West Point’s Class of 1861 Part 4 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon
June 22, 2011
Charles Edward Hazlett (1838-1863) graduated 15th out of the 45 members of West Point’s class of May 6, 1861. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and after graduating from the United States Military Academy was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd United States Cavalry. He was almost immediately promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and transferred to Battery D, 5th United States Artillery. This image, taken circa 1861 is courtesy of Christina Moon.
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 the first 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%.
In our second West Point Class of 1861 post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon presents the life of Colonel Emory Upton who commanded the 121st New York Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg.
In today’s West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon begins to follow Lieutenant Charles Hazlett around the Gettysburg Battlefield.
This map shows the location of where our West Point Class of 1861 at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#10 were shown in our previous posts. Video #11 was taken near Powers Hill. Video #12 was taken in Rose’s Wheatfield (THE Wheatfield). Video #13 was taken from the east side of Little Round Top to the top of Little Round Top. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 15, 2011.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is the host for our series on West Point’s Class of 1861. She is standing along Granite Schoolhouse Road. Powers Hill is in the background. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:00 PM on Thursday June 2, 2011.
In Video #11 (Videos #1-#10 were shown in our previous Class of 1861 posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is standing along Granite Schoolhouse Road. She explains how Lieutenant Hazlett’s Battery D, 5th United States Artillery was located in this area on July 2, 1863 before it was ordered towards the Wheatfield. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:00 PM on Thursday June 2, 2011.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is standing in the Wheatfield. The shadow on the right is caused by the monument to the 81st Pennsylvania. The monument in the center background is to the 30th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment (1st Pennsylvania Reserves). Little Round Top is in the left background and is Munshower’s Hill. Hazlett took Battery D, 5th United States Artillery from the Wheatfield, back on the Wheatfield Road, shown in the left background, over Little Round Top, and to the Taneytown Road. This view was taken facing east at approximately 6:00 PM on Thursday June 2, 2011.
In Video #12 Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is standing in Rose’s Wheatfield. She describes why Hazlett’s Battery was in the Wheatfield, and how they were ordered to Little Round Top from this location. This view was taken facing east at approximately 6:00 PM on Thursday June 2, 2011.
Christina Moon is standing by the marker to Company B of the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment. She will walk along the wall (away from the camera) to where the logging road was located. This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 6:00 PM on Thursday June 2, 2011.
Christina Moon is graciously doing the “Guide Point” as she stands in the trace of the old logging road. She is pointing to the Taneytown Road. This image was taken facing southeast at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday June 2, 2011.
Christina Moon is still standing in the trace of the logging path/road. The eastern slope of Little Round Top is in the background. She is preparing to follow the path to the summit. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 2, 2011.
In Video #13 Christina Moon walks along the route of the logging path/road to Skykes Avenue near the summit of Little Round Top. This view was taken facing northeast to a couple of different directions at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday June 2, 2011.
Christina Moon is standing by the remains of a wagon which she found on along the logging path. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 2, 2011.
Christina Moon is in the trace of the logging path. The monument to the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment is in the left background. This image was taken facing west at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 2, 2011.
Christina Moon is standing near the trace of the logging path in the area where the 20th Maine Infantry fought on July 2, 1863. The “Oates Rock” is in the center background. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 2, 2011.
Christina Moon is standing in the trace of the logging path where it intersects Sykes Avenue. The logging path may have continued in the background, behind Christina and to the right of the marker for Vincent’s Brigade towards the summit of Little Round Top. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 2, 2011.
To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides,click here.