Adam J. Slemmer
Encyclopedia
Adam Jacoby Slemmer was an officer in the United States Army
during the Seminole Wars
and the American Civil War
, as well as in the Old West.
, and raised in Norristown
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York
, in 1850, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
s in Florida
, and then was stationed in garrison
s along the Pacific
. From 1855 to 1859, he taught at West Point.
In January 1861, he was in command of a body of troops at Fort Barrancas
, Pensacola Harbor, Fla.
On January 10, after the surrender of the Pensacola Navy Yard, he transferred his force to the Fort Pickens
position in the same harbor. He held this fort against Confederate
attack until reinforced. Fort Pickens remained under Federal control for the duration of the war.
Promoted to major
, he was attached to General Buell's
command and took part in the Corinth campaign
and the relief of Nashville
. He became brigadier general
of volunteers on November 29, 1862, and participated in the Battle of Stones River
in December, receiving a wound that incapacitated him for the rest of the war. He was taken prisoner the following day, but released during the Confederate retreat. He served in administrative posts in Ohio and New York.
In 1865, Slemmer was brevetted
colonel
and brigadier general in the Regular Army
for meritorious conduct, and was commissioned lieutenant colonel
of the 4th U.S. Infantry. He died while in command of Fort Laramie
from lingering effects of typhoid fever
that he had contracted during the Civil War. Slemmer was buried in Montgomery Cemetery
, located in West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, near Norristown, Pennsylvania
, on October 21, 1868.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Seminole Wars
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
and the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, as well as in the Old West.
Early years
Slemmer was born in Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
, and raised in Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, in 1850, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
Career
He served against the SeminoleSeminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
s in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and then was stationed in garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
s along the Pacific
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. From 1855 to 1859, he taught at West Point.
In January 1861, he was in command of a body of troops at Fort Barrancas
Fort Barrancas
Fort Barrancas or Fort San Carlos de Barrancas is a historic United States military fort in the Warrington area of Pensacola, Florida, located physically on Naval Air Station Pensacola....
, Pensacola Harbor, Fla.
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
On January 10, after the surrender of the Pensacola Navy Yard, he transferred his force to the Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and remained in use until 1947...
position in the same harbor. He held this fort against Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
attack until reinforced. Fort Pickens remained under Federal control for the duration of the war.
Promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, he was attached to General Buell's
Don Carlos Buell
Don Carlos Buell was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole War, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. Buell led Union armies in two great Civil War battles—Shiloh and Perryville. The nation was angry at his failure to defeat the outnumbered...
command and took part in the Corinth campaign
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
and the relief of Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. He became brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers on November 29, 1862, and participated in the Battle of Stones River
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
in December, receiving a wound that incapacitated him for the rest of the war. He was taken prisoner the following day, but released during the Confederate retreat. He served in administrative posts in Ohio and New York.
In 1865, Slemmer was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and brigadier general in the Regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
for meritorious conduct, and was commissioned lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 4th U.S. Infantry. He died while in command of Fort Laramie
Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Fort Laramie was a significant 19th century trading post and diplomatic site located at the confluence of the Laramie River and the North Platte River in the upper Platte River Valley in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Wyoming...
from lingering effects of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
that he had contracted during the Civil War. Slemmer was buried in Montgomery Cemetery
Montgomery Cemetery (West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania)
Montgomery Cemetery is a cemetery located near the Schuylkill River on Hartranft Avenue and along Jackson Street in West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, immediately adjacent to and southwest of the Municipality of Norristown...
, located in West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, near Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, on October 21, 1868.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals