1838 - 1864

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• Title	Gen.
  Suffix	Jr.
  Birth	6 Jan 1838	Hartford, Hartford Co., CT
  Gender	Male
  Died	6 Aug 1864	Petersburg, ____, VA
  Buried	Aft 6 Aug 1864	Ceder Hill Cemetery - Hartford, Hartford Co., CT
  Person ID	I6827	Stedman/Steadman/Steedman Families of the New World
  Last Modified	07 Jan 2006 16:25:00
  Father	Griffin Alexander Stedman, b. 1810, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT
  Mother	Mary ap Owen Shields, b. 1815, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA
  Family ID	F2670	Group Sheet

• Photos		Griffin Alexander Stedman, Jr. http://www.freemansauction.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=1291++++2403+&refno=++514635&saletype= Sale 1291 Lot 2403 Attributed to Jared B. Flagg (1820-1899) portrait of griffin alexander stedman, jr. (1838-1864) Unsigned, oil on canvas. 30 x 25 in. PROVENANCE: Mr. Augustin Lopez-Martinez of New York and Spain note: Griffin Alexander STEDMAN, Jr. was the son of Griffin A. and Mary ap'Owen Shields Stemdman. He graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, in 1859. In 1861 he joined the 5th Connecticut infantry and was appointed a Brigadier-General, but the commission came after his death at age 26. literature: Jared B. Flagg a Catalogue of a Connecticut Artist, published for an Exhibit of selected Flagg Portraits sponsored by the Stowe-Day Foundation, March 1-June 30, 1972, compiled by Miss Helen D. Perkins, pg. 51, Cat No. 75 (Illus) Estimate $800-1,200

• Notes

  Gen. Griffin Alexander Stedman, Jr. was commissioned as a Major of the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to Lt. Col. and later to Brevet Brigadier General. He died of wounds in a battle at Petersburg, Virginia in August 1864. The Union fort that was erected at Petersburg that was the site of one of the last major battles on the War was named Fort Stedman in his honor. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Civil War Manuscripts held by the Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, CT: Stedman, Griffin Alexander, Jr. (1838-1864) Hartford Fifth Connecticut Infantry, Company I Eleventh Connecticut Infantry 1861 October 29 1 Item Letter, 2 pp., from Camp Banks near Darnestown, MD, to Samuel Colt (1814-1862). Stedman enlisted on 22 June 1861 and was mustered-in a Captain, Company I, 5th Connecticut Infantry, on 22 July 1861. He later joined the 11th Connecticut Infantry and rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General. Stedman inquires about a position in Colt’s regiment, which was originally intended to become a part of the Regular Army. Stedman writes that he would exchange his Captain’s commission for a Lieutenancy in the regular army, though he would prefer to join the Cavalry. Young Stedman is very anxious for a transfer. Finally, he thanks Colt, "for the elegant pistol you so kindly bestowed upon me." Also see following entry. Location: MS Colt, Samuel, Papers, Box 8                Captain                Brevet Brigadier General Stedman, Griffin Alexander, Jr. (1838-1864) Hartford Fifth Connecticut Infantry, Company I Eleventh Connecticut Infantry 1861-1864 21 Items Letters to Charles Jeremy Hoadley (1828-1900), Hartford, from Philadelphia and various locations in the south. After prior service in the 5th Connecticut Infantry, Stedman was promoted to Major, 11th Connecticut Infantry, on 27 November 1861. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 11 June 1862 and was wounded in action during the battle of Antietam on 17 September 1862. He was promoted Colonel on 25 September 1862 and was breveted Brigadier General on 5 August 1864. He was killed the next day at Petersburg, VA. The collection also contains a printed memorial poem by Lydia H. Sigourney in honor of General Stedman and a photograph of three unidentified women. Also see previous entry. Location: MS Hoadley Collection, Box 7, Miscellaneous                Captain                Brevet Brigadier General Stedman, Griffin Alexander (1838-1864) Hartford Fifth Connecticut Infantry, Company I Eleventh Connecticut Infantry 1863 3 Items Correspondence from Griffin Stedman, probably drafts of letters sent. Letter dated 14 January 1863, Camp opposite Fredericksburg, VA, to Lt. Watson Webb (1833-1876), regarding three deserters who had been absent for about six months and who now wished to produce a surgeon's certificate to explain their absence. Stedman refers to them as "stragglers, skulkers and cowards" and writes, "I am unwilling to have these fellows treated honorably --" Letter dated 13 April 1863, Suffolk, VA, to an unnamed party, regarding deserter Alfred West, states that he believes West left intending to desert and, though West had left on a furlough, had never given any indication of his desire to report back to the regiment. Stedman notes that West had been considered a deserter for "a long time" and begs "leave to inform you that no step can be taken which will obtain a descriptive list - which will enable him to obtain for him pay during this time --" Letter of 3 June 1863, Suffolk, VA, to Governor William A. Buckingham (1804-1875) notes that Stedman had received a letter from Colonel Gates to and forwarded by Governor Buckingham to Stedman regarding men recruited by Captain Lewis. Though 140 men were shown on the books as enlisted and forwarded to Fort Trumbull, only 20 men had made it to the regiment. Stedman was not consoled by the fact that the recruits were of "bad material" but felt a week with the regiment would have changed that fact. Stedman felt that the men should have been forwarded to the regiment immediately and not held "at a Post for months . . . [where their] liberties and indulgences are unlimited - " This letter is incomplete and probably represents a draft form of the letter sent. Location: MS 94765