Adam J. Slemmer

SLEMMER, Adam J., soldier, b. in Montgomery county, Pa., in 1828; d. in Fort Laramie, Kan., 7 Oct., 1868. He was graduated at the United States military academy in July, 1850, and assigned to the 1st artillery. After a short campaign against the Seminole Indians in Florida, in which he took a creditable part, he was for four years on frontier service in California, and in 1855-'9 was assistant professor of mathematics at the U.S. military academy. He afterward returned to garrison duty at Fort Moultrie, S.C., and in 1860 was transferred to Florida, where in 1861 he commanded a small body of U.S. soldiers in Pensacola harbor, occupying with them Fort Barrancas; but when intelligence of the surrender of Pensacola navy-yard reached him, he transferred his troops on 10 Jan. to Fort Pickens, opposite, which he successfully held until he was relieved by Col. Harvey Brown, thus preserving the key to the Gulf of Mexico. He was promoted major of the 16th infantry in May, 1861, was for a short time inspector-general of the Department of the Ohio, returned to active duty in May, 1862, and participated in the siege of Corinth and the subsequent movement to Louisville, Ky., and to the relief of Nashville, Tenn. He was made brigadier-general of volunteers, 29 Nov., 1862, and took part in the battle of Stone River, 31 Dec., 1862, where he was so severely wounded as to be incapacitated for further active service in the field. On 8 Feb., 1864, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 4th infantry, and in March, 1865, he was brevetted colonel and brigadier-general, U.S. army, for his meritorious services. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in August, 1865, and was afterward sent to command Fort Laramie, where he died of heart disease.

Source: Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, vol. 5. James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, eds., New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1888, pp. 548-549.

Submitted by Nancy.