Stehs, Henry

Henry Stehs

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company C, 2nd Missouri Infantry

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

12/31/1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Battlefield

Henry Stehs enlisted into Company C of the 2nd Missouri Infantry Regiment as a private. The 2nd MO Infantry was led by Brigadier General Schaefer, Division General Sheridan and Corps Commander McCook.

At the battle of Stones River, Shaefer had his men positioned along the Wilkinson Pike on December 30th, 1862. They were to function as reserves until needed. The Confederate Army of Tennessee's plan of attack was to form a J-shape position around the Union Army of the Cumberland's right flank. The Confederate objective was to collapse the army in on itself. In the early hours of December 31st, 1862, they made contact and began carrying out this plan.

By 10am, Schaefer's men had been pushed into an area later called the "Slaughter Pen" where they were put in a vulnerable position of defense. They were ordered to hold the line, but due to the rising number of losses that the brigades in the area were experiencing, they couldn't hold much longer. Eventually they were sent into a retreat through the cedar trees towards another part of the battlefield where the main union line was formed. They could only hope that they would be greeted by friendly faces. Unfortunately, Private Stehs was killed in action during these inital engagements of the battle of Stones River on December 31st, 1862.

Henry Stehs is laid to rest in plot G-2800 in the Stones River National Cemetery.