Joseph A. Sladen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph A. Sladen
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| Born | April 9, 1841 Rochdale, England |
| Died | January 25, 1911 (aged 69) Portland, Oregon |
| Place of burial |
West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York
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| Allegiance | Union United States of America |
| Service/ |
Union Army (1862-1866) United States Army (1866-1889) |
| Years of service | 1862–1889 |
| Rank | Captain (Army) Major (Retired list) |
| Unit | United States Army Infantry Branch |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War American Indian Wars |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Alma mater | Howard University College of Medicine Bellevue Medical College |
| Spouse(s) | Martha "Mattie" Frances Winchester (m. 1866-1911, his death) |
| Children | 5 (including Fred Winchester Sladen) |
| Relations | John Jewsbury Bradley (son-in-law) |
| Other work | Businessman U.S. Circuit Court Clerk |
Joseph A. Sladen (April 9, 1841 – January 25, 1911) was a brave officer in the United States Army. He fought in the American Civil War for the Union Army. He earned the Medal of Honor for his amazing bravery during the 1864 Battle of Resaca.
After the Civil War, Sladen continued his service. He was part of several important campaigns during the American Indian Wars. He retired from the Army in 1889 due to an injury. He then lived in Portland, Oregon, and worked as a clerk for the U.S. Circuit Court. Joseph Sladen passed away in Portland and was buried at West Point Cemetery.
Contents
Early Life
Joseph Alton Sladen was born in Rochdale, England, on April 9, 1841. His parents were James and Mary Sladen. Joseph's father, James, worked as a merchant. Sadly, his father died when Joseph was only five years old.
After his father's death, Joseph and his mother, Mary, moved to Lowell, Massachusetts. They joined Joseph's older brothers and sisters who already lived there. Joseph started working in factories when he was nine years old. He helped support his family while also going to public school. After finishing school, Sladen worked for two years preparing cloth.
Military Service
American Civil War Hero
In 1862, Joseph Sladen joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. He started as a private in the 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. He fought in several important battles, including the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg.
Sladen also took part in the Battle of Resaca in May 1864. Even though he was working as a clerk at headquarters, he bravely left his post to join the fighting. His courage inspired his fellow soldiers. They rallied together and defeated their Confederate enemies. In 1895, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in this battle.
Later in 1864, Sladen became a corporal. He was then made a first lieutenant of Volunteers. He was assigned to the 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment. He also served as an aide-de-camp (an assistant) to General Oliver Otis Howard. Sladen stayed in the Union Army until 1866. He fought in the September 1864 Battle of Jonesborough. For his actions, he earned special promotions to first lieutenant and captain in the regular army.
After the Civil War
After the war, General Howard became the head of the Freedmen's Bureau in Washington, D.C.. This organization helped formerly enslaved people. Sladen was made a second lieutenant in the United States Army's 17th Infantry Regiment and worked on Howard's team.
He was transferred to other regiments, but he continued to work with the Freedmen's Bureau. When General Howard became president of Howard University, Sladen served as the school's secretary. While in Washington, Sladen also studied medicine. He earned an M.D. degree from Howard University College of Medicine in 1871. He then got another M.D. from Bellevue Medical College in New York City in 1872. After his studies, Sladen taught anatomy at Howard University.
In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant asked General Howard to meet with Cochise. Cochise was a leader of the Chiricahua Apache people. The goal was to make peace after years of conflict. Sladen went with General Howard on this important mission. They traveled through New Mexico and Arizona to find Cochise. Sladen kept a journal of this journey, which was later published as Making Peace With Cochise. Howard and Cochise signed a peace treaty in September 1872.
In 1874, General Howard was put in charge of the Army's Department of the Columbia. Sladen joined his staff in Portland, Oregon. He served in various roles, including assistant and acting judge advocate. Sladen stayed with the Department of the Columbia until 1881. He took part in the Nez Perce War of 1877 and the Bannock War of 1878.
On October 12, 1875, Sladen had a serious accident. While on a trip to Fort Walla Walla, Washington, he fell from a horse and broke his right leg. His leg became very sick, and a surgeon had to amputate it above the ankle. On August 16, 1876, Sladen broke his right leg again, this time above the knee. This likely led to another amputation.
In 1881, General Howard became the head of the United States Military Academy (West Point). Sladen worked on his staff as the academy's adjutant. In 1882, Howard University gave Sladen an honorary degree. In 1882, Howard was assigned to command the Department of the Platte at Fort Omaha, Nebraska. Sladen joined his headquarters staff there. In 1885, Sladen joined the 14th Infantry at Vancouver Barracks, Washington. On June 15, 1888, Sladen was promoted to captain. In April 1889, he retired from the Army because of his disability from the loss of his leg.
Later Life
After leaving the Army, Sladen settled in Portland, Oregon. He started a career in business. He was a general manager for Aetna Life Insurance Company in Portland. He also worked as a special agent for other insurance companies. Sladen was also on the board of directors for a bank. He even taught military science at Portland's Bishop Scott Academy.
In 1894, Sladen became the clerk of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Oregon. He held this job until 1908. That year, he learned he had been promoted to major on the Army's retired list.
Sladen was very active in Freemasonry, a fraternal organization. He held many leadership roles and achieved a high rank in 1904. He was also a member of other community groups. These included Portland's Boys & Girls Aid Society, the Grand Army of the Republic (a group for Civil War veterans), and the Baptist Church.
Death and Burial
Joseph Sladen continued to live in Portland after he retired. He passed away there on January 25, 1911. He was first buried at River View Cemetery in Portland. In 1929, his remains were moved and reinterred at West Point Cemetery in West Point, New York.
Family
On November 29, 1866, Joseph Sladen married Martha "Mattie" Frances Winchester (1842-1929). She was from Lowell, Massachusetts. They had five children: three sons and two daughters.
- Fred Winchester Sladen (1867-1945) became a career officer in the U.S. Army. He reached the rank of major general.
- Caroline Louise "Carrie" Sladen (1869-1956) married John Jewsbury Bradley. He was a brigadier general in the U.S. Army.
- Bessie Howard Sladen (1871-1872)
- Harry Stinson Sladen (1874-1953) graduated from Stanford University. He became an electrical engineer.
- Frank Joseph Sladen (1882-1973) graduated from Yale University and Johns Hopkins University. He became a medical doctor and researcher. Dr. Sladen worked for many years at the Henry Ford Hospital.
Legacy
While living in Portland, Sladen built a large home for his family. This mansion was designed by a famous architectural firm, Whidden & Lewis. It is located on NW Flanders Street and is still standing today. The Sladen mansion is part of the Alphabet Historic District. This historic area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
