Judge Slaughter was the Civil War Mayor of Fredericksburg. In August of 1862, nineteen of Fredericksburg's leading citizens were arrested by Federal authorities and incarcerated in Old Capitol Prison in Washington. They included Mayor Slaughter.

Then on November 21, 1862, Ambrose Burnside was unable to cross the Rappahnnock and take Fredericksburg. He tried the next best thing, sending a demand of surrender to the city's mayor, Slaughter.

"I...demand the surrender of the city into my hands..., at or before 5 o'clock this afternoon. Failing an affirmative reply to this demand..., sixteen hours will be permitted to elapse for the removal from the city of women and children..., which period having expired, I shall proceed to shell the town."

Mayor Slaughter, unwilling to comply with Burnside's surrender demand, asks for more time to facilitate the evacuation of the civilians of Fredericksburg.

MAYOR'S OFFICE, Fredericksburg, November 21, 1862. - Bvt. Maj. Gen. E. V. SUMNER, Commanding U.S. Army: - SIR: You must be aware that there will not be more than three or four hours of daylight within the sixteen hours given by you for the removal of the sick and wounded, the women and children, the aged and infirm from this place; and I have to inform you that [the] means of transportation within the town are so limited as to render the removal of the classes of persons spoken of, within the time indicated, an utter impossibility....Very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. SLAUGHTER, Mayor.


For a time he lived at Hazel Hill, built about 1793.

Judge Slaughter was the Civil War Mayor of Fredericksburg. In August of 1862, nineteen of Fredericksburg's leading citizens were arrested by Federal authorities and incarcerated in Old Capitol Prison in Washington. They included Mayor Slaughter.

Then on November 21, 1862, Ambrose Burnside was unable to cross the Rappahnnock and take Fredericksburg. He tried the next best thing, sending a demand of surrender to the city's mayor, Slaughter.

"I...demand the surrender of the city into my hands..., at or before 5 o'clock this afternoon. Failing an affirmative reply to this demand..., sixteen hours will be permitted to elapse for the removal from the city of women and children..., which period having expired, I shall proceed to shell the town."

Mayor Slaughter, unwilling to comply with Burnside's surrender demand, asks for more time to facilitate the evacuation of the civilians of Fredericksburg.

MAYOR'S OFFICE, Fredericksburg, November 21, 1862. - Bvt. Maj. Gen. E. V. SUMNER, Commanding U.S. Army: - SIR: You must be aware that there will not be more than three or four hours of daylight within the sixteen hours given by you for the removal of the sick and wounded, the women and children, the aged and infirm from this place; and I have to inform you that [the] means of transportation within the town are so limited as to render the removal of the classes of persons spoken of, within the time indicated, an utter impossibility....Very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. SLAUGHTER, Mayor.


For a time he lived at Hazel Hill, built about 1793.