Stevens, Edward. 1745-1820.

Edward Stevens was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, and joined the forces fighting England early in the war. In December 1775, he commanded a battalion of Virginia militia at the Battle of Great Bridge. The battle, a victory for the Americans, helped keep Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, from retaking the state for England.

Edwards did not remain in the militia. He was commissioned a colonel in the 10th Virginia Regiment in November 1776. Edwards and his regiment fought at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. He served less than two years in the American army, resigning in January 1778. Edwards did continue to serve Virginia. He was appointed brigadier general of militia in 1779.

His first major action as brigadier general of militia occurred when he took 700 men to join General Horatio Gate's army in the south. As a member of this army, the militia fought in the diasterous battle at Camden where, by all acounts, they did not fight well. Stevens remained with the army and eventually joined it's new commander, Nathanael Greene, in the retreat to the Dan River. He and the militia also fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

Wounded at Guilford Courthouse, Stevens temporarily returned home. He recovered in time to command a brigade of militia at the Siege of Yorktown. Stevens eventually rose to become major general in the Virginia militia.