Union Historical Society holds its first meeting 2012 at the Robbins House at 343 Common Rd., on Union Common, at 7:30 p.m. on Wed., March 7.
David Sulin of Rockport will give a presentation on one of Rockland’s famous sons, the sailor, soldier and politician Adelbert “Del” Ames.
Born in 1835, the son of a sea captain, Ames in early life followed the sea before enrolling at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point and was still a cadet there when the Civil War broke out in 1861.
On May 6, immediately upon graduating fifth in his class, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in an artillery regiment, and eight days later he was promoted to First Lieutenant in another artillery regiment.
July saw him fighting in the First Battle of Bull Run. After that action he was brevetted to the rank of major and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, with the citation “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 placed by men of his command.”
Ames’ varied Civil War career included service in artillery and infantry commands one of them the 20th Maine, staff duty, and promotions until he ended the war as a Major General in the Union Army.
An 1868 appointment by Congress led to a political career of somewhat mixed success as Governor and later U.S. Senator, for Mississippi.
After 1876 Ames settled into business life until in 1898 he was appointed Brigadier General of volunteers in the Spanish-American War and returned to active military service, fighting in Cuba. Ames died in 1933, the last surviving general who had served in the Civil War.
Captain David Sulin is a Maine Maritime Academy graduate and a master mariner with 40 year’s experience in offshore shipping. He is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic Civil War buff and is a member of the General Hiram Berry Civil War Roundtable.
After the meeting refreshments will be served by hosts Liz Stanley and Ike Johnson. All meetings of Union Historical Society are free and open to the public. Union Historical Society owns and maintains the Robbins House on Union Common, the Cobb’s Ledge historic site on Town House Road, and the Old Town House, also located on Town House Road and available to rent for functions. Membership is $5 per year. For more information, call 785-5444 and leave a message, or visit www.unionhistoricalsociety.org.
