Portrait, Major General Henry Slocum

by American Landscapes

Title

Portrait, Major General Henry Slocum

Artist

American Landscapes

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Portrait, Major General Henry Slocum
Photographer: Unknown
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-cwpbh-03086
Source: Civil war photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Henry Warner Slocum was born in 1827 in Delphi Falls, New York, and graduated from West Point in 1852. After a brief army career, he resigned to practice law and entered politics in New York. When the Civil War began, Slocum returned to service and quickly rose through the ranks, distinguishing himself at the First Battle of Bull Run and later at Antietam, where he commanded a division in the Army of the Potomac. Promoted to major general, he led the XII Corps and played a key role at the Battle of Gettysburg, where his troops held Culp’s Hill against repeated Confederate attacks. Though he faced some criticism for perceived delays on the first day of battle, modern historians recognize his cautious approach as tactically sound.

Later in the war, Slocum commanded the Army of Georgia under General Sherman, leading one wing of Union forces during the famous March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign. He played a central role in the Battle of Bentonville, repelling a major Confederate counterattack. After the war, Slocum declined a regular army commission and returned to New York, serving several terms in Congress and becoming active in public infrastructure projects, including helping to develop Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. He died in 1894 and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Though not as flamboyant as some of his contemporaries, Slocum was known for his competence, steady leadership, and quiet professionalism, earning the enduring respect of both his troops and fellow officers.

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October 18th, 2025

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