Obituary of Capt. Jonathan S. Slaymaker

OBITUARY OF CAPT. JONATHAN S. SLAYMAKER, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, WHO FELL AT FORT DONELSON FEB. 15,1862, IN THE FAMOUS CHARGE OF THE SECOND IOWA INFANTRY.

BY THE FORMER EDITOR OF THE ANNALS.

Yet surely there is some record

When a brave young hero dies.

T. Juynes Bailey.

The subject of this obituary notice, Jonathan S. Slaymaker, the son of Samuel K. Slaymaker, was born in York, Pa., on the 31st of March, 1835, and was baptised, in infancy, by Rev. Albert Barnes, then pastor of the Presbyterian Church there. He had the advantages of early religious as well as secular education, attending in his youth the Sabbath School, and in his young manhood becoming a teacher of others in the Sunday School.

At eighteen years of age he entered upon railroad labor, as a civil engineer, and subsequently he engaged in business at Davenport, Iowa, where he still continued his interest in Sunday Schools, being connected with the 2d Presbyterian congregation, in which his uncle, the late H. Y. Slaymaker, was so prominent, and imitating the zeal and generosity of that uncle in liberally contributing for the support of the Gospel in that connection, while that organization continued.

Afterward, the 2d Presbyterian Church enterprise having been suspended, he attended at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Mr. Powers, Rector of that church, says of his character: "Before the war, he taught in my Sunday School and attended my church. I think I can safely assure you that his heart was given to God. He was not communicative on religious subjects, yet I have reason to believe that nearly two years ago he began to draw graciously heavenward. Many things convince me that, in spirit, he was a disciple of the Lord Jesus. His daily life was exemplary, and it seemed that he was waiting to feel settled in his place of residence before he openly connected himself with the church."

His military history began with his enlistment in company C, of the 2d Iowa Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, in which he held the rank of First Lieutenant at the time of mustering, May 2d, 1861, but was promoted to be Captain on the 3d of October, 1861. In a letter to a friend, about the time of his enlistment, he says: "Shall I be one of those destined to be left behind when the conquering hosts return to receive the thanks of their fellow countrymen for the precious service they have rendered? is a question that frequently suggests itself to my mind. One thing I know: I enlisted in this war from principle, and I feel that I am willing to make any sacrifice that is in my power, to assist in our good and just cause. I shall not want to return unless we gain our end."

Nor did he return till borne a corpse from the bloody field of Fort Donelson. Brig. Gen. Lauman wrote on the occasion: “We have had a great victory. * * * * Poor Jack Slaymaker lost his life in one of the most brilliant charges on record. He had, with his regiment, reached the breastworks and passed in, when a ball shot him in the thigh and severed the main artery. He bled to death in five minutes. I enclose a lock of his hair, which I secured myself, that you will hand to his bereaved parents. He was as gallant a soldier as ever carried a sword. After he was wounded, he raised himself on his side, waved his sword and called his men to go forward, then sank down and died. He was a good and steadfast friend of mine, and I mourn him much. It is melancholy to think, that the first time he was under my command should be his last. But he died gloriously. What more can a man do for his country?"

His remains were brought to Davenport, Iowa, and his funeral was numerously attended from St. Luke's Church at 2 o'clock P. M. on the 27th of Feb., 1862.

Such was the heroic patriot, the steadfast friend, the affectionate son and brother, the faithful companion, the constant Sunday School teacher, at home, the Christian soldier abroad.

– Many die  as suddenly,

Few as safe. –

This brief notice, by a friend who knew him, (in connection with the 2d Presbyterian congregation at Davenport, so long sustained by his uncle, H. Y. Slayraaker, with great sacrifice,) cannot better be closed than in the words of the Rev. Albert Barnes to his bereaved parents: "My heart bleeds for you in your loss. Your son was lovely in his life — in appearance, in his manner, in his spirit, in his hopes and promises in regard to future life, in all that could bind the hearts of loving parents to a son. God has done it, whatever be the instrument. It seemed good to God, that he should fall as he has done. "When you gave him to God, you gave him to Him to live as long as He should please, to serve Him in any way He should direct, and then to lie down and die when, where and how God should appoint. 'I opened not my mouth,' said the Psalmist, 'because thou didst it.'"

S. S. H.

SOURCE: Annals of Iowa, No. VI, April, 1864, p. 283-5