Alexander Gardner bm.  James Adams Ekin (August 31, 1819 – March 27, 1891) was an American officer who served in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a member of the military commission trying the conspirators involved with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.  At the outbreak of the Civil War, Ekin enlisted April 25, 1861 in the 12th Pennsylvania Infantry (a 3-month regiment) as a lieutenant and was assigned regimental quartermaster. Ekin mustered out with the regiment on August 5, 1861, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was subsequently promoted captain and assistant quartermaster August 7, 1861 and served in the Quartermaster's Department. Ekin and was promoted to lieutenant colonel February 15, 1864, then promoted again to colonel August 2, 1864. He was brevetted in the regular army major, lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier general, all on March 13, 1865. In addition to his volunteer ranks, Ekin was made a captain in the regular army March 13, 1863, lieutenant colonel and deputy quartermaster general July 29, 1865.