| Notes |
- George Hume Steuart was a Confederate General and a slave owner. He fought fervently to preserve slavery in the American Civil War. He even openly stated that Abraham Lincoln's election as president was invalid because of the number of black people who voted for him. He is not to be confused with his same-named son who was also a Confederate General.
George was born in Anne Arundell County, Maryland, USA, and grew up on his parents' slave plantation, Sparrow's Point. His father also owned a second major estate in Baltimore called Maryland Square, later renamed Steuart Hall.
George initially served as a captain during the War of 1812 when he raised a company of Maryland volunteers, leading them at both the Battle of Bladensberg and the Battle of North Point in 1814. After the war he rose to become a major general and commander-in-chief of the First Light Division, Maryland Militia.
In 1828, George served on the board of the Maryland State Colonization Society, a branch of the American Colonization Society, an organization dedicated to returning black Americans to lead free lives in African states such as Liberia. That sounds generous and benevolent, but what it really meant was they were so opposed to living amongst free black people that they preferred to have them shipped back to any country in Africa, regardless of where they came from, rather than to see them live free in the USA.
In 1838, George inherited from his uncle William Steuart half of the family's extensive estates about 2000 acres, including Mount Stewart, and 125 slaves, but excluding Dodon itselt, which went to George's brother Richard.
In 1846, when his father died, George inherited his father's Baltimore estate of Maryland Square. The number of slaves he inherited from his father is unknown.
The 1850 Census Slave Schedule shows George owning 152 slaves ranging in age from 1 to 75.
During John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 (a failed slave uprising), Steuart personally led a detachment of militia to thwart the uprising. He later lobbied unsuccessfully for Maryland to secede from the Union and join the Confederate states.
The 1860 Census Slave Schedule shows George owning 115 slaved and his brother, Richard Sprigg Steuart owning 111.
In 1861, at the start of the Civil War, Steuart wrote derisively about the conduct of fellow Maryland citizens who supported the northern Union and opposed slavery. He was so determined to support the slavers' cause that he left his home state of Maryland and joined the Confederacy, though at 71 years of age he was by then considered too old for active service. This did not prevent him from personally riding with General Robert E. Lee's army and even being captured at the First Battle of Manassas.
After vacating his homes in Maryland, his estate of Maryland Square was seized by the Federal Government and turned into a military camp and hospital. After the war, Maryland Square was returned to him, but he was forced to auction it off and his family never lived there again.
It is fair to say that George was a substantial slave owner and fought tooth and nail to remain so, and failed.
On 6 Nov 1866, George received a presidential pardon from President Andrew Johnson.
See extensive wiki for more information.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._Steuart_(militia_general)
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Obituary
Death of Major Gen. George H. Steuart. -- This well known citizen died in this city yesterday, in the 77th year of his age. Previous to the late war, General Steuart for some twenty years commanded the First Light Division of Maryland militia, and in his younger days represented the city in the State Legislature. He was also at one time a member of the city council. During the late war with Great Britain the deceased was one of the brave men who defended the city of Baltimore when attacked by General Ross. Shortly after the late civil difficulties commeced, leading to war, General Steuart went south, where he resided privately, mostly at Chrlottesville, Va., and after the war went to Europe, where he remained until within some four or five months. At the first battle of Manassas General Steuart was present as a spectator, and was taken prisoner by the United States Forces, but on the fact becoming known that he was not engaged in actual hostiilities, he was promptly released. He returned to this city, as above indicated, some months since, in the steamship Carroll, from Liverpool, in enfeebled health, brought on by advanced age. General Steuart was of an active temperament, a gentleman of the old school, and his death will be regretted by numberous friends. Baltimore Sun, Oct.23
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Biographies of Notable Americans 1904, Vol 10, p 13.
STEUART, George Hume, soldier, was born in Baltimore, Md., Aug. 24, 1828. He was graduated from the United States Military academy, and promoted brevet 2d lieutenant, 2d dragoons, July 1, 1848 served on frontier duty and on the march through Texas to Austin, 1848-49 was promoted 2d lieutenant, 2d dragoons, Nov. 11, 1849 was on duty at Fort Graham, Tex., 1849-51, and at various forts in Texas, 1851-55, escorting Lieutenant-Colonel Freeman in an inspection tour through Texas in 1853, and was promoted 1st lieutenant, 1st cavalry, March 3, 1855. He was on recruiting service frontier duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and in the Sioux expedition, 1855, being promoted captain, Dec. 20 served in the Cheyenne expedition, being engaged in a skirmish near Fort Kearny, Neb., Aug. 26, 1856, and was again on duty at Fort Leavenworth, 1857-58. He served in the Utah expedition, 1858 at Fort Riley, Kan., 1858-60, scouting to Arkansas river, 1859 in the Kiowa and Camanche expedition and at Fort Wise, Col., 1860, and was on leave of aberice, 1860-61. He resigned his commission, April 22, 1861, and joined the Confederate army was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, let Maryland infantry, June 16, 1861 was promoted colonel in July, 1861, and brigadier-general in March, 1862. He led the cavalry with General Jackson in advance upon General Banks, May, 1862, and was subsequently in command of an infantry brigade. He was wounded at Cross Keys, Va., June 8, 1862 participated in an attack on Culp's Hill, Gettysburg, July, 1863 occupied the right parallel of the Confederate [p.13] center, known as the "bloody angle," at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, May 9-12, 1864 was taken prisoner with 4,000 of his men but was exchanged some months afterward, and participated in the battle of Five Forks, April 1, 1865. After the war he returned to Baltimore, Md., and in 1903 was residing at South River, Anne Arundel county, Md.
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1790 - 1867 (76 years)
