  CHAPTER I
ANCESTRY.—BIRTHPLACE | | Isaac Ingalls Stevens, seventh in descent from John Stevens, 1, one of founders of Andover, Mass., 1640—Deacon Joseph, 2—Captain James, 3, captor of Louisburg; deputy to General Court—Lieutenant James, 4, raised company for French and Indian war; died in service—Jonathan, 5, Revolutionary soldier, Bunker Hill; other service; characteristics—His brother James’s diary of siege of Boston—Isaac, 6, crippled by falling tree; marries Hannah Cummings,—her ancestry; hires Bridges farm; untiring industry and thrift; death of wife; second marriage; characteristics; children | 1 | CHAPTER II
BIRTH.—BOYHOOD | | Born, Marble Ridge farmhouse, North Andover, Mass., March 25, 1818—Delicate child—Heroic treatment—Incidents showing character—Devotion to mother—Her death irreparable loss—Early schooling—Over-study—Evil effects—Insists on leaving school—Works in factory a year—Strict treatment— No indulgence—Injudicious urging—Fever—Rupture from over-exertion—Seeks Dr. Warren—Old Put’s school, Franklin Academy—Rigorous daily life of farmer’s boy—Phillips Academy—Appearance on entering—Earns board and lodgings with Nathan W. Hazen, Esq.—Takes first rank in studies—Power of concentration—Habits of study—Proficiency in mathematics— Protests against bigotry—Overcomes extreme diffidence— Appointed to West Point | 13 | CHAPTER III
WEST POINT | | Patriotic emotions on entering West Point—Determines to be head of his class—Better prepared rivals, Biddle, Halleck, and Butler—Distinguished classmates—Extra French lessons— Letters describe life and studies—Father and uncle William disappointed at standing at first examination—Abominates smoking and chewing—Early rising—Halleck and Biddle compare notes—“Little Stevens is driving ahead like the Devil”—Gains first place—Spends 4th of July in New York—Southern contempt for Yankee farmers—Determined to resent it—Dialectic Society—Second year encampment—Military ball—Contrasts his situation with that on entering—Characteristics drawn by Professors Bartlett and Church—Extra drawing lessons, great gains—Admires General Miller’s “I’ll try, sir”—Generous rivalry—Eleven good friends—Visit home | 24 | CHAPTER IV
WEST POINT.—LAST TWO YEARS | | Appointed assistant professor of mathematics—Leading part in Dialectic Society—Efforts at speaking—Reflections on studies and authors—Long walks—Forbidden sweets— Horsemanship—Skating over thin ice—Saves companion from freezing—Letters to father and sisters—Susan goes to Missouri—Again head, third year—Patriotic indignation at British aggression—Advises sending Oliver to college—Letters to Hannah and Oliver—Avows abolition principles—Founds “Talisman”—His own anonymous critic—His intimate friends— Graduates first in every branch—Parents attend graduation exercises | 48 | CHAPTER V
NEWPORT | | Ordered to Newport, R.I.—Phrenological chart—Lieutenants Mason, Beauregard, Hunt—Ascendency over employees—Newport society—Mr. Stevens welcomed—Personal appearance—Meets his future wife—Benjamin Hazard—Horseback rides—Family mansion—Charming Polly Wanton—Colonel Daniel Lyman—German class—Marriage of Susan to David H. Bishop—Death of grandmother—Urges additional fortifications—Proposes to study law—Friendly letter from Halleck—Takes part of Tilden; of H.L. Smith—Death of Hannah—Delivers address before Newport Lyceum—Lecture on Oliver Cromwell—Visits Washington—Fairhaven battery—Death of Susan—Death of Benjamin Hazard—Marriage, September 8, 1841 | 60 | CHAPTER VI
CHARGE OF WORKS: NEW BEDFORD, PORTSMOUTH, PORTLAND, BUCKSPORT | | Wedding journey to West Point—Returns to Newport—Charge of works at New Bedford—Moves to Fairhaven—Halleck asks aid for engineer corps—Journal—Thanksgiving in Andover—Hazard born, June 9—Fugitive slave harbored in Andover—Elizabeth marries L.M. Campbell in Tennessee—Moves his family to Portsmouth, N.H.—Charge of works there and Portland, Me.—Pleasant society—Examines old forts at Castine—Fort Knox, on Penobscot, buys land for—Youthful appearance— Backwoods uncle, warm welcome—Overwork—Severe illness— Julia Virginia born, June 27, 1844—Visits Andover—Elizabeth and Mr. Campbell—Moves to Bucksport tavern—Goes to housekeeping—New friends—Assistants, Richard Kidder Randolph, Isaac Osgood, A.W. Tinkham—Penobscot River—Barge—Pushes on works—Fine ox-teams—Judge of men—Severe sickness in winter—Visits Washington—Obtains large appropriations— Confidential inquiry if he desires promotion—Characteristic reply—Delighted in dispensing hospitality—Daughter Julia Virginia died, December 7, 1845—Beautiful tribute by Mr. Brooks—Organizes course of lectures—Salmon weir—Advocates engineer company—Enlists first soldier—Views on raising standard of rank and file—Ordered to Mexican war—Speeds to Boston by sleigh | 78 | CHAPTER VII
VOYAGE TO MEXICO | | Placed in charge of pontoon and engineer train—Delays in embarking—Visits from relatives—Death of Elizabeth—Letters to wife—Sails on barque Prompt, January 19, 1847—Diary of voyage—Seasickness—Warm weather—Passes Bahamas, Great Abaco, Hole in the Wall, Berry Island, Black Chief—Steward commits suicide—The weather in the Gulf—Arrives at the Brazos—Meets officers—Great confusion—Sails to Tampico, beautiful, picturesque region—Landing at Vera Cruz, March 9 and 10 | 96 | CHAPTER VIII
VERA CRUZ.—CERRO GORDO | | Vera Cruz—Defenses—American army invests city—Lieutenant Stevens’s zeal in reconnoitring—Hands torn and poisoned— Horse bolts to enemy’s lines—Throws himself from saddle— Looks out route for covered way—Put in charge with large working parties—Volunteers—Independent ways—Diary of siege—Capture of city—Damage by artillery fire—“Moonlight magnificence and sunlight squalidity”—Secures fine horse— Appointed adjutant of engineer corp
nberg@html@files@43589@43589-h@43589-h-3.htm.html#ill-104" class="pginternal">74 | | Margaret Lyman Stevens, from a miniature by Staigg | 76 | | Low Horn, Piegan Chief | 374 | | Charles H. Mason, Secretary of the Territory, from a photograph | 414 |
MAPS AND PLANS | Route, Vera Cruz to Mexico | 118 | | Battle of Cerro Gordo | 124 | | The Valley of Mexico | 162 | | Battlefields in the Valley of Mexico—Contreras, Churubusco, Chapultepec, Molino del Rey, Mexico | 172 |
THE LIFE OF ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS
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