Delphi Falls
Delphi Falls, New York is a hamlet in the town of Pompey, Onondaga County, New York. It was prosperous in the early 19th century. It is the location of several houses and has a golf course nearby. There are a lot of corn fields. It is the boyhood home to author Jerome Mark Antil and fictional surroundings for his novel The Pompey Hollow Book Club featuring Delphi Falls residents Dale Barber, Bobby Mawson and historical The Delphi Falls Cemetery. Delphi Falls is located southeast of the hamlet in Madison County.
Elisha Litchfield
US Congressman. He was trained as a carpenter and moved to Onondaga County, New York in 1812. He settled in Delphi (now Delphi Falls), and became active in a variety of ventures, including a dry goods store. Litchfield served as a Major in the War of 1812, and became one of the county's leading citizens, serving as Justice of the Peace and Onondaga County Supervisor. From 1817 to 1821 he was Delphi's Postmaster. Litchfield served in the New York Assembly in 1819. In 1820 he was elected to the US House as a Democratic-Republican. He was reelected in 1822 as a Crawford Republican, and served from 1821 to 1825. Litchfield did not run for reelection in 1824 and returned to his Onondaga County business interests. He served in the New York Assembly again from 1831 to 1833. In 1838 he relocated to Cazenovia, Madison County. He served in the state Assembly in 1844 and 1848, serving as Speaker in his final term. Litchfield remained active in numerous businesses, including serving as President of the Detroit, Monroe, and Toledo Railroad.
Bio by: Bill McKern
General Henry Slocum. Click Here To Learn More.
Henry Warner Slocum
was born at Delphi, New York on September 24, 1826. He graduated from West Point with the class of 1852, and served against the Seminoles and in Charleston Harbor. In 1856 he resigned his commission to practice law, settling in Syracuse and becoming a state legislator and a colonel in the state militia.
With the outbreak of war Slocum became Colonel of the 27th New York, and was wounded at First Bull Run. When he recovered he was given a brigade, and then a division in Franklin’s 6th Corps. After Antietam he was given command of the 12th Corps, which performed well at Chancellorsville, although Slocum scathingly criticized Hooker.
Slocum was criticized for delaying his arrival at Gettysburg while sending his troops on ahead; he knew that as senior corps commander he would assume command if he arrived before Meade. Once he arrived he did well, holding the right flank of the army against repeated attacks by Ewell’s Confederate 2nd Corps.
After the Union debacle at Chickamauga Slocum’s 12th Corps was one of two corps of the Army of the Potomac chosen to go west under Hooker’s command. Slocum immediately sent in his resignation. It was refused, and a compromise was achieved where Slocum and a part of his Corps would operate independently of Hooker.
When Hooker eventually resigned (over being asked to serve under former subordinate Oliver Howard) Slocum was called to take over the 20th Corps, which was the first Union unit enter Atlanta. Slocum commanded the left wing of Sherman’s Army (the Army of Georgia) on the March to the Sea.
After the war he practiced law in Brooklyn and served three terms as a Democratic U.S. congressman. He also served on the Board of the Gettysburg Monument Commissioners. He died in Brooklyn in 1894
Delphi Falls Baptist Meeting House
The Delphi Baptist Church, also known as Delphi Falls United Church, was built in 1815 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[1] It's a very large, old, and well-lit church. It features large "twenty over twenty sash windows", consisting of 20 glass panes in each of upper and lower sashes. It is the only surviving nearly-original church "in Onondaga County surviving from the Federal period."
The Delphi Falls Cemetery, situated around the Delphi Falls Baptist Church, in the Hamlet of Delphi Falls in the southeast corner of the Town of Pompey, Onondaga Co., NY, is one of the more unique cemeteries in central New York. Although the church is very old, built in 1816, the cemetery which wraps around the back of it seems to be older as a number of burials date even earlier than the church, with the earliest dated 1803 - 13 years before the church was built. There is a tradition that additional burials may be located under the church, but the source of this is not known. It is also possible that the pre-1816 burials here had been moved to this cemetery from other cemeteries which were being abandoned or which the family was no longer using, this being a common practice in the nineteenth century.
The cemetery and church were until recently falling into disrepair. Within the past few years a considerable amount of labor has been expended to restore the church building and to return the cemetery to a more kept appearance. The cemetery seems to have been in good condition in 1941 when Girard M. and Marjorie H. Parce made a transcription of the stones and made a map of the location of all the stones. Today there is still much work to be done, but the stone wall surrounding the grounds has been partially restored, many fallen stones have been dug out and set upright, an iron fence around one of the small plots has been fixed, and many holes and depressions have been filled.
This is a large cemetery and I did not intend to make a new listing of the stones, but my experience with the Parce's list indicated that there were some minor errors which might make a new examination necessary. The Parces made two lists, one alphabetical and one to go with their map and discrepancies between the two lists in spellings, dates, and ages made one question which version was correct. Their map is a wonderful finding aid which I could not hope to update, but the researcher using it to find some stones should be aware that there are also some minor problems with the map. When the Parces made the map they surveyed the cemetery in three sections: the south section, central portion, and then the north section. The most troublesome errors are found on the map where these sections adjoin, particularly along the eastern part of the central portion.
What I observed in the field was different in various ways from the two Parce lists (alphabetical and numerical) and my study has compared and checked their data against what is upon the tombstones. My work, which may have errors, includes all of the correct information from the stones, and the old lists when stones are now missing, and thus is intended to replace the other lists.
Several stones from the 1941 Parce list were not found in 1994: Thomas L. Allyn, Edwin S. Farnam, Huldah S. Farnam, Rebecca Holbrook, Maria Hubbard, Adelia A. Ahern Pulford, (old stone of Plina Rogers), Stephen B./H. Savage, and Richard Taylor Jr.. (There may not be stones for the Farnams, Holbrook, and the faceless stones may be Hubbard, Savage, or Taylor.) Several stones are now mostly or entirely illegible: Zebulum Edgerton, Elijah Hill, Ordilla Sheldon, Solomon Sheldon, Asenath Sweet, Joseph Sweet, Mary Ann Sweet, and P_____ Sweet. I have not yet made comparison to the transcription list made by William M. Beauchamp about 1910.
In 1994 a number of individuals which are not on the Parce list were found. Some of these were on the Parce list under severely incorrect names, and others were on stones which have been found during the recent restoration efforts. As I am also counting other representations of individuals (unmarked graves, unmarked field stones, eroded stones, missing stones) there are several more individuals noted here than there are names. The additional or corrected names and individuals are: 2 empty bases, 6 unknowns, Ethan Allen, Polly Cary, Daniel Davis, George Dings, Charles L. Fisher, Francis N. Ferry (or Terry), J.M. Fisher, Caroline Graves, Carret Hotaling, Garret H. Hotaling, Millie Hill Humphreyville, Elijah E.C. Jackson, Marion Kellogg, Celestia Lansing, Hannah Lansing, Lucien Lansing, Sarena Lansing, Isaac Merriam, ______ Morehouse, Earl Olcott, Ella J. Larabee Olcott, Cora M. Olcott, ______ Potter, Burton Reynolds, Emmie Adell Robins, Calista Rogers, Marcia A. Savage, Grace A. Shankland, Elizabeth Skiner, Annie C. Spencer, P_____ Sweet, Alta Leonia Thompson, ______ Watkins, and Byron P. Wells.
Donald and Barbara Gwinn, who live next door to the cemetery, told me that there are several stones buried under the junk in their barn. These stones were not accessible at the time of my survey, but Mr. Gwinn said that he was interested in making them known. There are also many unmarked graves, and Eleanor Hyle Dillon tells me that her Great Great Grandfather, Samuel Cook, is buried in the blank space between his two wives (Clarissa Cook died 1845, and Sena Fairbanks Cook died 1869) but there has never been a stone to anyone's knowledge or record.
The cemetery, clearly marked by a well constructed stone wall, is 188 feet deep (east to west) and 213 feet wide (north to south) with a 40 by 43.5 foot block occupied on the central west part by the back part of the church building, for a total of 38,304² feet. The burials are evenly scattered throughout the cemetery with no noticeable clusters (family groups excepted). The graves are in straight rows but the rows tend to be short or extend only 1/3 of the way across the cemetery, suggesting that each part of the cemetery was recognizably separate (north, south, and east of the church) but that the new burial plots were laid out as the needs arose. Burials go all the way to the edges of the fenced in area except along the back (east) where the row is very sparsely occupied. The headstones are at the west end of the grave, with the faces to both the east and west, primarily the west. The rows are about 10 feet apart and the graves are allotted about 3 feet width. Although two gates are located on the west side of the cemetery, on the north and south sides of the church, there are no apparent lanes or paths through the cemetery.
The Delphi Falls Cemetery, situated around the Delphi Falls Baptist Church, in the Hamlet of Delphi Falls in the southeast corner of the Town of Pompey, Onondaga Co., NY, is one of the more unique cemeteries in central New York. Although the church is very old, built in 1816, the cemetery which wraps around the back of it seems to be older as a number of burials date even earlier than the church, with the earliest dated 1803 - 13 years before the church was built. There is a tradition that additional burials may be located under the church, but the source of this is not known. It is also possible that the pre-1816 burials here had been moved to this cemetery from other cemeteries which were being abandoned or which the family was no longer using, this being a common practice in the nineteenth century.
The cemetery and church were until recently falling into disrepair. Within the past few years a considerable amount of labor has been expended to restore the church building and to return the cemetery to a more kept appearance. The cemetery seems to have been in good condition in 1941 when Girard M. and Marjorie H. Parce made a transcription of the stones and made a map of the location of all the stones. Today there is still much work to be done, but the stone wall surrounding the grounds has been partially restored, many fallen stones have been dug out and set upright, an iron fence around one of the small plots has been fixed, and many holes and depressions have been filled.
This is a large cemetery and I did not intend to make a new listing of the stones, but my experience with the Parce's list indicated that there were some minor errors which might make a new examination necessary. The Parces made two lists, one alphabetical and one to go with their map and discrepancies between the two lists in spellings, dates, and ages made one question which version was correct. Their map is a wonderful finding aid which I could not hope to update, but the researcher using it to find some stones should be aware that there are also some minor problems with the map. When the Parces made the map they surveyed the cemetery in three sections: the south section, central portion, and then the north section. The most troublesome errors are found on the map where these sections adjoin, particularly along the eastern part of the central portion.
What I observed in the field was different in various ways from the two Parce lists (alphabetical and numerical) and my study has compared and checked their data against what is upon the tombstones. My work, which may have errors, includes all of the correct information from the stones, and the old lists when stones are now missing, and thus is intended to replace the other lists.
Several stones from the 1941 Parce list were not found in 1994: Thomas L. Allyn, Edwin S. Farnam, Huldah S. Farnam, Rebecca Holbrook, Maria Hubbard, Adelia A. Ahern Pulford, (old stone of Plina Rogers), Stephen B./H. Savage, and Richard Taylor Jr.. (There may not be stones for the Farnams, Holbrook, and the faceless stones may be Hubbard, Savage, or Taylor.) Several stones are now mostly or entirely illegible: Zebulum Edgerton, Elijah Hill, Ordilla Sheldon, Solomon Sheldon, Asenath Sweet, Joseph Sweet, Mary Ann Sweet, and P_____ Sweet. I have not yet made comparison to the transcription list made by William M. Beauchamp about 1910.
In 1994 a number of individuals which are not on the Parce list were found. Some of these were on the Parce list under severely incorrect names, and others were on stones which have been found during the recent restoration efforts. As I am also counting other representations of individuals (unmarked graves, unmarked field stones, eroded stones, missing stones) there are several more individuals noted here than there are names. The additional or corrected names and individuals are: 2 empty bases, 6 unknowns, Ethan Allen, Polly Cary, Daniel Davis, George Dings, Charles L. Fisher, Francis N. Ferry (or Terry), J.M. Fisher, Caroline Graves, Carret Hotaling, Garret H. Hotaling, Millie Hill Humphreyville, Elijah E.C. Jackson, Marion Kellogg, Celestia Lansing, Hannah Lansing, Lucien Lansing, Sarena Lansing, Isaac Merriam, ______ Morehouse, Earl Olcott, Ella J. Larabee Olcott, Cora M. Olcott, ______ Potter, Burton Reynolds, Emmie Adell Robins, Calista Rogers, Marcia A. Savage, Grace A. Shankland, Elizabeth Skiner, Annie C. Spencer, P_____ Sweet, Alta Leonia Thompson, ______ Watkins, and Byron P. Wells.
Donald and Barbara Gwinn, who live next door to the cemetery, told me that there are several stones buried under the junk in their barn. These stones were not accessible at the time of my survey, but Mr. Gwinn said that he was interested in making them known. There are also many unmarked graves, and Eleanor Hyle Dillon tells me that her Great Great Grandfather, Samuel Cook, is buried in the blank space between his two wives (Clarissa Cook died 1845, and Sena Fairbanks Cook died 1869) but there has never been a stone to anyone's knowledge or record.
The cemetery, clearly marked by a well constructed stone wall, is 188 feet deep (east to west) and 213 feet wide (north to south) with a 40 by 43.5 foot block occupied on the central west part by the back part of the church building, for a total of 38,304² feet. The burials are evenly scattered throughout the cemetery with no noticeable clusters (family groups excepted). The graves are in straight rows but the rows tend to be short or extend only 1/3 of the way across the cemetery, suggesting that each part of the cemetery was recognizably separate (north, south, and east of the church) but that the new burial plots were laid out as the needs arose. Burials go all the way to the edges of the fenced in area except along the back (east) where the row is very sparsely occupied. The headstones are at the west end of the grave, with the faces to both the east and west, primarily the west. The rows are about 10 feet apart and the graves are allotted about 3 feet width. Although two gates are located on the west side of the cemetery, on the north and south sides of the church, there are no apparent lanes or paths through the cemetery.
DELPHI FALLS PASTOR ACCEPTS McClean CHARGE
REV. GEORGE C. CARTER DELIVERED FAREWELL SERMON SUNDAY
Delphi Falls May 8 .-- Rev. George C. Carter, pastor of the First Baptist Church of this place, preached his farewell sermon here Sunday, before going to McLean, where he has accepted pastorate. Rev. Carter has been in Delphi Falls two years during which time he has had such success in building up the church that the Baptist Mission Society has sent him to McLean where the church is in a rundown condition.
Rev. Carter has preached in Bangor, Me., going from there to Marion,. N.Y., where he remained three and one half years. From Marion he went to Memphis from which place he came to Delphi Falls. During Mr. Carter's pastorate progress has been marked.
Last June the church celebrated its 110th anniversary at which time an interesting celebration was held. In honor of this the interior of the church had been newly decorated and the outside newly painted. The organizations of the church are energetic and considering the small number of members considerable money has been-raised for running expenses. The church members regret to have Rev. Carter leave. No arrangements have been made to secure a pastor to fill Rev. Carter's place,' and it is probable a student will preach during the summer months.
Page 1 of The Cazenovia Republican, published in Cazenovia, New York on Thursday, May 11th, 1916
Trying to Save Old Church
DELPHI FALLS BAPTIST CHURCH, built about 1817 and said to be the oldest church building in Onondaga county, is now badly in need of repairs. It needs a new roof, repainting and papering and the steeple needs.
repairing. A committee consisting of Lewis Benedict, Edward Fuggle and Charles Hudson has been appointed to confer with Fred Saunders of the Baptist Missionary convention, overseer of church repairs, to ascertain the cost which is hoped can be done for around $1000. About $500 has Been subscribed and the society is making an effort to obtain the balance from former residents. ir the necessary amount cannot be raised, the congregation is talking of tearing down the edifice, in which case the adjoining session house, where services have been conducted since 1932, probably will be renovated to serve as a permanent meeting house. However, it is hoped that some way may be found to preserve the old landmark. The society was organized in 1804. In the old days considerable revenue was derived from the rent of pews which used to rent from $50 to $130. In 1834 the church had 197 members. Now there are 40.
Page 1 of The Cazenovia Republican, published in Cazenovia, New York on Thursday, July 22nd, 1937
TWO DELPHI FALLS CHURCHES UNITE, 1 PARISH HOUSE, SERVICES IN OTHER
Delphi Falls, February 2 - On Sunday, February. 15, at 8 P. M., a service of rededication will be held in the Delphi Falls Baptist Church building. This 150-year-old structure has been out of use for some time but in the last. Few months has been painted, repaired, and completely redecorated.
The project. has been carried forward under the direction of the Rev. Ellis Cowling,. pastor of the Delphi Falls and Pompey United Churches. The work has been done by members of the Delphi church on a volunteer basis. The color scheme for the interior was recommended by J. Harrison Hossler, industrial artist and church architect, of Nappanee, Ind. The dedication sermon is to be preached by the Rev. Warren Odom of Syracuse, district superintendent. of the Methodist Church. A special feature of the program will be anthems by a 60-voice rural church choir made up of singers from Fabius, New Woodstock, Delphi Falls, Pompey, Apulia, Oran, and Onotavia
churches. It will be directed by the Rev. George Smith, pastor of the Fabius-New Woodstock Baptist Larger Parish. Organists for the occasion will be Mrs. Daniel Benedict and Mrs. Miles Barber.
Following the dedication service a reception will be held in the Delphi Falls Methodist Church building which also has been repaired and redecorated as a part of the property improvement program of the Delphi Falls United Church, All friends of the church are invited to the reception. It is planned to use the Methodist building as a parish house in which the youth program and social activities of the United congregation will be carried forward. The Baptist building will be used for Sunday morning services and Sunday school. The Delphi Falls United Church is a federated congregation of the Methodist and Baptist Churches of Delphi.
Page 10 of The Cazenovia Republican, published in Cazenovia, New York on Thursday, February 5th, 1958
Old Landmark May Be Torn Down
DELRHI FALLS-The fate of the Delphi Falls Baptist Church, believed to be the oldest church building in Onondaga county, will be decided at a meeting in the church session house July 17th. The roof is in a dilapidated condition, and plaster is crumbling from the walls and ceiling, and the entire interior is in a pitiable condition.
It is estimated that about $1,200 is needed to restore this old landmark to it original condition. The date of organization of this church was1804. Records in the possession of Mrs. Ada S. Card,. indicate that first steps toward erection of the present building were taken in 1815.
Page 1 of Eagle Bulletin, published in Fayetteville, New York on Thursday, July 8th, 1937
Delphi Falls United Church expecting important year in 2015
Submitted by Ronald Becker
This is going to be a great year for the Delphi Falls United Church. The church has undergone many changes this past year. The biggest change is the resignation of its pastor, James Austin, after 23 years. Financially, the church has been unable to meet its budget. It can no longer sustain the budget due to declining membership, rising cost of fuel, insurance, other expenses and maintaining a pastor's salary. In April, the congregation held a celebration for Pastor Jim, honoring him for the dedication he gave the church over the years and wishing hım well. Fortunately, there is a lay minister in the congregation to continue the Sunday services.
The American Baptist Convention will assist the Church in finding an interim minister. Through the years, the church has experienced some great fellowship with its yearly harvest dinners and senior luncheons. This year, the Famous Friday Night Fish Fry set a record of serving 175 dinners in a two-hour period. The Parish Hall has provided good food and warm friendship for friends and neighbors near and far.
The congregation has been working over the past few months with the United Methodist Conference to negotiate an agreement to transfer the Parish Hall property to the Delphi Falls United Church. This will enable the church to continue using the facility and to continue serving the community with dinners and events in the hamlet of Delphi Falls now and, in the years, to come.
The year 2015 marks the 200th anniversary, the bicentennial, of the beginning construction of the church building for the Delphi Falls United Church. This remarkable structure, based on New England architecture, was placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1979. Plans are underway to mark this occasion for the summer weekend of Aug. 14 through 16. The celebration will be memorable and designed for all to participate and enjoy. A special quilt is being designed and sewn to commemorate this mile- stone. It will represent the history of the hamlet and highlight the pastoral leadership. Instead of raffling it off it will be donated to the Town of Pompey Historical Society for a permanent display.
Tours of the church building and the cemetery will be given. The unveiling of the historical highway marker commemorating the hamlet's cemetery, surrounding the church on three sides, established in 1803, funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, will be highlighted. Even with the changes and financial struggles, the church has endured over the past couple of years and its members and friends feel that 2015 is a new beginning. The Lord has given the membership a rebirth to move forward, blessed with people stepping.
up and helping financially as well as actively participating in activities. For the first time in years there is an opportunity to fix and repair the church structure.
A new church board looks to the future with perseverance and hard work to give new vitality to this unique Central New York landmark begun 200 years ago. Further updates will follow as plans are finalized for the August celebration. If anyone is interested in helping and volunteering for the celebration, please email or use the following website to receive information on the church's celebration and future events.
Page 15 of Cazenovia Republican, published in Cazenovia, New York on Wednesday, May 27th, 2015
Find Final Resting Place of Civil War Veteran
The grave of a Civil War hero in the Delphi Falls Church Cemetery recently received a special marker. Norman Ford Potter (1826- 1900), a veteran of the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wanhatchie and Chattanooga (Lookout Mountain), received the highest combat decoration awarded by the Union while a sergeant in the 149th Regiment, NYV Infantry, Company E.
The grave of the Medal of Honor winner was located after a lengthy search by Francis T. Lynch, an Oneonta resident and member of the Medal of Honor Historical Society. This fall Mr. Lynch contacted the Delphi Falls United Church Board chairman, Wilfred Carnahan, and then placed a bronze marker at the Potter grave ..
The Medal of Honor' designation was established by the United States Congress in 1861 as. the highest honor that an American serving in the Armed Forces of the United States can receive. It is given to an individual who "distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call
of duty."
Norman Potter was a merchant living in- Delphi, now renamed Delphi Falls in the Town of Pompey. His parents were Tyler (a tinsmith) and Cloe (Neetleson) Potter Enlisting at 36 years of age on August 25, 1862.in Pompey, he served three years in the Union Forces. Norman was 5'9" with brown hair and eyes.
On November 24, 1863, Sergeant Potter captured the Confederate flag in hand-to-hand combat at the Battle of Look-out Mountain, near Chattanooga, Tenn. Because of this, action he was awarded the Medal of Honor on June 24, 1865. He received a gunshot wound in his right arm with the ball passing just below the shoulder leaving a three-inch wound and an almost useless right arm He mustered out July 22, 1864, and returned home to Delphi.
The Delphi Falls Church Cemetery is the final resting. place of Norman Potter and his family as well as men who
served in the American Revolution. War of 1812 and Civil War Research continues to locate and honor these soldier-citizens.
Page 27 of Cazenovia Republican, published in Cazenovia, New York on Wednesday, December 19th, 1990
People in Pompey
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LITCHFIELD, Elisha, a Representative from New York; born in Canterbury, Windham County, Conn., July 12, 1785; attended the common schools; learned the carpenter’s trade; moved to Onondaga County, N.Y., and settled in Delphi (now Delphi Falls), N.Y., in 1812; major in the War of 1812; served as justice of the peace and supervisor of Onondaga County; appointed postmaster of Delphi November 28, 1817, and served until June 25, 1821; engaged in mercantile pursuits; member of the state assembly in 1819, 1831-1833, 1844, and 1848, and served as speaker of that body in the latter year; elected as a Republican to the Seventeenth Congress and as one of the Crawford Republicans to the Eighteenth Congress (March 4, 1821-March 3, 1825); was not a candidate for renomination in 1824 to the Nineteenth Congress and withdrew from public life and active business pursuits; moved to Cazenovia, Madison County, N.Y., in 1838 and died there August 4, 1859; interment in the Delphi Falls Baptist Church Cemetery, Delphi Falls, N.Y.
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Born: June 10, 1826 at Pompey, NY
Entered Service in the US Army from Pompey, NY
Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism November 24, 1863 at Lookout Mountain, TN
Died: April 25, 1900 at the age of 73First Sergeant Norman Potter was one of twenty men cited for personal valor in the fighting in and around Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 24 & 25, 1863. On November 24 he was one of four men of the 149th New York Infantry Regiment to earn the award for his valor at Lookout Mountain, where he captured a flag of Bragg\’s army, (Confederate States of America).
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Henry Warner Slocum
- Images of Henry Warner Slocum
- Henry Warner Slocum\’s obituary from the New-York Daily Times
- Henry Warner Slocum Monuments
Henry Warner Slocum was born on September 24, 1827 in Delphi Falls, N.Y. He was the sixth child of eleven born to Matthew Barnard Slocum and Mary Ostrander Slocum. Matthew was born in Marietta, Ohio, in 1788, and in 1802 moved to Newport, Rhode Island. Ten years later he moved to Albany, New York where he met and married Mary Ostrander in 1814 (1). In 1817 the Slocums moved to the village of Delphi in Onondaga County where they lived in rooms adjoining the family business, \”Slocum & Marble.\” The family home was called \”Cheapside.\”
Along with the other children in the area, Henry attended the Delphi Public School. In addition to school, Henry helped out in his father\’s store. To raise extra money, he bought and raised sheep. In time, due to his financial initiatives, he earned the nickname \”Speculator,\” or just plain \”Spec\” (2).
Henry attended Cazenovia Seminary in nearby Madison County and at age 16 received a Public School Teacher\’s Certificate (3). He was hired in the winter of 1847-48 to teach in a one-room school in the hamlet of New Woodstock (4).
In 1848, Henry Slocum received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He finished seventh in general merit in a class of forty-three cadets, which included George Crook and George Hartsuff (5). With only sixteen demerits for his entire academy career, he finished twentieth out of two hundred and twenty-four. Although he graduated a year later, Philip Sheridan was for a time Slocum\’s room-mate. Gen. Sheridan, in his memoirs, wrote, \”Good fortune gave me for a room-mate a cadet whose education was more advanced than mine, and whose studious habits and willingness to aid others benefited me immensely\” (6).
When Henry Slocum graduated from West Point in June, 1852, he was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the First United States Artillery. His first assignment was to Fort Meade, Florida where he participated in the Third Seminole War (7). In 1853 his company was sent to Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, located in the harbor of the city of Charleston. In 1854, on a trip back to his home in upstate New York, Henry married Clara Rice of New Woodstock, a former classmate from Cazenovia Seminary (8).
While stationed in South Carolina, Henry studied law with a local attorney named B.C. Presley. Commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in 1855, Slocum was beginning to consider a legal career. During the unusually warm summer of 1855, his wife and daughter Caroline both became ill, and then word came that his unit to be sent back to Florida. In October of 1856, young Caroline died in Charleston, and eleven days later, Henry Slocum resigned from the United States Army (9).
Upon his return to Onondaga County, Slocum was admitted to the bar, and he bagan the practice of law in Syracuse. With money he had saved, he bought a modest house on the northwest corner of West Onondaga Street and a street that was later renamed \”Slocum Avenue\” in his honor (10).
In November of 1858, he began his political career with election to the New York State Assembly (11). In 1860 he was elected to a three-year term as Treasurer of Onondaga County. He also served as an instructor of Artillery Service in the Militia with the rank of Colonel.
With the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, Henry Slocum immediately volunteered to raise a regiment of light artillery, but was turned down by Governor Morgan, who, like so many others, felt that the war would be of short duration. The 27th New York Volunteer Infantry from Elmira then elected Slocum as their Colonel even though he was a complete stranger to each officer in the regiment (12).
On July 10, 1861, the regiment left Elmira for Washington, D.C., and on July 21 they took part in the First Battle of Bull Run. After receiving a wound to his left thigh, Slocum was removed to a hospital in Washington where he wrote his wife, \”I am bolstered up in bed, making my first attempt at writing. I am as happy as a clam in high water. My regiment covered itself with glory. It was one of the first in, and last out. Not a man showed the white feather\” (13). The Colonel returned home to Syracuse to recuperate from his wound. He was on sick leave of absence from his command from July 22 to September 10, 1861 (14).
Slocum was promoted to Brigadier General in August, and his unit served in the Defenses of Washington, September 1861 to March, 1862, and participated in McClellan\’s Peninsular Campaign, the Seige of Yorktown, action at West Point, the Battle of Gaines Mill, the Battle of Glendale, and the Battle of Malvern Hill (14).
After his promotion to Major General in July of 1862, he led his men into the Battle of Crampton\’s Gap on South Mountain, Maryland, September 14, 1862. This battle was the prelude to America\’s \”bloodiest day,\” the Battle of Antietam. About the charge, General Franklin wrote, \”…the advance of General Slocum was made with admirable steadiness through a well directed fire from the enemies batteries on the Mountain…The enemy was driven in utmost confusion from a position of strength…The pass was cleared and in possession of our troops\” (15)
When General Joseph Mansfield was killed at Antietam, Slocum rose in the command structure of the XII Corps. They participated in all the major engagements of the Army of the Potomac from Fredericksburg to Gettysburg. At the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Slocum\’s XII Corp fought in the area of Culp\’s Hill. On the second day of the battle, when General Meade requested that Slocum send his entire corps to the Union left, Slocum wisely suggested that one brigade stay behind – General George Sears Greene\’s Third Brigade which included the 149th N.Y.S.V. Infantry under Colonel Henry A. Barnum (16). Gen. Greene wrote, \”To the discernment of General Slocum who saw the danger to which the army would be exposed by the movement ordered by Meade to deplete the Right Wing…is due the honor of having saved the army from a great and perhaps fatal disaster\” (17).
In September of 1863, the XI and XII Corps were transferred from the Army of the Potomac to Tennessee in order to reinforce General Rosecrans. General Slocum\’s men fought at Wauhatchie and Lookout Mountain, and in April of 1864, Henry Slocum was ordered to command the fortified post and District of Vicksburg. When General William T. Sherman organized his Atlanta Campaign, he chose Henry Slocum to command the XX Corps, and on September 2, 1864, Slocum\’s men occupied Atlanta, Georgia. Sherman\’s \”March to the Sea\” brought unparalled disaster to the Southern countryside in the army\’s path. Yet Slocum exhibited compassion. On November 7, he wrote his wife, \”I wish for humanity\’s sake that this sad war could be brought to a close. While laboring to make it successful, I shall do all in my power to mitigate its horrors\” (18). On the final march to the sea, Henry Slocum commanded the Army of Georgia, the left wing of Sherman\’s army. On December 22, with Slocum presiding over the city\’s surrender, Sherman wired President Lincoln, \”I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah…\”
When the Army of Georgia and the Army of Tennessee under Oliver Otis Howard undertook the Campaign of the Carolinas, it was Howard\’s wing that occupied the South Carolina Capitol of Columbia. As the armies pushed further, battles were fought at Averysboro and Bentonville, and on April 13, 1865, Raleigh, North Carolina surrendered. Of Bentonville, a fellow officer wrote, \”The Battle of Bentonville was General Slocum\’s fight…The bloody combat…was peculiarly his own affair, out of which he has come with fresh laurels\” (19). Although the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee had already surrendered, the Army of General Joe Johnston continued to fight. Finally, on April 26, 1865, Johnston surrendered. The Union armies returned to Washington, D.C. for the Grand Review. Henry Slocum rode at the head of the Army of Georgia (20).
With the war over, Slocum returned to Syracuse to continue his practice of law (21). In 1865, he was nominated by the Democratic Party of New York to run for Secretary of State. His opponent was General Francis Channing Barlow and Slocum lost to his Civil War comrade, 301,055 to 273,198 (22). The next year the Slocums moved from Syracuse to Brooklyn, and in 1868, Henry Slocum was elected to the United States Congress from the Third Congressional District of New York. He was re-elected in 1870. In 1876, Slocum was appointed Commissioner of Public Works in the City of Brooklyn, but resigned before his term expired. After traveling in Europe with his family he returned home to campaign for another Civil War comrade, General Winfield Scott Hancock, who was running for President. Hancock lost the election of 1880 to James A. Garfield. Slocum returned to politics in 1882 when he ran for Congressman-at-Large and won with a plurality of over 100,000 votes out of 900,000 cast (23). He was President of the Board of Trustees of the New York State Soldiers\’ and Sailors\’ Home in Bath, N.Y., and was a member of the Board of Gettysburg Monuments Commissioners.
Death came to Henry Warner Slocum on April 14, 1894 at his home in Brooklyn. Among the pall bearers at his funeral were Fitz John Porter, Oliver Otis Howard, Daniel Butterfield and Daniel E. Sickles. Slocum was buried with full military honors in GreenWood Cemetery in Brooklyn (24).
End Notes1. Slocum, Charles E. The Life and Services of Major General Henry Warner Slocum. Toledo, Ohio: Slocum Publishing Co., 1913, p. 5.
2. Ibid, p. 7.
