John P. Slough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Potts Slough
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John Potts Slough
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| Born | February 1, 1829 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 17, 1867 (aged 38) Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America (Union) |
| Service/ |
U.S. Army (Union Army) |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Brigadier general |
| Commands held | 1st Colorado Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John Potts Slough (born February 1, 1829 – died December 17, 1867) was an important American general and politician. He led soldiers for the Union during the American Civil War. His troops fought bravely at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. After the war, he became the top judge for the New Mexico Territory. He worked to make laws fair for everyone.
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Who Was John Potts Slough?
John Potts Slough was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 1, 1829. His father built steamboats. John studied law at the Cincinnati Law School.
Early Life and Learning
After becoming a lawyer, Slough worked in Cincinnati. He was elected to the Ohio General Assembly, which is like a state parliament. During his time there, he had a serious disagreement with another member. This led to him being removed from his position. He ran again for his seat but lost the by-election.
A Lawyer in New Lands
In 1857, Slough moved to Leavenworth in the Kansas Territory. He opened his own law office. At this time, Kansas was facing big arguments about whether slavery should be allowed there. This period was known as "Bleeding Kansas." Slough strongly opposed slavery. He helped create the Wyandotte Constitution, which made Kansas a "free state" where slavery was not allowed. He sometimes had strong disagreements with others during these political discussions.
In 1860, he moved to Denver, which was then part of the Kansas Territory. He became a well-known lawyer there. When the new Colorado Territory was formed in 1861, Slough helped set up its court system. He also helped organize the legal profession in the area.
Fighting in the Civil War
When the American Civil War started in 1861, John Potts Slough quickly began gathering soldiers for the Union army. The Governor of Colorado, William Gilpin, made him a captain. He led the 1st Colorado "Pike's Peakers" Infantry Regiment. Some soldiers at first wondered if he was truly loyal to the Union. This was because he had been part of the Democratic Party. But in August 1861, he became a colonel and took full command of the regiment.
In 1862, soldiers from the Confederate army invaded the New Mexico Territory. They had won a battle at Valverde and taken over Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Colonel Slough and his regiment marched to Fort Union to help the Union forces. As the highest-ranking officer there, he took charge of the fort and its New Mexico volunteer soldiers.
The Battle of Glorieta Pass
A Confederate army, led by Lt. Col. William Read Scurry, was planning to capture Fort Union. Colonel Slough moved his regiment towards Glorieta Pass to stop them. On March 26, 1862, a small group of Slough's soldiers met the Confederates at Apache Canyon. There was a short fight, but no clear winner.
Two days later, on March 28, the main armies clashed at Pigeon's Ranch. This was near Glorieta Pass on the Santa Fe Trail. The Battle of Glorieta Pass began with no clear side winning. The Confederate soldiers were pushing Slough's Coloradans back. However, Slough sent Major John M. Chivington on a surprise attack. This attack destroyed the Confederate army's supply wagons. This action helped the Union win the battle.
The battle was a big win for the Union's overall plan, even though the Confederates fought well on the battlefield. Slough's regiment successfully stopped the Confederates. They soon left New Mexico and went back to Texas.
After the battle, Slough received orders from Colonel Canby to stay at Fort Union. There was some discussion about whether Slough had followed orders by leaving the fort earlier. Slough met with Canby and decided the fighting in New Mexico was finished. He then left his military position and went to fight in the eastern part of the war.
One year after the Battle of Glorieta Pass, his former soldiers from Colorado sent him a special sword. It was a thank you for turning them into a strong fighting group. Slough wrote back, reminding them to remember their important cause. He told them they were American soldiers fighting for freedom for everyone.
Leading Troops in the East
Slough then traveled to Washington, D.C.. He was given command of a group of soldiers called a brigade. This was during Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign in 1862, in the Shenandoah Valley. His soldiers were mostly stationed at Harpers Ferry and did not see much fighting.
On August 25, 1862, he was promoted to brigadier general. He also became the military governor of Alexandria, Virginia. He stayed in charge of the Alexandria area for the rest of the war. In December 1862, he was part of a special military court. This court found Major General Fitz John Porter guilty of not following orders.
After the War: A Judge for Justice
When the Civil War ended in 1865, Slough left the army. He opened a law office in Washington, D.C.. In January 1866, President Andrew Johnson chose him for an important job. Slough became the chief justice, or head judge, of the New Mexico Territorial Court.
Changing Laws in New Mexico
One of his first goals was to honor the soldiers who died in the war. He wanted to raise money for memorials at battle sites in New Mexico. He also worked to improve the legal system there. A very important decision he made was about the Pueblo Indians. He ruled that they were U.S. citizens. This meant they could speak in court, especially in arguments over land. He believed they should be treated equally in court. The U.S. Supreme Court later agreed with his decision.
In February 1867, Slough also spoke out against a system called "peonage." This was a system where people were forced to work to pay off debts, similar to slavery. President Johnson signed a law against this system in March 1867. Slough saw himself as a reformer. He felt that peonage in New Mexico was like the slavery he had fought against during the Civil War.
Not everyone liked Slough's changes. Some people in New Mexico wanted him removed from his job. They felt his decisions were causing problems. He also tried to stop unfair practices in the courtroom. For example, in one case, a local leader was accused of breaking a local rule. A jury did not find him guilty. Slough disagreed, removed the jury, and held a new trial. He then sentenced the leader to a year in prison. However, the governor of the territory later pardoned the leader. This made Slough very upset.
Slough was known for being direct and having a strong personality. He was chosen to fight against corruption (dishonest actions) in the legal system. But some people thought he was too strict. In 1867, a man named William Logan Rynerson was part of the Territorial Legislative Council. He started a campaign to criticize Judge Slough. Rynerson even wrote a proposal to have Slough removed from his position. In response, Slough spoke negatively about Rynerson in public.
A Tragic End
On December 15, 1867, in Santa Fe, a serious conflict happened between Rynerson and Judge Slough. Rynerson confronted Slough with a gun. Slough was fatally wounded during this encounter. He died two days later, on December 17, 1867.
What Happened Next?
Rynerson was later found not guilty in a trial. Many people thought this trial was unfair. This event showed the growing power of a group known as the Santa Fe Ring. Friends of Slough in New Mexico, Denver, and Cincinnati asked for a fair investigation, but their requests were not heard. Historians have noted that this event highlighted how conflicts and violence were sometimes part of politics in New Mexico during that time.
See also
- List of assassinated American politicians
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
