James E. Slaughter
James E. Slaughter | |
---|---|
Brigadier General (CSA) | |
Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
James Edwin Slaughter (June 1827 – January 1, 1901) was an American soldier who fought in the
Early and family life
Born in 1827 on what was sometimes called
Early U.S. Army career
Slaughter resigned from the school on July 6, 1846, because he accepted a commission in the U.S. Army, becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in the newly formed regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen, recruited to fight in the Mexican–American War.[2][3] He accompanied General Winfield Scott and his army to Mexico City as a 2nd Lieutenant during the war. He was the first to inform the Mexican government of the deceptiveness of the Well and Labra claims.
After the war's end, Slaughter transferred to the U.S. 1st Artillery Regiment in June 1848 and would serve with this regiment until the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1852.
Confederate officer
Slaughter accepted a commission as first lieutenant, Corps of Artillery in the
Beauregard earnestly recommended Slaughter's promotion to brigadier-general, which was granted on March 8, 1862. Slaughter became General Albert Sidney Johnston's assistant inspector general at the Battle of Shiloh the following month.
In May 1862, he was appointed chief of the inspector-general's Department of the Army of the Mississippi, under General Braxton Bragg. Gen. Slaughter continued in that position through the Kentucky Campaign, and was then assigned to the charge of the troops of Mobile, Alabama, that port being threatened by Federal invasion.[6] Meanwhile, the Battle of Cedar Mountain was fought on his family's Virginia lands in August 1862, as would later be part of the Battle of Brandy Station in June 1863, leading to considerable destruction of which family members later complained.
In April 1863, Brigadier General Slaughter was transferred to
Slaughter participated in the last significant land battle of the American Civil War at Palmito Ranch in Texas on May 13, 1865. He arrived on the battlefield after the defeated Union forces had already commenced their retreat. It was reported that Slaughter "rode up to the edge of the tidal slough, drew his revolver and blazed away at the distant Yankees."[8]
Upon Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Court House, Brigadier General Slaughter fled to Mexico, where he stayed for several years and worked as a Civil Engineer. He returned to work in Mobile, Alabama and then eventually made his home in New Orleans.
Death and legacy
While visiting Mexico City, James Slaughter became ill and ultimately died of pneumonia on January 1, 1901. He never married.
He is buried in the Mexico City National Cemetery.[9][10]
See also
Notes
- ^ Philip Slaughter, History of St. Marks Parish, incl. pp.159, 170 among others, available at https://archive.org/stream/cu31924010323511/cu31924010323511_djvu.txt
- ^ Confederate Military History, vol. IV, p. 662
- ^ "VMI Civil War Generals. James E. Slaughter. Biographical Information from the VMI Archives". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27.
- ^ Senate, United States Congress (1887). Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America. order of the Senate of the United States.
- ^ Confederate Military History, vol. IV, p. 662
- ^ Confederate Military History, vol. IV, p. 662
- ^ Confederate Military History, vol. IV, p. 662
- ^ Hunt, Jeremy (2002). The Last Battle of the Civil War: Palmetto Ranch. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. p. 119.
- ^ "American Battle Monuments Commission -- Mexico City National Cemetery". Archived from the original on 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
- New York Times, "Ex-Confederate Leader Dies in Mexico," January 4, 1901, Page 1.
References
- Eicher, John H., and ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
- OCLC 833588. Volume 6. Derry, J. T.; Georgia. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
- Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
- ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.