Two Wounded - One lived and one died.

[lelliott19]

Brig Gen Adley Hogan Gladden and Colonel Daniel Weisiger Adams were both severely wounded April 6, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh, while commanding the 1st Brigade of Wither's Division, Braxton's Bragg's Corps, Army of the Mississippi CSA. Gladden was seriously wounded by a shell fragment in the left arm and Adams received a devastating wound through the head. One would live and the other would die, but probably not the one you'd think.

Gladden was 51 years old and a veteran of the Mexican War. He was badly wounded by a shell fragment, early on the first day of the Battle of Shiloh. His left arm was shredded and nearly torn from the socket.[1] The arm was amputated on the field, but gangrene set in and he died 6 days later on April 12, 1862. [2]

The regiments of the brigade included Gladden's 1st Louisiana plus the 21st Alabama, 22nd Alabama, 25th Alabama, 26th Alabama, and Robertson's Alabama Battery. When Gladden fell wounded, command of the brigade devolved to 40 year old Senior Colonel of the brigade, Daniel Weisiger Adams (1st Louisiana), [3] the brother of Brig Genl William Wert Adams. Later in the day on April 6, 1862, when the brigade was engaged near the Hornet's Nest, Daniel Adams was shot through the head by a musket ball that entered above his right eye and exited behind his right ear.[4]

Adams was taken to a field hospital in the rear, barely alive and completely insensible. He was later loaded into a wagon transporting wounded back to Corinth. Along the way, the driver thought Adams was dead and tossed his body out along the muddy road. A while later, men of the 10th Mississippi happened upon him, left for dead in the mud, and noticed signs of life. They hurried him to a nearby hospital where he received treatment. Amazingly, Adams recovered but lost his right eye. He was promoted to Brig Genl on May 23, 1862. [5] …..But there's more to the story!

Four months later, Adams was declared fit for duty. He participated in the battle of Perryville and at Murfreesboro….until he was wounded again. This time in the arm by a shell fragment. He recovered in time to participate at Chickamauga, where he was seriously wounded a third time and left on the field. Some Union soldiers attempted to rob him. The Lieutenant of the 105th Ohio came to his aid and ran off the robbers, but Adams was captured.[6] He was taken to a Union field hospital where he underwent surgery to remove a minnie ball from his left arm and to resect the bone.

After four weeks, he was recovered and paroled. After being exchanged, he briefly commanded a Cavalry brigade in Alabama; served as Commander of the District of Central Alabama (Sept 1864); and Commanded the District of Alabama (March 1865) when the district was consolidated.[7] During the last few months of the war, he commanded the Department of the Gulf, taking part in the defense of Selma. He was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi, on May 9, 1865.

After being seriously wounded and left for dead at Shiloh and suffering two more very serious wounds, Adams lived to tell the tale! He died in 1872. [8]


[1] https://books.google.com/books?id=7_9IKUH3OXgC&pg=PA213&lpg=PA213&dq=Gladden+wounded+shell+fragment+Shiloh&source=bl&ots=sREDdnoDGf&sig=cczKr7xsDcA2sdDi3lLG_xA4f7U&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc_Iqvmf3TAhXCWCYKHc3zCecQ6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=Gladden wounded shell fragment Shiloh&f=false

[2] http://goldenanchorsharon.blogspot.com/2014/04/shilohs-mortuary-monuments-honoring.html

[3] https://books.google.com/books?id=u7cWoRN4v8MC&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=Gladden+wounded+shell+fragment+Shiloh&source=bl&ots=eFcuVVbJQx&sig=xmcs8bBRmS3HwtM7WApGxY8WCMs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc_Iqvmf3TAhXCWCYKHc3zCecQ6AEIMzAC#v=onepage&q=Gladden wounded shell fragment Shiloh&f=false

[4] https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/a-very-violent-gentleman/?_r=0

[5] https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1564147606

[6] https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/a-very-violent-gentleman/?_r=0

[7] Carded records from Fold3.com Daniel W Adams, page 99

[8] https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9850

 

[LoriAnn]

Wow! Clearly it was not his time.

I hope he managed to find some happiness after the war. I read about these guys and their wounds and wonder how much pain they must have been in for the rest of their lives.

 

[Podad]

Good stuff Laura. This gentlemans story reminds me of General John B. Gordon.

 

[DixieRifles]

40 year old Senior Colonel of the brigade, Daniel Weisiger Adams (1st Louisiana), [3] the brother of Brig Genl William Wert Adams

I wasnt sure if this was the same Daniel Adams & Wirt Adams that served in Mississippi---mainly as cavalry.

Here is the other Wirt Adams:
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=131521661

 

[DixieRifles]

Oh----amazing story. I enjoy reading about these personal struggles.
Thanks.

 

[AUG]

Daniel W. Adams went on to command what is better known as Randall Gibson's Louisiana Brigade in the AoT until his wound at Chickamauga, after which Gibson was officially promoted to brigadier general in command of the brigade.

He was a pretty good drill master and whipped the brigade into shape after he took command in August of 1862. The Louisiana Brigade quickly gained a reputation as one of the best drilled brigades in the AoT under his command.

 

[lelliott19]

Wow! Clearly it was not his time.

I hope he managed to find some happiness after the war. I read about these guys and their wounds and wonder how much pain they must have been in for the rest of their lives.

After the war, Daniel Adams apparently traveled to England and was there for a while, before returning to the practice of law in New Orleans. He was twice married - five children from the first wife (all born before the war) and at least two more from the second wife (born after the war.) His last child, also named Daniel Weisiger Adams, was born December 11, 1872 - six months after BG Daniel Adams' death on June 13, 1872.

BG Daniel Adams was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson MS - next to his brother William Wert Adams. His actual grave site is unmarked, but, according to wiki, there is a cenotaph marker in the Confederate section of the cemetery.

Interestingly, the son Daniel Weisiger Adams (b. 1872) was also a military man. He served as Lt Colonel 151st Depot Brigade, US Army during WWI. His son, also named Daniel Weisiger Adams (b. 1922) served in the US Navy during WWII. So three generations named Daniel Weisiger Adams - all military men.

 

[Forrest]

Most i.d.'s of that right-hand photo have it as 'Wirt Adams'. Interestingly, they are the ones that show his right ear 'normal', while the ones that show it mangled identify it as his brother.

 

[lelliott19]

Most i.d.'s of that right-hand photo have it as 'Wirt Adams'. Interestingly, they are the ones that show his right ear 'normal', while the ones that show it mangled identify it as his brother.

I noticed that the photo id's are questionable, but I believe the photo may actually show Daniel and not Wm Wert. Ambrotype images were reverse images. If this CDV is from an ambrotype, what you are actually looking at is Daniel's LEFT side. So using a better quality image - if the photo shows a reverse image, it would actually be like this - with his left side showing. Notice the drooped/closed eyelid on the other side? It may even be sewed shut?

 

[Forrest]

I noticed that the photo id's are questionable, but I believe the photo may actually show Daniel and not Wm Wert. Ambrotype images were reverse images. If this CDV is from an ambrotype, what you are actually looking at is Daniel's LEFT side. So if the photo shows a reverse image, it would actually be like this - with his left side showing. Notice the drooped/closed eyelid on the other side? It may even be sewed shut?
View attachment 138716

You could be right, but this image resembles other Wirt Adams images, and other images that are i.d.'d as his injured brother do not look like the Wirt images. This image looks more like an albumen to me, as does this one which is the same man, and is also i.d.'d as Wirt (Alabama Department of Archives and History) .

https://civilwartalk.com/attachments/william-wirt-adams-jpg.118650/

But I don't know - I couldn't have told you what either of them looked like, prior to reading this thread.

 

[AUG]

I noticed that the photo id's are questionable, but I believe the photo may actually show Daniel and not Wm Wert. Ambrotype images were reverse images. If this CDV is from an ambrotype, what you are actually looking at is Daniel's LEFT side. So using a better quality image - if the photo shows a reverse image, it would actually be like this - with his left side showing. Notice the drooped/closed eyelid on the other side? It may even be sewed shut?
View attachment 138716

But note that the buttons on his coat are on the wrong side there; they should be on his right, as in the OP. Its a brigadier general in that photo, so I think that's probably Wirt Adams.

 

[lelliott19]

But note that the buttons on his coat are on the wrong side there; they should be on his right, as in the OP. Its a brigadier general in that photo, so I think that's probably Wirt Adams.

Ok....you guys convinced me. Had to use something for a picture.
Wonder if his "off side" eye is closed for a reason? Was Wm Wert ever wounded in the eye?

 

[AUG]

Ok....you guys convinced me. Had to use something for a picture.
Wonder if his "off side" eye is closed for a reason? Was Wm Wert ever wounded in the eye?

Don't see any account of him being wounded. Checked Medical Histories of Confederate Generals by Jack D. Welsh and no mention of any wounds during the war. Though I haven't read as much about Wirt, so I'm not certain. I think because of the angle and/or shadow from his forehead it might just appear that his left eye is closed in that photo.

 

[WJC]

View attachment 138631
Brig Gen Adley Hogan Gladden and Colonel Daniel Weisiger Adams were both severely wounded April 6, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh, while commanding the 1st Brigade of Wither's Division, Braxton's Bragg's Corps, Army of the Mississippi CSA. Gladden was seriously wounded by a shell fragment in the left arm and Adams received a devastating wound through the head. One would live and the other would die, but probably not the one you'd think.

Gladden was 51 years old and a veteran of the Mexican War. He was badly wounded by a shell fragment, early on the first day of the Battle of Shiloh. His left arm was shredded and nearly torn from the socket.[1] The arm was amputated on the field, but gangrene set in and he died 6 days later on April 12, 1862. [2]

The regiments of the brigade included Gladden's 1st Louisiana plus the 21st Alabama, 22nd Alabama, 25th Alabama, 26th Alabama, and Robertson's Alabama Battery. When Gladden fell wounded, command of the brigade devolved to 40 year old Senior Colonel of the brigade, Daniel Weisiger Adams (1st Louisiana), [3] the brother of Brig Genl William Wert Adams. Later in the day on April 6, 1862, when the brigade was engaged near the Hornet's Nest, Daniel Adams was shot through the head by a musket ball that entered above his right eye and exited behind his right ear.[4]

Adams was taken to a field hospital in the rear, barely alive and completely insensible. He was later loaded into a wagon transporting wounded back to Corinth. Along the way, the driver thought Adams was dead and tossed his body out along the muddy road. A while later, men of the 10th Mississippi happened upon him, left for dead in the mud, and noticed signs of life. They hurried him to a nearby hospital where he received treatment. Amazingly, Adams recovered but lost his right eye. He was promoted to Brig Genl on May 23, 1862. [5] …..But there's more to the story!

Four months later, Adams was declared fit for duty. He participated in the battle of Perryville and at Murfreesboro….until he was wounded again. This time in the arm by a shell fragment. He recovered in time to participate at Chickamauga, where he was seriously wounded a third time and left on the field. Some Union soldiers attempted to rob him. The Lieutenant of the 105th Ohio came to his aid and ran off the robbers, but Adams was captured.[6] He was taken to a Union field hospital where he underwent surgery to remove a minnie ball from his left arm and to resect the bone.

After four weeks, he was recovered and paroled. After being exchanged, he briefly commanded a Cavalry brigade in Alabama; served as Commander of the District of Central Alabama (Sept 1864); and Commanded the District of Alabama (March 1865) when the district was consolidated.[7] During the last few months of the war, he commanded the Department of the Gulf, taking part in the defense of Selma. He was paroled at Meridian, Mississippi, on May 9, 1865.

After being seriously wounded and left for dead at Shiloh and suffering two more very serious wounds, Adams lived to tell the tale! He died in 1872. [8]


[1] https://books.google.com/books?id=7_9IKUH3OXgC&pg=PA213&lpg=PA213&dq=Gladden+wounded+shell+fragment+Shiloh&source=bl&ots=sREDdnoDGf&sig=cczKr7xsDcA2sdDi3lLG_xA4f7U&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc_Iqvmf3TAhXCWCYKHc3zCecQ6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=Gladden wounded shell fragment Shiloh&f=false

[2] http://goldenanchorsharon.blogspot.com/2014/04/shilohs-mortuary-monuments-honoring.html

[3] https://books.google.com/books?id=u7cWoRN4v8MC&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=Gladden+wounded+shell+fragment+Shiloh&source=bl&ots=eFcuVVbJQx&sig=xmcs8bBRmS3HwtM7WApGxY8WCMs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc_Iqvmf3TAhXCWCYKHc3zCecQ6AEIMzAC#v=onepage&q=Gladden wounded shell fragment Shiloh&f=false

[4] https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/a-very-violent-gentleman/?_r=0

[5] https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1564147606

[6] https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/a-very-violent-gentleman/?_r=0

[7] Carded records from Fold3.com Daniel W Adams, page 99

[8] https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9850

Now THAT'S a keeper!
Yes, my initial thought was immediate death by headwound. But then I saw "but probably not the one you'd think."
Thanks for sharing!
"'Tis strange- but true; for truth is always strange; stranger than fiction." --- George Gordon Byron, English poet.

 

[JOHN42768]

You don't go til you get the call

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yet another, and thank you! Gee whiz. Can you imagine? Shot through the head. God bless him. We still have such a small understanding of brain function, seems to me they've given up a little and now just go build computers trying to replicate the useful bits. This man's brain must have been violated brutally, yet he lived and went into law? Brain trauma does all kinds of things, tragic to goofy ( in no way implying practicing law is both ).

One of you diggers in Time did one like him, the man wounded at Gettysburg? Wish someone could remember the link because he belongs here. Poor guy was the equivalent of run over by bulldozers, shot around a gazillion times, left out in the open like so many, just refused to go away. Love these stories. For one thing, as life gets a little rocky you can look at them and think ' If that guy could do that..... '.