--We take from the
Columbia South Carolinian the following sketch of this gallant officer, who fell at
Shiloh:
‘
He was born in
Fairfield, S. C., October 28, 1810. In 1830 he removed to
Columbia, and entered into the business of a cotton merchant.
He served in the
Florida campaign in the Rich and Rifle company.
On his return he resumed his former business, and was in 1841 appointed by
President Tyler Postmaster of
Columbia, which office he held during that administration.
1845 he volunteered for the
Mexican war in the
Palmetto regiment, and was elected
Major —
Pierce M. Butler being
Colonel, and
J. P. Dickinson,
Lieutenant Colonel.
He fought gallantly, as his whole regiment did, at
Contreras,
Churubusco,
Chapultepec, and the gates of
Mexico, and upon the fall of
Col. Butler and
Lieutenant Colonel Dickinson, he was chosen
Colonel of his regiment.
When
Gen. Quitman called for a flag to be raised upon the gates of Balen,
Col. Gladden handed the
Palmetto flag to
Lieut Selleck, of
South Carolina, who planted it upon the well — it being the first American flag raised on taking the city of
Mexico.
Lieut. Selleck, being ordered down by
Gen. Quitman, handed the flag to
Col. Gladden, who bore it until he fell severely wounded by one of the last shots fired as the city was entered.
The reports of the
general officers to the War Department hear the highest testimony to the gallantry and great capacity for discipline of this distinguished officer.
After the war, he settled in New Orleans, where he remained in mercantile business until the secession of
South Carolina.
When the
State of South Carolina seceded, he was appointed and accepted the post of
Lieut. Colonel in
Gregg's First regiment, and immediately reported for duty.
But the pressure from his adopted
State of Louisiana forced him to return there where, as a member of her Convention, he did good service in promoting her secession.
Soon after, he accepted a regiment and went to
Pensacola, when the
President soon sent him a commission as
Brigadier-General in the
Confederate service.
He was placed in command there, and all who know him know that his command was behind no other in drill and efficiency.
’
