoted brigadier-general January 20, 1864, and commanded a Georgia brigade with distinguished ability through the Atlanta campaign, earning from his soldiers the affectionate nickname, "Rock" Stevens.
Toward evening of July 20, 1864, in the headlong attack of his troops at Peach Tree Creek, he was mortally wounded. His horse, mangled by the same shot, hearing the call for battle formation, dragged himself to his accustomed place ahead of the line, and fell dead, mute witness to his master's habitual valor. Stevens died five days later.
Clement Hoffman Stevens for his sucessful service was promoted to brigadier general, although not fully recovered from his wounds from Chickamauga, he commanded a brigade in Major General W. H. T. Walker's division of I Corps of the Army of Tennessee. He designed and constructed the iron-clad battery on Morris Island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor which was used in the bombardment of Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Civil War.
Of forceful but winning personality, he carried into his military career the earnestness and enthusiasm which had earned him success in civil life. These qualities enabled him to inspire in others his own devotion to principles and undeviating performance of duty.
Quotes from others about the person
General S. R. Gist eulogized him as "the iron-nerved, " while his division commander, General W. H. T. Walker, declared: "From what I know of his capacity, as an officer, from his gallantry in the field, and from his devotion to the cause, he would grace any position that might be conferred".
He married his cousin, Annie Bee, had several children, of whom one son lived to maturity.
