John P. Slough (1829-1867)

John P. Slough was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1829; he died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on December 16, 1867.

He became a lawyer in his native city, and in 1850 was elected to the legislature of Ohio, from which he was expelled for striking a member.

In 1852 he became a secretary of the central Democratic committee of Ohio, and soon afterward he went to Kansas, and in 1860 to Denver city.

At the opening of the Civil War, he raised a company of volunteers, assumed command of Port Garland, and afterward became colonel of the 1st Colorado regiment, forming part of General Edward R. S. Can-by's expedition to New Mexico. He fought there, in opposition to orders, the battle of Pigeon's Ranche, gaining a victory over General Henry Sibley, who was forced to retire into Texas.

Immediately after this he gave up his commission as colonel and proceeded to Washington, where he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers and military governor of Alexandria.

At the close of the war he was appointed chief justice of New Mexico by President Johnson but his manner and irritable temper rendered him unpopular. A series of resolutions were passed in the legislature advocating his removal from the chief justiceship, which so incensed him against William D. Rynerson, the member who had introduced them, that a personal encounter took place between the two men, resulting in General Slough's death.