Stewart Van Vliet papers, 1859-1980

Stewart Van Vliet (1815-1901) was born in Ferrisburg, Vermont. He attended West Point and graduated ninth in the Class of 1840 with several other future Civil War generals. As a Second Lieutenant, he served in the Seminole War in Florida and was stationed at various points in the Southern states. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1843 and saw continued service in the South until he left Savannah, Georgia, to serve in the Mexican War. Van Vliet participated in the Battle of Monterey and the Siege of Vera Cruz. The war changed the direction of his military career and he became a Quartermaster. In this position, he assisted in building military posts along the Oregon trail. When United States President James Buchanan decided to send a military expedition to crush the so-called Mormon Rebellion, Van Vliet fitted out the expedition. After the expedition was underway, Van Vliet was ordered to proceed to Salt Lake City and communicate directly with Brigham Young. When reports circulated that the Mormons planned on murdering Van Vliet, he left his escort outside Salt Lake and proceeded alone where he was courteously received. The Utah War ended several months later without much bloodshed. Van Vliet was at Fort Leavenworth when the Civil War began. For the war's first two years, he served as Quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac. He then worked in New York City and assisted in making supplies available to the Union army. Near the end of the war, he was promoted to Brigader General, and later still, Major General. In the years following the war, Van Vliet served as Quartermaster in different ranks and departments before retiring in 1881. In the last twenty years of his life, he was known for collecting paintings and pictures. He died in Washington, D.C.