Thomas Stevens Jr.

May 27, 1819 (age 76)

Middletown, Connecticut, United States

Brief service as aide to President Tyler was followed by survey duty in the Gulf of Mexico and an assignment to the Michigan, Lake Erie, 1843-44. He was afterwards naval storekeeper at Honolulu, 1845-48. Returning home with his wife and his daughter Ellen in the Chilean ship Maria Helena, he was wrecked, January 4, 1848, on Christmas Island, the passengers and crew remaining there nearly three months before they were rescued. Stevens' account of this, Narrative of the Wreck of the Chilean Ship Maria Helena (1849), was reprinted in pamphlet form from the Polynesian. Subsequent service included duty at Sacketts Harbor, 1849; in the Michigan, Great Lakes, 1849-51; in west coast survey work, 1852-55; and in the Colorado, Home Squadron, 1858-60. In the Civil War, commanding the gunboat Ottawa, he participated in the capture of Port Royal, November 7, 1861, and in later operations on the southeast coast, commanding the first expedition up the St. John's River, March-April 1862, which resulted in the occupation of Jacksonville and other towns and fortified points, and the capture of the yacht America, then owned by the Confederacy. This vessel was turned over for naval use without claims for prize-money. Later in 1862 he engaged in numerous operations in Virginia waters, opening up the Pamunkey River in the Maratanza, May 12, in support of George Brinton McClellan, capturing the gunboat Teazer, July 4, and commanding the Monitor in the James River in August during McClellan's withdrawal from the Peninsula. Transferred to the Sonoma in cruising operations, he chased the Florida thirty-four hours on the Bahama Banks, captured five prizes, and off Bermuda held up the steamer Gladiator, though convoyed by H. M. S. Desperate, until he was satisfied of her character, both naval vessels clearing for action. He commanded the monitor Patapsco in frequent actions around Charleston, August-September 1863, and, despite his unfavorable opinion of its success, was given charge of a desperate night boat attack, September 8, on Fort Sumter, which was repulsed with 124 casualties in his force of about four hundred. After retirement, May 27, 1881, he lived in Washington, District of Columbia, occupying his leisure in part with writing on naval and other subjects. One of his articles, "Service under Du Pont, " appeared in the Times (Philadelphia), January 10, 1886. He died at Rockville, Maryland, at the home of his daughter.

Thomas Holdup Stevens Jr.

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Background

Thomas was born at Middletown, Connecticut, United States, on May 27, 1819. He was a son of Commodore Thomas Holdup Stevens, 1795-1841, and Elizabeth Read (Sage) Stevens.

Education

He entered the US Naval Academy as a midshipman in December 1836. After a cruise in the Brazil Squadron he studied for several months at the Philadelphia naval school, ranking third in his class upon promotion to passed midshipman, July 1, 1842.

Career

Brief service as aide to President Tyler was followed by survey duty in the Gulf of Mexico and an assignment to the Michigan, Lake Erie, 1843-44.

He was afterwards naval storekeeper at Honolulu, 1845-48. Returning home with his wife and his daughter Ellen in the Chilean ship Maria Helena, he was wrecked, January 4, 1848, on Christmas Island, the passengers and crew remaining there nearly three months before they were rescued. Stevens' account of this, Narrative of the Wreck of the Chilean Ship Maria Helena (1849), was reprinted in pamphlet form from the Polynesian. Subsequent service included duty at Sacketts Harbor, 1849; in the Michigan, Great Lakes, 1849-51; in west coast survey work, 1852-55; and in the Colorado, Home Squadron, 1858-60.

In the Civil War, commanding the gunboat Ottawa, he participated in the capture of Port Royal, November 7, 1861, and in later operations on the southeast coast, commanding the first expedition up the St. John's River, March-April 1862, which resulted in the occupation of Jacksonville and other towns and fortified points, and the capture of the yacht America, then owned by the Confederacy. This vessel was turned over for naval use without claims for prize-money.

Later in 1862 he engaged in numerous operations in Virginia waters, opening up the Pamunkey River in the Maratanza, May 12, in support of George Brinton McClellan, capturing the gunboat Teazer, July 4, and commanding the Monitor in the James River in August during McClellan's withdrawal from the Peninsula.

Transferred to the Sonoma in cruising operations, he chased the Florida thirty-four hours on the Bahama Banks, captured five prizes, and off Bermuda held up the steamer Gladiator, though convoyed by H. M. S. Desperate, until he was satisfied of her character, both naval vessels clearing for action.

He commanded the monitor Patapsco in frequent actions around Charleston, August-September 1863, and, despite his unfavorable opinion of its success, was given charge of a desperate night boat attack, September 8, on Fort Sumter, which was repulsed with 124 casualties in his force of about four hundred.

After retirement, May 27, 1881, he lived in Washington, District of Columbia, occupying his leisure in part with writing on naval and other subjects. One of his articles, "Service under Du Pont, " appeared in the Times (Philadelphia), January 10, 1886.

He died at Rockville, Maryland, at the home of his daughter.

Achievements

Thomas Holdup Stevens Jr. commanded the Oneida of the Gulf Squadron, transferring temporarily to the monitor Winnebago in the battle of Mobile and later operating off Texas, where in July 1865 he was senior officer. From superiors, during this almost continuous active war service, he received uniformly high commendation for initiative and dependability. Made captain (1866), commodore (1872), and rear admiral (1879), he was assigned service as lighthouse inspector, 1867-70; command of the Guerriere, European Squadron, 1870-71; varied duties at Norfolk, 1873-80; and command of the Pacific Squadron, 1880-81.

Connections

On November 2, 1844, occurred his marriage at Erie, Pennsylvania, to Anna Maria Christie. Of his family of three daughters and six sons, the eldest son became a rear admiral, and two others were officers respectively in the army and marine corps.

Father:: Commodore Thomas Holdup Stevens
Mother:: Elizabeth Read (Sage) Stevens
Wife:: Anna Maria Christie

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Thomas Holdup Stevens Jr.

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