Gettysburg Daily

West Point’s Class of 1861 Part 9 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon

April 23, 2012
Jacob Ford Kent (1835-1918) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1856 and graduated 31st out of 45 members of the Class of 1861. This image was created circa 1899. It was pubished in Harper’s Pictorial History of the War With Spain published by Harper & Brothers Publishers of New York in 1899, p. 342.

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 the third West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon shows us monuments related to Engineering officer, John Whitney Barlow.

In the fourth West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon begins to follow Lieutenant Charles Hazlett around the Gettysburg Battlefield.

In the fifth West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon showed the different possibilities for the placement of Hazlett’s Battery on Little Round Top.

In the sixth West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon provides some background on Hugh Eugene B. Beaumont, known by some as “Kill Cavalry.”

In the seventh West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon provided some background on Malbone Francis Watson, who commanded Battery I, 5th United States Artillery until he was wounded on July 2, 1863.

In the eighth West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon provided some background on Eugene Beaumont, who was a staff officer under John Sedgwick at Gettysburg, but who would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the western theater during 1864-1865.

In today’s West Point Class of 1861 presentation, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon provides some background on Jacob Ford Kent, who was a staff officer under John Sedgwick at Gettysburg, but who would be most known for his actions during the Spanish-American War.

To email Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon, please click here to reveal her address.

Click here for Christina’s Facebook page.

This map shows the location of where our West Point Class of 1861 at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#26 were shown in our previous posts. Videos #21 and #22 were on the western slope of Cemetery Ridge at the marker for Battery I, 5th United States Artillery. Video #23 was taken near the Taneytown Road and the Jacob Weikert Farm. Videos #24-#26 were taken southwest of the John Sedgwick equestrian statue along Sedgwick Avenue. Videos #27-#29 were taken northwest of the John Sedgwick equestrian statue along Sedgwick Avenue.This map was created facing north at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, April 13, 2012.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon is the host for our series on West Point’s Class of 1861. She is standing along Sedgwick Avenue, near the marker for the headquarters of the 6th Corps. The equestrian statue to Major General John Sedgwick is in the right background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

In Video #27 (Videos #1-#26 were shown in our previous Class of 1861 posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon provides information on Jacob Ford Kent before the Gettysburg Campaign. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

The Sixth Corps headquarters marker located west of Sedgwick Avenue.This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

In Video #28 Licensed Battlefield Guide Christina Moon explains the activities of Jacob Ford Kent following the Battle of Gettysburg and for the rest of the American Civil War. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

The Sixth Corps headquarters marker contains the 6th Corps symbol (Greek Cross) and a plaque at the bottom. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

A closer view of the plaque at the bottom of the 6th Corps headquarters marker. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

Christina Moon is near Sedgwick Avenue and the headquarters marker for the 6th Corps. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

In Video #29 Christina Moon explains the post-war career of Jacob Ford Kent, including his participation in the Spanish-American War. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Friday, March 23, 2012.

To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides, click here.