Thomas Holdup Stevens II

Thomas Stevens was born on May 27, 1819, in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of distinguished naval officer Thomas H. Stevens. On December 14, 1836, he enlisted as a midshipman. His first appointment was to the frigate Independence. After graduating from the Naval Academy, Stevens spent much of his service assigned to the Pacific Squadron. He distinguished himself during the war with Mexico.

On March 25, 1862, Stevens was ordered to the Maratanza, a double-ended wooden steamer. The ship was stationed in Hampton Roads with engagements in both the York and James Rivers. On May 18, 1862, the Maratanza and the Monitor engaged a small Confederate force near City Point on the James River. The action resulted in the capture of the CSS Teaser.

On August 9, 1862, Stevens was placed in command of the Monitor, replacing Jeffers. He was in command for less than two months, and during his command the Monitor saw almost no action.

Having previously gained the attention of Commodore Charles Wilkes, Stevens was reassigned at Wilkes's request to command the new 955-ton gunboat Sonoma. Stevens then joined Wilkes's West Indies Squadron. Wilkes's command was specially organized to track the Confederate commerce raiders Florida and Alabama, then operating in the Caribbean.

Stevens later served aboard other monitors, commanding both the Patapsco off Fort Sumter in 1863 and the Winnebago at Mobile Bay in 1864. He retired from the navy in 1896, and died in 1898.