Joseph A. Sladen

In 1862, Sladen joined the Union Army for the American Civil War, enlisting as a private in Company A, 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.[7] He took part in several of the regiment's engagements, including the Battle of Chancellorsville and Battle of Gettysburg.[7] Sladen took part in the May 13–15, 1864 Battle of Resaca.[8] While serving as a clerk at the regimental headquarters, Sladen left his post to voluntarily join the battle.[8] His personal example inspired his comrades at a critical moment in the fight, and they rallied to defeat their Confederate opponents.[8] In 1895, he received the Medal of Honor in acknowledgement of his Civil War heroism.[9]

Having received promotion to corporal, in 1864 Sladen was commissioned as a first lieutenant of Volunteers and assigned to the 14th United States Colored Infantry Regiment.[8] Detailed as an aide-de-camp to General Oliver Otis Howard, he remained in the Union Army until 1866.[10] Sladen took part in the September 1864 Battle of Jonesborough, for which he received regular army brevet promotions to first lieutenant and captain.[8]

After the war, Howard was appointed commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in Washington, D.C.[10] Sladen was appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Army's 17th Infantry Regiment and detailed to Howard's staff.[10] In 1866, he was transferred to the 26th Infantry Regiment, and in 1870, he was transferred to the 14th Infantry Regiment, but he continued to serve at the Freedman's Bureau.[10] When Howard became president of Howard University, Sladen served as the school's secretary.[11] While serving in Washington, Sladen also attended Howard University College of Medicine, from which he graduated with an M.D. degree in 1871.[10] He then attended Bellevue Medical College in New York City, from which he received an M.D. in 1872.[10] After completing his education, Sladen served on Howard's faculty as an instructor of anatomy.[12]

Sladen in 1872

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.[13] 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.[13] Sladen kept a journal of the expedition, which was later published as Making Peace With Cochise.[13] Howard and Cochise agreed to a treaty in September 1872.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15] On October 12, 1875, Sladen was on a trip to Fort Walla Walla, Washington when he mounted an unfamiliar horse.[16] The horse threw him against a tree, resulting in Sladen breaking his right leg.[16] Gangrene developed, and on October 25 a surgeon amputated Sladen's leg above the ankle.[16] 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.[16]

In 1881, Howard was appointed Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, and Sladen served on his staff as the academy's adjutant.[17] In 1882, Howard University awarded Sladen the honorary degree of Master of Arts.[18] In 1882, Howard was assigned to command the Department of the Platte at Fort Omaha, Nebraska and Sladen was assigned to his headquarters staff.[17] In 1885, Sladen joined the 14th Infantry at Vancouver Barracks, Washington.[19] On June 15, 1888, Sladen was promoted to captain.[17] In April 1889, he retired from the Army as the result of disability caused by the loss of his leg.[20]

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, 1895[9]