Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is the host for our series on the United States Military Academy’s Class of 1861. Christina is standing on East Cemetery Hill. The equestrian statue of Major General Oliver O. Howard, who was an instructor at West Point in 1861, is in the background. This image was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is our host for a series on members of the West Point Class of 1861 who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. With the coming of the Civil War, the academy had two classes graduating that year because the original class of 1862 petitioned to graduate a year early. So the original class of 1861 graduated in May, 1861. The original class of 1862 graduated in June, 1861. We will refer to them throughout the series as the May and June classes. Christina has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 2008.
In today’s West Point Class of 1861 post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon discusses the life of May, 1861 graduate Adelbert Ames who commanded a brigade and a division in the Eleventh Corps. At Gettysburg, Ames’ Brigade had 1337 engaged and suffered 778 casualties (68 killed, 366 wounded, and 344 captured) for a total percentage loss of 58.2%.
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This map shows the location of where our West Point Class of 1861 at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#2 were taken on East Cemetery Hill near the Howard Equestrian Statue. Video #3 was taken down the clope of of East Cemetery Hill where we could get a good look at the line held by Ames’ Brigade (then under Anderw L. Harris). Video #4 was near a tree near the top of East Cemetery Hill. This map was created facing north at approximately 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 7, 2011.
Adelbert Ames graduated fifth in the forty-five member class of May 6, 1861. He commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Army Artillery. This view was circa 1861 and is courtesy of Christina Moon.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is standing on East Cemetery Hill. The equestrian statue to Major General Oliver O. Howard, who was a professor at West Point in 1861, is in the background. Ames commanded a division on and around the base of East Cemetery Hill from July 1-3, 1863. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
In Video #1 Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is standing on East Cemetery Hill. She introduces us to herself and to the series on West Point’s Class of 1861. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon has moved a couple of yards to the west side of the equestrian monument to Major General Oliver O. Howard. Howard and Ames had a good relationship at West Point that would have benefits for Ames during the Civil War. This image was taken facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
In Video #2 Christina Moon is standing on East Cemetery Hill. She describes the early life of Adelbert Ames, including his West Point years. This view was taken facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
During the Civil War, Ames was severely wounded at the Battle of First Bull Run/Manassas. He would later (1893) be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there as a lieutenant commanding a section of Griffin’s Battery D, 5th United States Artillery. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel by July 1, 1862. He was promoted to Colonel of the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment in on August 20, 1862. Ames was promoted to brigadier general on May 20, 1863 and assigned a brigade in the Eleventh Corps. This image was taken circa the 1860s and is courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Christina Moon is standing on the eastern slope of East Cemetery Hill. At the end of the fighting on July 1, 1863, Ames commanded Francis C. Barlow’s division of two brigades. Ames’ Brigade, now under Andrew Harris faced mostly to the north, or straight ahead. Colonel Leopold von Gilsa’s brigade faced mostly to the east or right. During the fighting on July 2, 1863, the 17th Connecticut, out of Ames’ Brigade was pulled out of the line, and faced to the east. The monument to the 17th Connecticut is in the latter position in the right background. This image was taken facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
In Video #3 Christina Moon is standing on the east slope of East Cemetery Hill. She describes Adelbert Ames actions at Gettysburg. This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Christina Moon is standing near the crest of East Cemetery Hill. Culp’s Hill is in the right background. This image was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
In Video #4 Christina Moon is standing near the crest of East Cemetery Hill. She describes the post Gettysburg and postwar life of Adelbert Ames. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Following the Civil War, Adelbert Ames served as the governor (1868-1870), and later senator (1870-1874) from the State of Mississippi. This image was taken circa the 1870s and is courtesy of the Library of Congress.
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