[3] He was tireless in this endeavor, enlisting his own brother Andrew, as well as men from New Jersey and even as far away as Vermont to fill the ranks of what later became Company E, 102nd New York Volunteer Infantry.

While Stonewall Jackson terrorized Federal troops the Shenandoah Valley, Stegman and his comrades guarded the various routes that supplied the Union Army.

As the leftmost unit during the Union advance on the southern portion of the battlefield, the 102nd New York was exposed to Confederate artillery fire.

The reasons for Elliott's promotion over his former company commander are unclear, but they perhaps stem from previous incidents in which Stegman was charged with "conduct prejudicial to military order and discipline."

[11] However, other officers outside the regiment must have trusted his judgment; during this period Stegman was appointed judge advocate on his division's court martial.

[13] Three days later, at the Battle of Ringgold Gap, he distinguished himself by leading 40 men to prevent the Confederates from burning a bridge as the enemy retreated.

During this period of reorganization, Stegman was promoted to major and was de facto second in command of the 102nd New York during the subsequent Atlanta Campaign.

On June 14, 1864, after a long bout of illness, Col. Lane resigned for medical reasons and Stegman took command of the regiment.

[3] After the Civil War, Stegman returned to New York and made his home in Brooklyn, working in a number of professions, most often as a journalist.

He wrote numerous historical essays and biographies during this period and was a featured speaker at many veterans' events including monument dedications at Gettysburg and Antietam.