Civil War Confederate Army Officer. At the age of 19, he was commissioned in the United States Regular Army and saw action in the Mexican War. He left the army at the end of the war having been brevetted for gallantry. In 1852, he was recommissioned and spent several years fighting Indians on the frontier. When the Civil War broke out, he resigned from the army, joined the secession movement, and entered the Missouri State Militia. On June 18, 1861, he was appointed Brigadier General of the 5th Division of the Missouri state guard. Soon after, he was appointed a Captain in the regular Confederate army, and became drillmaster of Major General Sterling Price's army. With the state guard, he fought on the side of the Confederates at the Battles of Wilson's Creek and Lexington. In 1862, he was appointed Colonel of the 10th Missouri infantry. In the fall of that year, he led a brigade of four Missouri infantry regiments in the army of Major General Thomas C. Hindman. At the Battle of Prairie Grove in northwestern Arkansas, he led a charge, was shot through the head, and killed instantly. In March of 1862, General Sterling Price had recommended Steen for promotion to Brigadier General, but the promotion was denied because Steen's brigade was not fully formed. When he led a brigade of Missouri regiments for several months in Hindman's campaign, he was promised promotion appropriate to his command, but died before action on the promotion was formally taken.
Before leading the fatal charge at the close of the Battle of Prairie Grove, he rode in front of his men and shouted "Remember that yonder is the way to your homes!" Indicating the way to Missouri. He was hit and killed shortly after in the thick of the charge.
Before leading the fatal charge at the close of the Battle of Prairie Grove, he rode in front of his men and shouted "Remember that yonder is the way to your homes!" Indicating the way to Missouri. He was hit and killed shortly after in the thick of the charge.
Civil War Confederate Army Officer. At the age of 19, he was commissioned in the United States Regular Army and saw action in the Mexican War. He left the army at the end of the war having been brevetted for gallantry. In 1852, he was recommissioned and spent several years fighting Indians on the frontier. When the Civil War broke out, he resigned from the army, joined the secession movement, and entered the Missouri State Militia. On June 18, 1861, he was appointed Brigadier General of the 5th Division of the Missouri state guard. Soon after, he was appointed a Captain in the regular Confederate army, and became drillmaster of Major General Sterling Price's army. With the state guard, he fought on the side of the Confederates at the Battles of Wilson's Creek and Lexington. In 1862, he was appointed Colonel of the 10th Missouri infantry. In the fall of that year, he led a brigade of four Missouri infantry regiments in the army of Major General Thomas C. Hindman. At the Battle of Prairie Grove in northwestern Arkansas, he led a charge, was shot through the head, and killed instantly. In March of 1862, General Sterling Price had recommended Steen for promotion to Brigadier General, but the promotion was denied because Steen's brigade was not fully formed. When he led a brigade of Missouri regiments for several months in Hindman's campaign, he was promised promotion appropriate to his command, but died before action on the promotion was formally taken.
Before leading the fatal charge at the close of the Battle of Prairie Grove, he rode in front of his men and shouted "Remember that yonder is the way to your homes!" Indicating the way to Missouri. He was hit and killed shortly after in the thick of the charge.
Before leading the fatal charge at the close of the Battle of Prairie Grove, he rode in front of his men and shouted "Remember that yonder is the way to your homes!" Indicating the way to Missouri. He was hit and killed shortly after in the thick of the charge.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
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