Henry Warner Slocum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Warner Slocum, Sr.
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Portrait of General Henry W. Slocum by Mathew Brady, ca. 1861
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 |
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| Preceded by | Lyman Tremain |
| Succeeded by | At-large district temporarily abolished John Fitzgibbons Elmer E. Studley |
| Constituency | at-large seat |
| In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873 |
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| Preceded by | William E. Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Stewart L. Woodford |
| Constituency | 3rd district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 24, 1827 Delphi Falls, New York |
| Died | April 14, 1894 (aged 66) Brooklyn, New York |
| Resting place | Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch/service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1852–1856; 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands | 27th New York Infantry Brigade Commander, Franklin's Division Divisional Commander, VI Corps XII Corps XIV Corps XX Corps Army of Georgia |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Henry Warner Slocum, Sr. (September 24, 1827 – April 14, 1894) was an important Union general during the American Civil War. He later became a member of the United States House of Representatives for New York.
During the war, he was one of the youngest major generals in the Union Army. He fought in many major battles in the Eastern states and in Georgia and the Carolinas. He led different groups of soldiers, from regiments to entire corps. He fought at First Bull Run, the Peninsula Campaign, Harpers Ferry, South Mountain, Antietam, and Chancellorsville.
At the Gettysburg, he was the highest-ranking Union general on the field under Gen. George G. Meade. His strong defense of Culp's Hill was very important for the Union victory. After the fall of Vicksburg, Slocum became the military commander of that area. He also led the first troops into Atlanta on September 2, 1864, and then served as its occupation commander.
Slocum commanded the left side of Gen. William T. Sherman's famous "March to the Sea." This march went through Georgia to Savannah on the Atlantic coast. He then led his troops north through the Carolinas. During this campaign, he captured Milledgeville, which was the state capital of Georgia, and the port city of Savannah.
In the Carolinas campaign, Slocum's army won battles at Averasborough and Bentonville, North Carolina. These campaigns were key to the Union winning the Civil War. After the war, Slocum chose not to stay in the army. He became a successful politician and businessman.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Henry Slocum was born in Delphi Falls, New York. He was one of eleven children. He went to the State Normal School in Albany and the Cazenovia Seminary. At 16, he became a public school teacher. He taught for five years.
In 1848, Slocum was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was a good student, graduating seventh in his class in 1852. He even helped his roommate, Philip Sheridan, with math. Sheridan later said Slocum helped him pass his exams. While at West Point, Slocum spoke out against slavery, which was not a popular view among many Southern cadets.
After graduating, Slocum became a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served in the Seminole War in Florida and at Fort Moultrie in South Carolina. He married Clara Rice in 1854, and they had four children. He left the army in 1856 and moved to Syracuse, New York.
Slocum studied law and became a lawyer in 1858. He also worked as a county treasurer and was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1859. During this time, he was also an artillery instructor in the New York Militia.
Civil War Service
Joining the Fight
When the Civil War began, Slocum became a colonel of the 27th New York Infantry. He led his regiment at the First Battle of Bull Run, where they fought hard and lost many men. Slocum himself was badly wounded.
After he recovered, he was given command of a brigade. In May 1862, he took command of a division. He led his division well during the Seven Days Battles. General Fitz-John Porter called Slocum's division "one of the best divisions in the Army."
On July 25, 1862, Slocum was promoted to major general. He was the second youngest person in the Union Army to reach this rank. At the Battle of South Mountain in September 1862, Slocum's troops successfully attacked the enemy. His corps commander, Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, said it was "the completest victory" for that part of the army.
Slocum's division did not see much action at Antietam. The next month, he became the permanent commander of the XII Corps. At the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, Slocum commanded the Union right side, which included 46,000 men. He moved his troops well and stopped the Confederate advance.
When Joe Hooker was removed as army commander, Slocum was next in line. However, the War Department chose George Meade instead. Slocum gracefully agreed to serve under Meade, even though Meade was junior to him in rank.
Gettysburg: A Key Role
Maj. Gen. Slocum played a very important role in the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, from July 1–3, 1863. His XII Corps defended Culp's Hill on the Union right side. This defense helped ensure Meade's victory against Lee's army.
Some historians have questioned Slocum's actions on July 1. However, new records show that Slocum sent his troops to Gettysburg as soon as he heard about the fighting. He even moved his First Division forward despite an order from General Meade to halt. This shows Slocum's quick thinking and initiative.
Slocum arrived at the battlefield late on July 1. As the highest-ranking general there, he commanded the Union army for about six hours until Meade arrived. During this time, Slocum helped set up the Union's defensive lines. For the rest of the battle, Slocum commanded the Union line from Culp's Hill. His XII Corps successfully defended Culp's Hill for three days. This prevented a Confederate victory at this crucial battle.
On July 2, General Meade held a meeting with his commanders. He asked if the army should stay and fight or retreat. Slocum strongly recommended, "Stay and fight it out."
Meade planned an attack, but Slocum believed the land was too difficult for it. General Gouvernor K. Warren agreed with Slocum.
When Meade ordered Slocum to send his entire XII Corps to help defend against James Longstreet's attack, Slocum wisely suggested keeping one brigade at Culp's Hill. This brigade, led by Brig. Gen. George S. Greene, held off a huge Confederate attack. This saved the important hill for the Union.
General Greene later wrote that Slocum's decision saved the army from a "great and perhaps fatal disaster." General Oliver O. Howard also said that Slocum "prevented Meade from losing the Battle of Gettysburg."
Fighting in the West
In late 1863, Slocum and his corps moved to the Western Theater. Slocum did not want to serve under Joe Hooker again. President Lincoln promised Slocum he wouldn't have to. So, one part of Slocum's corps protected a railroad, while the other part served under Hooker.
In the summer of 1864, Slocum commanded the area of Vicksburg. He managed the district so well that General Ulysses S. Grant didn't want to transfer him to a fighting command.
When Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson was killed during the Atlanta Campaign, William T. Sherman appointed Slocum to command the XX Corps. His old soldiers cheered his return. When Atlanta fell on September 2, 1864, General Slocum and his corps were the first to enter the city.
Slocum was the commander of Atlanta for ten weeks. He tried to make the occupation as easy as possible for the people living there. He wrote to his wife, "I wish for humanity's sake that this sad war could be brought to a close."
March to the Sea: A Famous Campaign
One of General Slocum's most important commands was leading the Army of Georgia during Sherman's famous "March to the Sea." Slocum and his army were part of all the fighting from November 16 until the Confederate forces surrendered.
General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea, also called the Savannah Campaign, was one of the most effective campaigns of the Civil War. Sherman planned it to divide the Confederacy in two. His army would move from Atlanta to Savannah on the Atlantic coast. This would disrupt the Southern economy by destroying railroads, factories, and food supplies. It also showed that the Southern Army could not defend its own land. This campaign was a major success for the Union and helped them win the war.
Sherman's Army had two main parts, called wings. Slocum commanded the left wing, called the Army of Georgia. This army had about 26,703 officers and men. The army traveled light, carrying only basic supplies. They also used captured supplies to feed themselves.
The March to the Sea began on November 15 and ended with the capture of Savannah on December 21, 1864. Slocum's army marched about 300 miles (480 km) in 36 days. They moved about 12 to 15 miles per day. They built many pontoon bridges and corduroy roads to cross rivers and difficult terrain.
There were no major battles for Slocum's Army of Georgia during this campaign, mostly small skirmishes. Sherman's army captured Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia, and Savannah. Both cities were protected by the Union Army and remained mostly undamaged.
When they reached Savannah, Slocum accepted the city's surrender. He set up fire guards to prevent damage. Sherman then sent a famous telegram to Abraham Lincoln, offering Savannah as a "Christmas present."
Carolinas Campaign and War's End
The Carolinas Campaign started in late January 1865. Slocum's troops marched 425 miles (684 km) in 50 days. This march was harder than the March to the Sea due to tougher land and more rain.
Slocum's army fought hard at the Battle of Averasborough and the Battle of Bentonville. At Bentonville, Slocum successfully stopped a surprise attack by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. An officer on Sherman's staff wrote that Slocum was "more than equal to the necessity of the hour."
General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to General Sherman on April 17, 1865.
Sherman's army mainly destroyed railroads, factories, and cotton supplies. They also freed thousands of enslaved people. It's estimated that between 17,000 and 25,000 newly freed people followed Sherman's army through Georgia. Many of these individuals helped the Union army as guides, scouts, and workers.
Both General Oliver O. Howard and General Henry W. Slocum were abolitionists, meaning they opposed slavery. Many Union soldiers saw the horrors of slavery for the first time during the march. This changed their minds about why the war was being fought.
After the war, Slocum and the Army of Georgia marched north to Washington, DC. They participated in the Grand Army Review on May 24, 1865.
Slocum commanded the Department of the Mississippi from April to September 1865. He made sure that newly freed slaves were treated fairly and had the same rights as other citizens. Slocum resigned from the army after the war. He chose not to return to his lower pre-war rank.
Life After the War
After the war, Slocum returned to New York. He ran for Secretary of State of New York in 1865 but lost. In 1866, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, with his family. He continued his work as a lawyer.
Slocum was elected to the United States Congress as a Democrat in 1869 and served until 1873. He was elected again in 1882 and served until 1885. In Congress, he worked to clear the name of Major General Fitz John Porter, who had been wrongly accused after the Second Battle of Bull Run.
In 1882, Slocum almost became the Democratic candidate for governor of New York. In 1885, he was the Grand Marshal for President Grover Cleveland's first parade in Washington, D.C.
Slocum was a successful businessman. He invested in many companies and was a director for several. He also worked for public improvements in Brooklyn.
Slocum was a strong supporter of building the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Brooklyn to Manhattan. He invested in the bridge and was on its Board of Directors. His name is on a bronze tablet on one of the bridge's towers.
He also helped build streetcar systems in Brooklyn. He founded and was president of the Brooklyn Crosstown Railroad. He also owned shares in other rail lines and wanted to change horse-drawn cars to electric ones.
In 1877, Slocum became president of the Society of the Army of the Potomac, a group for Civil War veterans. He remained active in veterans' affairs. He was president of the Board of Trustees for the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. He also served on the New York Monuments Commission for the Gettysburg battlefield until his death.
Slocum remained good friends with Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. Slocum helped plan Sherman's funeral in 1891.
Slocum never wrote a full book about his life, but he wrote articles about his war service for magazines. These articles were later put into a book called Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.
Henry Slocum died in Brooklyn, New York, on April 14, 1894, from liver disease. He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery. A former staff member wrote that Slocum was a man of "sterling qualities," "firm and resolute," yet "modest," and "faithful" to his duty.
Namesakes
- Equestrian statues of Slocum are located at Steven's Knoll and Culp's Hill on the Gettysburg battlefield. Another is in Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York.
- A steamship, the General Slocum, was named after him. Sadly, it had a terrible fire in 1904, causing many deaths.
- Fort Slocum, New York, guarded the entrance to New York Harbor from 1867 to 1965. It was officially named Fort Slocum in 1896.
- A United States Army transport ship used during the Spanish–American War was also named for General Slocum.
See also
In Spanish: Henry Warner Slocum para niños
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
Archives
- You can find historical documents about Henry Slocum in places like the Samuel P. Bates Collection and the John B. Bachelder Papers.
