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Alexander Early Steen (c. 1827 – December 7, 1862) was a career American soldier from Missouri who served in the United States Army in the Mexican–American War. He rejoined the army in 1852 and served until he resigned to join the Confederate forces on May 10, 1861. He served as a general in the secessionist Missouri State Guard forces and as a colonel and acting brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was killed in the Battle of Prairie Grove.
Alexander E. Steen | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alexander Early Steen |
| Born | c. 1827 Missouri |
| Died | December 7, 1862 (aged 34–35) Washington County, Arkansas |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Missouri Confederate States of America |
| Service | Missouri State Guard Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1847-1848, 1852-1861 (USA) 1861-1862 (CSA) |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel, Missouri Militia Brigadier general (MSG) Colonel (CSA) |
| Commands | Fifth Division, Missouri State Guard 10th Missouri Infantry, CSA |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War |
| Relations | brother-in-law of Lewis Henry Little, first cousin of Arkansas Governor Henry M. Rector |
| Other work | antebellum officer in the United States Army |
Steen was commissioned from civilian life as a second lieutenant to the 12th U.S. Infantry in early 1847 [1] (contrary to some sources, he never attended the US Military Academy). He served at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, beginning in May 1847.[2] By the mid-1850s, Steen was promoted to first lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Infantry and assigned to duty at Fort Union in the New Mexico Territory, where he led several lengthy reconnaissance patrols scouting for hostile Indians.[3]
With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, many Missourians were forced to choose sides, especially after the state's neutrality came under test when pro-secessionist forces began organizing, and fighting between Unionists and secessionists became imminent. Steen returned to Missouri and was commissioned as the Lt Colonel of the Second Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Militia (MVM), a position he held concurrently with his commission in the U.S. Army. The Second Regiment, MVM, was composed primarily of members of the pro-secession "Minutemen" paramilitary organization. This unit was arrested by U.S. troops at Camp Jackson, on the outskirts of St. Louis on May 10, 1861, on suspicion of disloyal activities. Steen avoided arrest at Camp Jackson and reportedly submitted his resignation from the U.S. Army the same day.[4][5]
On June 11, 1861, Steen was appointed as a brigadier general in the secessionist Missouri State Guard (MSG)[5] under its commander, Major General Sterling Price, serving as drillmaster at the State Guard encampment at Cowskin Prairie near the Arkansas border. He also commanded the Fifth Division of the Missouri State Guard (mostly raw recruits) early in the war.[6] On June 22, 1861, he received an appointment as a captain in the Regular Confederate Army's Corps of Infantry, to date to March 16, 1861.[7][5] As a Missouri State Guard general, Steen led his brigade at the Battle of Wilson's Creek and the First Battle of Lexington.[8]
When his Missouri State Guard brigade was sent to northern Mississippi in April 1862, he became ill at Memphis, Tennessee and returned to Missouri.[8] In November 1862, with the Missouri troops still east of the Mississippi River, Steen was appointed colonel, commanding the 10th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate).[5] He was killed during the fighting at the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862,[5] and his body was recovered and shipped to Fort Smith.[9]
Steen is buried in the Fort Smith National Cemetery.[5] A memorial to Unknown Confederate Dead, made of marble, commemorates Steen, as well as Brigadier General James M. McIntosh, an Arkansan who was killed at the Battle of Pea Ridge.[10]
Steen was a brother-in-law of fellow Confederate general Lewis Henry Little. He was also a first cousin of Arkansas Governor Henry M. Rector.[5]
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