Roy Stone | |
|---|---|
 Roy Stone in the Civil War | |
| Division of Public Roads | |
| In office October 3, 1893 – October 13, 1899 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | Martin Dodge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1836-10-16)October 16, 1836 |
| Died | August 5, 1905(1905-08-05) (aged 68) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch/service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865, 1898 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | 149th Pennsylvania Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War Spanish–American War |
Roy Stone (October 16, 1836 – August 5, 1905) was an American soldier, civil engineer, and inventor. He served in theAmerican Civil War, distinguishing himself during theBattle of Gettysburg, and took part in theSpanish–American War. He pursued a civil engineering career in a peacetime and became in 1893 the first head of the Office of Road Inquiry, which was theFederal Highway Administration's predecessor.[1]
Stone was born inPlattsburgh, New York, to Ithiel V. and Sarah Stone. His family had been among the early settlers of the region, and his father owned a large estate. As a young man, he was an engineer and lumberman before the Civil War. Stone married Mary Elizabeth Marker at theFirst Presbyterian Church inPittsburgh on August 14, 1862. They had two children, a son, Richmond and a daughter, Romaine (Mrs. L. Turnure Jr. and later LadyMonson).[2][3]
Stone served as aUnion Army officer during the Civil War and became noted for his stubborn defense of the McPherson Farm during theBattle of Gettysburg.
He first served asmajor of the 13thPennsylvania Reserves, a regiment that saw action at several early war battles, includingAntietam. Stone returned to Pennsylvania to help recruit new regiments; he was commissioned ascolonel of the newly raised149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in 1863. He commanded abrigade in the third division ofI Corps of theArmy of the Potomac in theBattle of Chancellorsville but did not see serious combat. During theGettysburg campaign, Stone retained command of his three Pennsylvania regiments.
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On July 1, 1863, on the first day of theBattle of Gettysburg, his brigade, largely composed of green troops, was posted onMcPherson's Ridge south of the Chambersburg Pike. Although the brigade had not seen previous combat, it was instrumental in holding back several assaults by theConfederates. Stone moved his regiments to block attacks by ColonelJohn Brockenborough andBrigadier GeneralJunius Daniel. His troops held until theIron Brigade and other Federal units fell back.[4] Stone's men were among last to withdraw from their sector. Stone was severely wounded in the hip and arm in the fighting, and he returned home to recuperate.[5]
After his return to active duty, Stone served briefly as a brigade commander inJames Wadsworth's 4th Division,V Corps duringLt. Gen.Ulysses S. Grant's 1864Overland Campaign. He was removed from command during theBattle of the Wilderness. Stone's horse fell on him on May 5, but many presumed he had been drunk on the battlefield.[6]
Stone commandedCamp Curtin, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1864–December 15, 1864, and theAlton Military Prison inAlton, Illinois, December 15, 1864–January 27, 1865.[5] He resigned from the volunteers on January 27, 1865.[5]
On December 12, 1864,PresidentAbraham Lincoln nominated Stone for appointment asbrevetbrigadier general, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from September 7, 1864, for "gallant services during the war, and especially at Gettysburg" and theUnited States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 20, 1865.[7]
Stone became a leading advocate of theGood Roads Movement which is now known. His contributions led to major changes and improvements in highway construction and design. He served as one of the early heads of theDivision of Public Roads from October 3, 1883 - October 13, 1899.[1]
Among his inventions was asteam-driven monorail at theCentennial International Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia.[8][9] A larger version was built in 1878 asBradford and Foster Brook Railway, Pennsylvania.[10][11]
Stone briefly returned to active military duty with the rank of Brigadier General in 1898, serving in thePuerto Rican Campaign of theSpanish–American War.
Roy Stone died August 5, 1905, atMendham, New Jersey.[12][5] He is buried atArlington National Cemetery.[5][13]
Stone Avenue in theGettysburg National Military Park is named in his honor and memory. Thepalm genusRoystonea is named in memory of the work he did in road building in Puerto Rico during the capture of the island.[14]
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