Joseph Stewart (Alaska)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Stewart was an officer in the United States Army
notable for serving as commander of Fort Alcatraz, Fort Churchill
and the Department of Alaska
. His name is occasionally seen as Jasper Stewart.
. On January 3, 1856 he was promoted captain of Company H in the 3rd Artillery. In December 1859 Captain Stewart took command of Fort Alcatraz. In the years immediately preceding the Civil War
, Stewart transformed the fort into the most powerful coastal defense in the west. It was also during Stewart's time on Alcatraz that it took on the role of a prison for the first time. 11 soldiers under Stewart's command were imprisoned there and soon other nearby forts were sending prisoners there too.
in present day Nevada
. This defeat prompted the Federal government to dispatch a contingent of the U.S. Army to the area. Captain Stewart took command of the so called "Carson Valley Expedition" composed of 200 regular army soldiers from the 3rd Artillery and 6th U.S. Infantry. Stewart was, however, subordinated to Col. John C. Hays who was in command of a regiment of U.S. Volunteers. Hays and Stewart defeated the Paiutes in the second Battle of Pyramid Lake
.
which he suggested should be named in honor of General Sylvester Churchill
. The U.S. Army confirmed the site and name in August and construction of Fort Churchill began. Construction was completed in 1861 with Stewart as the post's first commander.
Stewart briefly returned to command Fort Alcatraz. In 1861 he was transferred to the defenses of Washington, DC and commanded the artillery in George A. McCall's
division of the Army of the Potomac
from December 1861 to February 1862. From April to October 1862 he served as recruiting officer for San Francisco and was the Inspector General of the Humboldt Military District
during the Winter of 1862/1863. He was chief of artillery for the Department of the Pacific
from April to July 1863 and ended the war as recruiting officer for Salem MA from November to December 1865. On December 11, 1865 Stewart was promoted Major
in the 4th U.S. Artillery.
and Fort Macon
. He served as the fifth commander of the Department of Alaska
, from January 4, 1873 to April 20, 1874 then returned to California in command of the Presidio of San Francisco
from May 8 to June 17, 1875. From 1876-1879 Stewart was in command of Fort Canby engaged against Native Americans during the Bannock War
. On July 18, 1879 Stewart was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd U.S. Artillery. He retired on August 25, 1879 and died in Berkeley, CA on April 23, 1904.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
notable for serving as commander of Fort Alcatraz, Fort Churchill
Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Fort Churchill State Historic Park is a Nevada state park in Lyon County, Nevada, in the United States. Located south of the town of Silver Springs, it is in the Central Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks, and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the state of Nevada. The site is one...
and the Department of Alaska
Department of Alaska
The Department of Alaska was the designation for the government of Alaska from its purchase by the United States of America in 1867 until its organization as the District of Alaska in 1884. During the department era, Alaska was variously under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army , the United States...
. His name is occasionally seen as Jasper Stewart.
Early life
Joseph Stewart was born in Kentucky and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1842. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery and later the 3rd U.S. Artillery during the Mexican WarMexican War
Mexican War may refer to:*Mexican War of Independence *Mexican–American War *French intervention in Mexico *Mexican Revolution *Mexican Civil War *Cristero War *Mexican Drug War...
. On January 3, 1856 he was promoted captain of Company H in the 3rd Artillery. In December 1859 Captain Stewart took command of Fort Alcatraz. In the years immediately preceding the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Stewart transformed the fort into the most powerful coastal defense in the west. It was also during Stewart's time on Alcatraz that it took on the role of a prison for the first time. 11 soldiers under Stewart's command were imprisoned there and soon other nearby forts were sending prisoners there too.
Pyramid Lake War
In 1860 a vigilante force was soundly defeated by Paiute Indians in a battle near Pyramid LakeFirst Battle of Pyramid Lake
The First Battle of Pyramid Lake took placed in 1860 as one of the opening engagements of the Paiute War.-Background:In April 1860 Paiute leaders held a council to decide a course of action over the increased settler traffic along the California Trail and Pony Express. Chief Winnemucca tried to...
in present day Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. This defeat prompted the Federal government to dispatch a contingent of the U.S. Army to the area. Captain Stewart took command of the so called "Carson Valley Expedition" composed of 200 regular army soldiers from the 3rd Artillery and 6th U.S. Infantry. Stewart was, however, subordinated to Col. John C. Hays who was in command of a regiment of U.S. Volunteers. Hays and Stewart defeated the Paiutes in the second Battle of Pyramid Lake
Second Battle of Pyramid Lake
The Second Battle of Pyramid Lake took place in response to the U.S. defeat at the First Battle of Pyramid Lake. A well-organized force of militia and regulars, under the capable leadership of famed Texas Ranger Col. John C. “Jack” Hays, defeated the Paiute warriors under Chief Numaga...
.
Fort Churchill
While Hays' volunteers disbanded shortly after the battle, Stewart's regulars remained in the area for some time. Stewart was ordered to construct a permanent army post in the area. Eventually he chose a site along the Carson RiverCarson River
The Carson River is a northwestern Nevada river that empties into the Carson Sink, an endorheic basin. The main stem of the river is long....
which he suggested should be named in honor of General Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester Churchill was an American journalist and Regular Army officer.-Early life:Churchill was born in Woodstock, Vermont, the son of Joseph and Sarah Churchill...
. The U.S. Army confirmed the site and name in August and construction of Fort Churchill began. Construction was completed in 1861 with Stewart as the post's first commander.
Civil War
During the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Stewart briefly returned to command Fort Alcatraz. In 1861 he was transferred to the defenses of Washington, DC and commanded the artillery in George A. McCall's
George A. McCall
George Archibald McCall was a United States Army officer who became a brigadier general and prisoner of war during the American Civil War. He was also a naturalist.-Biography:...
division of the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
from December 1861 to February 1862. From April to October 1862 he served as recruiting officer for San Francisco and was the Inspector General of the Humboldt Military District
Humboldt Military District
During the American Civil War, Army reorganization created the Department of the Pacific on January 15, 1861. On December 12, 1861, the District of Humboldt was created, consisting of the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, Klamath, and Del Norte in Northern California...
during the Winter of 1862/1863. He was chief of artillery for the Department of the Pacific
Department of the Pacific
The Department of the Pacific was a major command of the United States Army during the 19th century.-Formation:The Department of the Pacific was first organized on October 31, 1853, at San Francisco, California, taking over from the previous Pacific Division. The department reported directly to...
from April to July 1863 and ended the war as recruiting officer for Salem MA from November to December 1865. On December 11, 1865 Stewart was promoted Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the 4th U.S. Artillery.
Post Civil War
Following the Civil War Stewart commanded various forts along the eastern United States including Fort McHenryFort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
and Fort Macon
Fort Macon State Park
Fort Macon State Park is a North Carolina state park in Carteret County, North Carolina, in the United States. Located on Bogue Banks near Atlantic Beach, the park opened in 1936...
. He served as the fifth commander of the Department of Alaska
Department of Alaska
The Department of Alaska was the designation for the government of Alaska from its purchase by the United States of America in 1867 until its organization as the District of Alaska in 1884. During the department era, Alaska was variously under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army , the United States...
, from January 4, 1873 to April 20, 1874 then returned to California in command of the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
from May 8 to June 17, 1875. From 1876-1879 Stewart was in command of Fort Canby engaged against Native Americans during the Bannock War
Bannock War
The Bannock War was a series of conflicts in 1878 between various Bannock, Northern Shoshone and Paiute tribes against the United States.- Background :...
. On July 18, 1879 Stewart was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd U.S. Artillery. He retired on August 25, 1879 and died in Berkeley, CA on April 23, 1904.