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Joseph A. Sladen was an officer in the
In the summer of 1872, the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant directed Howard to meet with the Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise and attempt to negotiate a settlement to his decade-long guerilla war against American settlers. Sladen accompanied General Howard, a guide, and two Apache scouts on the mission, which took them throughout New Mexico and Arizona as they attempted to locate Cochise and his followers. Sladen kept a journal of the expedition, which was later published as ''Making Peace With Cochise''. Howard and Cochise agreed to a treaty in September 1872.
When Howard was assigned as commander of the Army's Department of the Columbia in 1874, Sladen joined his headquarters staff in Portland, Oregon and served at different times as aide-de-camp, assistant adjutant, adjutant, and acting judge advocate. Sladen remained with the Department of the Columbia until 1881, and took part in the Nez Perce War of 1877 and Bannock War of 1878. On October 12, 1875, Sladen was on a trip to Fort Walla Walla, Washington (state), Washington when he mounted an unfamiliar horse. The horse threw him against a tree, resulting in Sladen breaking his right leg. Gangrene developed, and on October 25 a surgeon amputated Sladen's leg above the ankle. On August 16, 1876, Sladen was a passenger on the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's ''John L. Stephens'' when he fell and broke his right leg a second time, this time above the knee, which likely led to an additional amputation.
In 1881, Howard was appointed Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, and Sladen served on his staff as the academy's Adjutant#United States, adjutant. In 1882, Howard University awarded Sladen the honorary degree of Master of Arts. In 1882, Howard was assigned to command the Department of the Platte at Fort Omaha, Nebraska and Sladen was assigned to his headquarters staff. In 1885, Sladen joined the 14th Infantry at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. On June 15, 1888, Sladen was promoted to Captain (United States O-3), captain. In April 1889, he retired from the Army as the result of disability caused by the loss of his leg.
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
. A Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...
veteran of the American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
, he received the Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
for heroism at the 1864 Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca, from May 13 to 15, 1864, formed part of the Atlanta Campaign during the American Civil War, when a Union force under William Tecumseh Sherman engaged the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by Joseph E. Johnston. The battle ...
. He continued to serve after the Civil War, and took part in several campaigns of the American Indian Wars. After retiring for disability in 1889, he settled in Portland, Oregon, where he served as clerk of the U.S. Circuit Court. Sladen died in Portland and was buried at West Point Cemetery.
Early life
Joseph Alton Sladen was born in Rochdale, England on April 9, 1841, a son of James and Mary Sladen. James Sladen worked as a coal and lime merchant, and died when Joseph Sladen was five years old. Mary Sladen moved to Lowell, Massachusetts with Joseph so they could join his older siblings who already resided there. Joseph Sladen began working in local mills and factories at age nine, helping support the family while attending the public schools. After completing his education, Sladen worked for two years as a cloth Carding, carder.Military service
American Civil War
In 1862, Sladen joined theUnion Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...
for the American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
, enlisting as a Private (rank), private in Company A, 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. He took part in several of the regiment's engagements, including the Battle of Chancellorsville and Battle of Gettysburg. Sladen took part in the May 13–15, 1864 Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca, from May 13 to 15, 1864, formed part of the Atlanta Campaign during the American Civil War, when a Union force under William Tecumseh Sherman engaged the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by Joseph E. Johnston. The battle ...
. While serving as a clerk at the regimental headquarters, Sladen left his post to voluntarily join the battle. His personal example inspired his comrades at a critical moment in the fight, and they rallied to defeat their Confederate States Army, Confederate opponents. In 1895, he received the Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
in acknowledgement of his Civil War heroism.
Having received promotion to Corporal#United States, corporal, in 1864 Sladen was commissioned as a First lieutenant#U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force, first lieutenant of United States Volunteers#American Civil War, Volunteers and assigned to the 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. Detailed as an aide-de-camp to General Oliver Otis Howard, he remained in the Union Army until 1866. Sladen took part in the September 1864 Battle of Jonesborough, for which he received regular army brevet (rank), brevet promotions to first lieutenant and Captain (United States O-3), captain.
Post-Civil War
After the war, Howard was appointed commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in Washington, D.C. Sladen was appointed a Second lieutenant#United States, second lieutenant in theUnited States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
's 17th Infantry Regiment (United States), 17th Infantry Regiment and detailed to Howard's staff. In 1866, he was transferred to the 26th Infantry Regiment (United States), 26th Infantry Regiment, and in 1870, he was transferred to the 14th Infantry Regiment (United States), 14th Infantry Regiment, but he continued to serve at the Freedman's Bureau. When Howard became president of Howard University, Sladen served as the school's secretary. While serving in Washington, Sladen also attended Howard University College of Medicine, from which he graduated with an Doctor of Medicine, M.D. degree in 1871. He then attended Bellevue Medical College in New York City, from which he received an M.D. in 1872. After completing his education, Sladen served on Howard's faculty as an instructor of anatomy.
In the summer of 1872, the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant directed Howard to meet with the Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise and attempt to negotiate a settlement to his decade-long guerilla war against American settlers. Sladen accompanied General Howard, a guide, and two Apache scouts on the mission, which took them throughout New Mexico and Arizona as they attempted to locate Cochise and his followers. Sladen kept a journal of the expedition, which was later published as ''Making Peace With Cochise''. Howard and Cochise agreed to a treaty in September 1872.
When Howard was assigned as commander of the Army's Department of the Columbia in 1874, Sladen joined his headquarters staff in Portland, Oregon and served at different times as aide-de-camp, assistant adjutant, adjutant, and acting judge advocate. Sladen remained with the Department of the Columbia until 1881, and took part in the Nez Perce War of 1877 and Bannock War of 1878. On October 12, 1875, Sladen was on a trip to Fort Walla Walla, Washington (state), Washington when he mounted an unfamiliar horse. The horse threw him against a tree, resulting in Sladen breaking his right leg. Gangrene developed, and on October 25 a surgeon amputated Sladen's leg above the ankle. On August 16, 1876, Sladen was a passenger on the Pacific Mail Steamship Company's ''John L. Stephens'' when he fell and broke his right leg a second time, this time above the knee, which likely led to an additional amputation.
In 1881, Howard was appointed Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, and Sladen served on his staff as the academy's Adjutant#United States, adjutant. In 1882, Howard University awarded Sladen the honorary degree of Master of Arts. In 1882, Howard was assigned to command the Department of the Platte at Fort Omaha, Nebraska and Sladen was assigned to his headquarters staff. In 1885, Sladen joined the 14th Infantry at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. On June 15, 1888, Sladen was promoted to Captain (United States O-3), captain. In April 1889, he retired from the Army as the result of disability caused by the loss of his leg.
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Joseph Alton Sladen, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 14 May 1864, while serving with Company A, 33d Massachusetts Infantry, in action at Resaca, Georgia. While detailed as clerk at headquarters, Private Sladen voluntarily engaged in action at a critical moment and his personal example inspired the troops to repel the enemy. Awarded for Actions During: Civil War Service: Army Division: 33d Massachusetts Infantry Date of Issue: July 19, 1895Later life
After leaving the military, Sladen settled in Portland, Oregon, where he started a business career. He was general manager of Aetna, Aetna Life Insurance Company's Portland office and a special agent for the Columbia Fire and Marine Insurance Company. In addition, he served on the board of directors for the Savings Bank of the Northwest Loan and Trust Company. Sladen also served as a special agent for the German American Insurance Company, and also carried out an appointment as professor of military science at Portland's Bishop Scott Academy. In 1894, Sladen was appointed clerk of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Oregon. He held this position until 1908, when he learned he had been promoted to Major (United States), major on the Army's retired list. Long active in Freemasonry, Sladen held several leadership positions in the organization and attained the 33rd degree of the Scottish Rite in 1904. In addition, his civic and professional memberships included Portland's Boys & Girls Aid Society, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the American Baptist Churches USA, Baptist Church.Death and burial
In retirement, Sladen continued to reside in Portland. He died there on January 25, 1911. Sladen was originally interred at River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon), River View Cemetery in Portland. In 1929, he was reinterred at West Point Cemetery in West Point, New York.Family
On November 29, 1866, Sladen married Martha "Mattie" Frances Winchester (1842-1929) of Lowell, Massachusetts. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters. :Fred Winchester Sladen (1867-1945) was a career officer in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Major general (United States), major general. :Caroline Louise "Carrie" Sladen (1869-1956) was the wife of John Jewsbury Bradley, a brigadier general (United States), brigadier general in the U.S. Army. :Bessie Howard Sladen (1871-1872) :Harry Stinson Sladen (1874-1953), a Stanford University graduate and electrical engineer. :Frank Joseph Sladen (1882-1973), a graduate of Yale University and Johns Hopkins University, he became a medical doctor and researcher. Dr. Sladen was long associated with the Henry Ford Hospital and Henry Ford Health System.Legacy
While residing in Portland, Sladen's family resided in a mansion Sladen had constructed. The home, which was designed by the Whidden & Lewis architectural firm, was built on NW Flanders Street. It still stands and is now the location of the Miller & Wagner law firm. The Sladen mansion is one of the buildings that make up the Northwest District, Portland, Oregon#Alphabet Historic District, Alphabet Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sladen, Joseph Alton 1841 births 1911 deaths People from Rochdale People from Lowell, Massachusetts Military personnel from Massachusetts American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Foreign-born Medal of Honor recipients Union Army officers Howard University College of Medicine alumni American military personnel of the Indian Wars Military personnel from Portland, Oregon Burials at West Point Cemetery