James B. Steedman

Who was James B. Steedman?

James Blair Steedman was an American general in the Union Army in the Civil War. A printer by trade, and then President of Public Works in Ohio, he raised a ninety-day regiment that saw action in the early fighting at Philippi, Western Virginia. Posted to the Western theatre and promoted brigadier under Buell, Stoneman was credited with saving a whole division from being routed at the Battle of Perryville.

At the desperate Battle of Chickamauga, he lent valuable support to General George Thomas, and his courageous acts were praised as the salvation of the remaining Union forces after their defeat. He reunited with Thomas at Nashville, taking heavy losses at first, but playing a big part in the dramatic victory that ended the war in the west.