James E. Slaughter

Who was James E. Slaughter?

James Edwin Slaughter was born in Cedar Mountain, Virginia, the oldest son of Daniel French Slaughter and Letitia Madison and great-nephew of James Madison. He attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia from August 6, 1845 until his resignation on July 6, 1846 to accept a commission in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the newly formed regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen who were to fight in the Mexican-American War.

Slaughter accompanied General Winfield Scott and his army to Mexico City as a 2nd Lieutenant during the war. He was the first to inform the Mexican government of the deceptiveness of the Well and Labra claims. After the completion of the war he was transferred to the U.S. 1st Artillery Regiment in June 1848 and would serve with this regiment until the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1852. As a Virginian, he was dismissed from the army in May 1861 and promptly joined the Confederate Army.

He received a commission as first lieutenant, Corps of Artillery in the Confederate States Army but soon became Inspector-General on the staff of General P.G.T.