★ Slemmer, Adam J.

Adam Jacoby Slemmer​

Born: January 24, 1828

Birthplace: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Father: Adam Slemmer 1791 – 1883

(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​

Mother: Margaretta Craft 1792 – 1860

(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​

Wife: Caroline Lane "Aunt Cara" Reynolds 1840 – 1930

(Buried: Ascension Parish Burial Ground, Cambridge, England)​

Children:

Albert "Bertie" Slemmer​

(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​

Education:

1850: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (12th​ in class)

Occupation before War:

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1850 – 1851: Brevet, 2nd​ Lt. United States Army Artillery​

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1851 – 1854: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Artillery​

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1854 – 1861: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Artillery​

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1855 – 1856: Assistant Professor of Geography and History, West Point​

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1856 – 1859: Assistant Math Professor at West Point​

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1859 – 1860: Garrison duty at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina​

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Civil War Career:

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1854 – 1861: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 1st​ Artillery​

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1861: Commander of Fort Barrancas, Florida​

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1861: Served in the Defense of Fort Pickens​

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1861 – 1864: Major United States Army, 16th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Organizer of troops in Chicago Illinois​

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1861: Acting Inspector General of Department of the Ohio​

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1862: Served in the Siege of Corinth Mississippi​

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1862 – 1865: Brigadier General Union Army Volunteers​

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1862: Wounded during the Battle of Stones River Tennessee​

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1862: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Stones River​

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1863 – 1865: President Board of Examination of Sick and Wounded​

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1864 – 1868: Lt. Colonel United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1865: Brevetted Colonel for his service in the War​

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1865: Brevetted Brig. General for his duty in the war​

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1865: Mustered out of volunteer service on August 24th​​

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Occupation after War:

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1864 – 1868: Lt. Colonel United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1865: Garrison duty at Fort Schuyler, New York​

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1865 – 1866: Garrison duty at Madison Barracks, New York​

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1866 – 1867: Member Board of Examination for Promotion​

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1867 – 1868: Frontier Duty at Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory​

Died: October 7, 1868

Place of Death: Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory

Cause of Death: Liver and Kidney Problems

Age at time of Death: 40 years old

Burial Place: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania

 

[Pollaco]

The bombardment of Fort Sumter and bombardment of Fort Pickens were two similar incidents in early 1861. Both had garrisons moved into them from nearby commands and were bombarded when they refused to surrender.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Adam J. Slemmer! Salutes remembering General Slemmer on his birthday.

 

[ErnieMac]

At the time of Florida's secession Fort Pickens, located on Santa Rosa Island, was not garrisoned. The few available troops (51 soldiers and 30 sailors according to wiki) were located at Forts Barrancas and McRee on the mainland. On the night Slemmer destroyed the gunpowder in Fort McRee, spiked the guns in Fort Barrancas and moved his command to Pickens. There he refused two demands to surrender and held out for three months until relieved.

 

[USS ALASKA]

The Life of Adam Jacoby Slemmer: One Strong Voice of Defiance by A. M. Gambone

Recounts the life and deeds of Adam J. Slemmer from his birth in Frederick Township, Montgomery County to his heroic defense of Fort Pickens, at Pensacola Harbor, Florida during the Civil War to his service during the Indian Campaigns and his death at Fort Laramie, South Dakota. The introduction states, "it was at Fort Pickens where [Slemmer] was destined to leave his greatest Civil War legacy by steadfastly refusing to surrender [the fort] to the Alabama and Florida authorities during those early days of secession."

The Life of Adam Jacoby Slemmer: One Strong Voice of Defiance: Gambone, A. M.: 9780935523904: Amazon.com: Books

The Life of Adam Jacoby Slemmer: One Strong Voice of Defiance [Gambone, A. M.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Life of Adam Jacoby Slemmer: One Strong Voice of Defiance

www.amazon.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Pollaco]

I think he was only a Lt. at the time of the Fort Pickens incident then yielded command to a Col. Brown (on April 20th) who was sent to reinforce Fort Pickens.He later found himself a major with the 16th Infantry in Kentucky and doing staff duty in the Army of the Ohio.

 

[Pollaco]

Out west he was in Gen. Don C. Buell's command.

 

[Pollaco]

Slemmer was wounded and captured the following day at Stone's River. He was released when the Confederates withdrew but the wound was severe enough to keep him from any further field command.He was however promoted to brigadier general in April of 1863 but it was backdated to Nov.29, 1862. For the rest of the war he held administrative assignments.

 

[Pollaco]

He was commanding Fort Laramie when the lingering effects of typhoid caused liver and kidney problems. A biography of him states he contracted typhoid during the war. At what point in the war did Slemmer have this fever?