Stephen Edward Monaghan Underhill

UNDERHILL, STEPHEN EDWARD MONAGHAN (1841 ~ 1904). Confederate veteran Stephen Edward Monaghan Underhill was born in Duns, Scotland on November 9, 1841.

After immigrating to the United States Underhill settled in Mobile, Alabama, and joined the Confederacy. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Third Infantry Battalion, Alabama Reserves, which was organized in August, 1864. The Third Infantry was primarily used for the defense of Mobile and bay-area forts.

In August, 1864, the Third Infantry Battalion, along with the First and Fourth Alabama Reserve Battalions were consolidated to make the Fourth Regiment, Alabama Reserves. Underhill first served as a Major and was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

The Fourth Regiment was assigned to the District of the Gulf and became part of the Mobile defense force. In November, 1864, the regiment was organized as the 65th Alabama Infantry and Underhill was promoted to Colonel. By the next month, the regiment was sent to eastern Mississippi to help repel Union raids. After fighting for several weeks, the Regiment was called to North Carolina, but was stopped in Montgomery and later participated, in April, 1865, in the Battle of Girard, where it saw significant numbers killed and wounded. With very few men left, the 65th Alabama Infantry Regiment surrendered with the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana.

After the War, Underhill returned to Mobile and on March 15, 1879, was appointed Chief of Police and held the office for a short time. The Alabama Legislature instituted a new government for Mobile and Underhill was replaced by a W. H. Williamson, who was elected on March 19, 1879.

After moving to Texas, Underhill married Bessie Gaines Lipscomb, granddaughter of former Supreme Court Justice, Abner Smith Lipscomb. Eventually they settled in Austin, where Underhill died on Saturday, February 6, 1904.

His funeral service was held in his home and he was buried the next day in the Texas State Cemetery near his wife's grandfather.

Information taken from: 3rd Infantry Battalion, Alabama Reserves, 4th Infantry Regiment, Alabama Reserves, and 65th Infantry Regiment website at www.tarleton.edu/~kjones/alinf.html; Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System website at www.itd.nps.gov/cwss; City of Mobile Police Department web page at www.cityofmobile.org/html/departments/police/html/dept_info/PDhistory2.html; Obituary, The Austin Statesman, Saturday, February 6, 1904, page 2, column 4; and Obituary, The Austin Statesman, Sunday, February 7, 1904, page 3, column 1.