William Yarnell Slack
| William Y. Slack | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
August 1, 1816 Mason County, Kentucky |
| Died | March 21, 1862 (aged 45) Benton County, Arkansas |
| Place of burial | Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1847 (USA) 1861–1862 (CSA) |
| Rank |
 Captain (USA) Brigadier General (CSA) |
| Unit | Missouri State Guard |
| Commands held | 4th Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | Attorney, state legislator |
William Yarnel Slack (August 1, 1816 – March 21, 1862) was a Missouri lawyer, politician, and general in the Missouri State Guard (aligned with the Confederate States Army) during the American Civil War. He led a division in some of war's earliest major battles in the Trans-Mississippi Theater and was mortally wounded in the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas.
William Y. Slack was born in rural Mason County, Kentucky, in the summer of 1816. Three years later, his father John Slack moved the family to Boone County, Missouri, and settled near Columbia. John Slack, a potter by trade, became the first justice of the peace for Perche Township. As a young adult, William Slack studied law, passed his bar exam, and established a private practice in Chillicothe. He was among the leading citizens that helped raise cash to found what later became the University of Missouri.
During the Mexican War, Slack raised a company of volunteers and served as their captain in the 2nd Missouri Volunteers under Sterling Price. He mustered out of the army in 1847 after fourteen months of service.
Slack served in the Missouri General Assembly, where he was noted as a strong pro-slavery advocate. He became a member of the state convention called to develop and ratify the new Missouri state constitution.
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