Jacob Ammen

Jacob Ammen
Jacob Ammen photo taken between 1861 and 1865
Born	(1806-01-07)January 7, 1806 Fincastle, Virginia,US
Died	February 6, 1894(1894-02-06)(aged 87) Lockland, Ohio,US
Place of burial	Spring Grove Cemetery,Cincinnati,Ohio, US
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/ branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1831–1837, 1861–1865
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands	4th Division,XXIII Corps Camp Douglas
Battles / wars	American Civil War Battle of Cheat Mountain Battle of Greenbrier River Battle of Shiloh Siege of Corinth Saltville Raid
Relations	Daniel Ammen
Other work	College professor, civil engineer

Jacob Ammen(January 7, 1806 – February 6, 1894) was a college professor,civil engineer,and ageneralin theUnion Armyduring theAmerican Civil War.His younger brother,Daniel Ammen,was anadmiralin theUnited States Navy.

Early life and career

Ammen was born inFincastle, Virginia,but at a young age, his parents moved toGeorgetown, Ohio,where Ammen attended school. He was an 1831 honors graduate of theUnited States Military Academy,where he was an assistant professor for two terms, in addition to his duties as asecond lieutenantin the 1st U.S. Artillery.He also served as a drill instructor and captain in the Georgetownmilitia.He was stationed inCharleston Harborduring theNullification Crisis.

Resigning from the Army in 1837, Ammen taught mathematics atBacon College(now called Transylvania University), afterwards teaching inJefferson College.From 1840 through 1843, he served as Chair of the Mathematics Department atIndiana University.He later taught again in Kentucky and Missouri, before moving in November 1855 toRipley, Ohio,to work as a civil engineer.

Civil War

Within a week after theConfederatebombardment ofFort Sumterin April 1861, Ammen rejoined the Federal army, serving as acaptainin the newly raised12th Ohio Infantry.He was soon commissioned ascolonelof the24th Ohio Infantry.After training atCamp Chase,Ammen's regiment was sent in late July to serve inwestern Virginia,seeing their first combat at theBattle of Cheat Mountain.

Shipped to theWestern Theater,Ammen led abrigadein theArmy of the Ohioat theBattle of Shilohand theSiege of Corinth.Ammen was promoted tobrigadier generalon July 16, 1862.In August, Ammen assumed thedivisioncommand vacated byWilliam "Bull" Nelson,who had been given a new command and sent to defendRichmond, Kentucky.

When his health deteriorated, Ammen then performed administrative duty for nearly a year, commandingCamp DouglasinIllinoisin early 1863, as well as other Federal garrisons. In late 1863, he returned to the field and commanded the Fourth Division of theXXIII Corps.In September 1864, his 800-man force blocked the vitalVirginia and Tennessee RailroadatBull's Gap, Tennessee,duringStephen G. Burbridge'sSaltville raid.Shortly before the end of the war, he resigned in January 1865 and returned home.

Postbellum career

Ammen was a surveyor and civil engineer inHamilton County, Ohio,then he purchased a farm nearBeltsville, Maryland,in 1872. Two years later, he was involved in determining possible routes for the proposedPanama Canal.He served on the board of visitors at West Point in 1875. He retired toWyoming, Ohio,near Cincinnati.

Becoming blind in his elderly years, he moved in with his son inLockland, Ohio,in 1891, where he died on February 6, 1894.He was buried in theSpring Grove CemeteryinCincinnati.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Union)
• Bibliography of the American Civil War

References

• Who Was Who: Historical Volume, 1607-1896.Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1967.
• Warner, Ezra J.,Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964,ISBN0-8071-0822-7.
• USMA biography of Ammen
• Indian Hill (Ohio) Historical Society biography of General Ammen