Abraham Slingerland enlisted on October 8, 1861, at Carthage, Illinois, and was mustered into the 7th Missouri Cavalry (also known as the Black Hawk Cavalry) on December 31, 1861, as a bugler. On January 1, 1863, he was promoted to second lieutenant and assigned to Company M. Promoted to first lieutenant on October 24, 1864, and to captain on December 31, 1864, Slingerland was reassigned to Company E. Slingerland was transferred to Company I, 1st Missouri Cavalry in February 1865.

The 7th Missouri saw action at the 1862 battles of Lone Jack and Prairie Grove, during General Frederick Steele’s 1863 Little Rock campaign, and during the 1864 Camden Expedition.

Slingerland resigned his commission on June 6, 1865.

Carte-de-Visite by William Brown, Little Rock, Ark.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 11791