Friday, April 6, 2012

Adebert Ames, Rockland's Medal of Honor General-- Part 1

From the February 21, 2012, Knox Village (Maine) Soup.

The Union Historical Society held its first-ever meeting and Rockport's David Sulin gave a presentation on Rockland's favorite son: sailor, soldier and politician Adelbert "Del" Ames.

Born in 1835 and the son of a sea captain. He spent much of his early life at sea and then went to the US Military Academy at West Point where he was still a cadet when the war began. On May 6, 1861, he graduated fifth in his class and was commissioned second lieutenant in the artillery.

Eight days later, he was promoted to 1st Lt. in another artillery regiment.

In July, he was at the Battle of Bull Run and breveted to the rank of major and was awarded the new Congressional Medal of Honor which read, "Remained upon the field in command of a section of Griffin's Battery directing its fire after being severely wounded and refusing to leave the field until too weak to sit upon the caisson where he had been laced by the men of his command."

More to Come. --Old B-Runner

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