William R. M. Slaughter

Birth Date:   November 24, 1840

Died:            October 18, 1898

Spouse:        Elizabeth Josephine Pearson Slaughter

Biography:

William R. M. (Sr. 2^nd Lieutenant, Company L 6th Alabama Infantry Regiment) William Rhadamanthus Montgomery Slaughter was a son of John Robbin Slaughter and Temperance Harris Slaughter. He was known as Rhaddie. He was born in Tallapoosa County, Alabama on November 24, 1840. He was born shortly after the Presidential Campaign of 1840, and his parents discussed naming him William Henry Harrison Slaughter, but also being fond of a Presbyterian minister by the name of Rhadamanthus Montgomery, who had just died, the parents compromised by naming him after both the President-elect and the deceased minister. His brothers and sisters were: (1) John Nichleson Slaughter, born November 4, 1828; (2) Hannah Elizabeth Slaughter, born April 16, 1830; died July 31, 1837. (3) Myles Matthew Slaughter, born September 22, 1832; died January 4, 1905. (4) Martha Emily Frances Slaughter, born September 8, 1838; died April 3, 1843; (5) William Rhadamanthus Montgomery Slaughter, born November 24, 1840, died October 18, 1898; (6) Richard Ross Slaughter, born July 6, 1845; died November 15, 1908.

William graduated from Oglethorpe University, in Atlanta, Georgia. When the Civil War commenced, he immediately joined the Confederate Army and was attached to the Sixth Alabama Infantry Regiment, Company L. He became a Lieutenant, but was called Captain by all his acquaintances.

Rhaddie Slaughter and Elizabeth Josephine Pearson were married in Tallapoosa County, Alabama on October 26, 1865. Rhaddie Slaughter was a schoolteacher. He and his wife came to Texas in February 1870. They were intending to go to Collin County for a visit, but stopped in Titus County to visit McKenzie (Mack) Harris, who was his first cousin. He lived in the Bridges Chapel community. During their visit with the Harris family, it was made known that he was a teacher and a teacher being needed at Greenhill, he was offered the place and it was accepted. He and his wife became Titus County citizens for the remainder of their lives. In a diary kept by Elizabeth Josephine Pearson Slaughter, this entry was made on December 5, 1870:

“By the time we had eat breakfast, Cousin Mack came in his wagon, he said he had come after us to go to his house to stay 2 weeks. So my children and I went. Rhaddie started to Perryman Black’s to buy the Grigsby place, but he met him at Suggs Store and bought the place--he gave $800.00 in cash and $500.00 cash next March.”

The diary entries for the next two weeks show Mrs. Slaughter very busy in getting ready to move in the home, and among things that she did was to “tear up shucks” to make three mattresses. The diary for December 23, 1870 says:

“A very bitter cold day - Mr. Hall takes the rest of my baggage and I and the children on Nellie Gray (the horse), Rhaddie in the waggon, and we move to our new home."

This house was built in 1855 by a man by the name of Horn. Abner Grigsby bought it from Horn and he sold it, along with 300 acres of land, to Rhaddie Slaughter. It is a log house, but planking has been placed over the logs. The Slaughters lived there and raised the family. This house still stands and is in excellent condition. The house and 200 acres of land are owned by Zenobia Slaughter Lide, a daughter of Rhaddie Slaughter, and 100 acres by Bob Conroy, a grandson. In some way a story was started many years ago that there was gold buried around the old house, and this has caused much digging, but no gold. This house is about one mile North of Greenhill, in Titus County. The Slaughter children were: (1) Alfred Warren Slaughter, who married Gussie Akridge; (2) Annie Caroline, who married John Gilpin. They had one child, a girl, named Thalia, who married a Conroy, and these are Bob Conroy’s parents; (3) Pearson Slaughter, who married Bessie Read. He was a Presbyterian minister; (4) Rhaddie, Jr., who died at 4; (5) Bessie Tempie, who married T. B. Caldwell, Sr.; and (6) Zenobia, who married Dean Lide.

Captain Rhaddie Slaughter was Tax Assessor of Titus County about 1888. He taught school at Greenhill, Mt. Pleasant, Chapel Hill and Hickory Hill, in Titus County and for a while in Hopkins County. For a while he owned a country store in Greenhill, and was Postmaster there. He died on October 18, 1898, and his wife died on January 5, 1899. Submitted by gr gr Granddaughter Carolyn (Slaughter) Hammonds.

Regimental History:

6th Infantry Regiment, about 1,400 strong, was organized at Montgomery, Alabama, in May, 1861. Its twelve companies were recruited in the counties of Montgomery, Jackson, Autuaga, Lowndes, Russell, Macon, Henry, and Wilson. Ordered to Virginia, the unit was assigned to Rodes', O'Neal's, and Battle's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It was engaged in many conflicts from Williamsburg to Cold Harbor, moved with Early to the Shenandoah Valley, and ended the war at Appomattox. In April, 1862, it contained 1,100 effectives. Subsequently, it lost fifty-nine percent of the 632 engaged at Seven Pines and reported 156 casualties at Sharpsburg and 161 at Chancellorsville. Of the 382 in the fight at Gettysburg, more than fifty percent were disabled. The regiment surrendered with 4 officers and 80 men. Its commanders were Colonels John B. Gordon and John L. Seibels; Lieutenant Colonels B.H. Baker, Augustus M. Gordon, George W. Hooper, J.N. Lightfoot, and J.J. Willingham; and Majors I.F. Culver, S. Perry Nesmith, and Walter H. Weems.