A Civil War Biography

Adley Hogan Gladden

Gladden was born 28 October 1810 in the Fairfield District of South Carolina. He was educated locally and became a cotton broker. He served as a volunteer in the Seminole War and upon his return to South Carolina was rewarded for his service with an appointment as postmaster in Columbia, South Carolina. During the war with Mexico, he again chose to volunteer his service and became a major in the Palmetto regiment. When both the regimental colonel and lieutenant colonel were killed at Churubusco, Gladden took command and shortly afterward was named colonel. He was wounded at Mexico City. Following the war with Mexico he settled in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Shorty after South Carolina left the Union, Gladden was offered a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the South Carolina military. He only served briefly, resigning to become a member of the Louisiana secession convention.

When the war erupted, Gladden, as colonel and commander of the 1st Louisiana Regulars headed to Pensacola, Florida. He saw his first action during the siege of Fort Pickens. He was promoted to brigadier general on 30 September 1861 and given command of a brigade which was part of Braxton Bragg's forces. After Bragg was given command of all Confederate troops in Mississippi, he tried to create a brigade for Gladden to command. Gladden was finally transferred to Mobile, Alabama the Corinth, Mississippi in January 1862. When he arrived at Corinth he was given command of a brigade which consisted of his 1st Louisiana, the 21st, 22nd, 25th, and 26th Alabama regiments, and a battery commanded by Felix H. Robertson. At Shiloh, with his brigade heavily engaged, Gladden was hit by a shell fragment. He died on 12 April 1862 in Corinth, following the amputation of his arm.

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