The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-06-05
DEATH OF COL. ELLSWORTH.

DEATH OF COL. ELLSW0RTH.
The night had passed without any note
worthy incident. 1t had been thought
possible that the rebels, who could un-
doubtedly have gained premonition of the
movement, might fire the bridge by which.
other regiments were to advance upon
them, and thus diminish the attacking
force. Nothing of this kind, however,
had been attempted, and as We steamed
down the river there was no sign that we
were expected. This seemed at first sus-
picious, especially as on nearing Alexan-
dria we found it sharing the same appear-
ance Of repose. 1t was not till our boats
were about to draw up to the wharf thai
our approach was noticed in any way;
but at the latest minute few sentinels,
whom we had long discerned, fired their
muskets in the air rs n warning, and, run
ming rapidly into the town, disappeared.
The town was thus put on its guard, but
so early was the hour, and so apparently
unlookedfo for our arrival, that when we
landed, about balfpast o'clock, the
streets were as deserted rs if it had been
midnight.
Before our troops disembarked, a boat
filled with armed marines, and carrying n
flag of truce, put off from the Pawnee,
and landed ahead of us. From the off
Ger in charge we learned that the Paso-
nee had already proposed terms of sub
mission to the town, and that the rebels
had consented to vacate within n specified
time. This seemed to settle tho question
of contest in the negative; but in the
confusion of mastering and forming the
men, the intelligence was not well under
stood, aud received but little attention.
Indeed, | am quite sure that the PAN
nee's officer did not seek Col. Ellsworth,
to communicate with him, and that the
COL only obtained meager share of in
formation by seeking it directly from the
bearer of the flag of truce himself. No
doubt this omission arose from the con-
dition in which affairs then stood. But
il would have caused no difference in the
Colonels military plans. No attack was
meditated, except in case Of forcble re-
sistance to his progress. On the other
hand, the idea Of the place being under a
truce seemed to Danish every suspicion Of
a resistance either from multitudes or in
dividuals. 1t was just possibly this con-
sideration that led Col. Ellsworth to fore
go the requisite personal precautions,
which, if taken, would have prevented his
unhappy death. But ! am sure none of
us at that time estimated the probability
of the danger which afterward menaced
us. Perhaps the thought of actual blood
shed and death in war was too foreign TO
our experiences to be rightly weighed
But it certainly did not enter our minds
then, as poor Ellsworth's fate has since
taught us it should have done, that a
town half walked, half terrified, and un-
der truce, could harbor any peril for us.
So the COL gave some rapid directions for
the interruption Of the railway course, by
displacing few rails near the depot, and
then turned toward the center Of the town
to destroy the means of communication
southwark by telegraph; measure which
he appeared to regard as very seriously
important. He was accompanied 10y Mr..
Ii. j. Wisner, Military Secretary to tho
regiment, the chaplain, the Rev. +. w.
Dodge, and myself. At first he sum
moned no guard TO follow him, but he af-
terward turned and called forward a sim
gle squad, with Sergeant from the first
company. We passed quickly through
the streets, meeting few bcwildered trav-
elers issuing from the principal hotel,
which seemed to be slowly coming to its
daily senses, and were about TO turn TO.
ward the telegraph, when the Col. caught
sight of the secession flag which has SC
long swung insolently in full view of the
Presidents House. He Immediately sent
back the Sergeant, with an order for the
advance of the entire first company, and
pushed on to the hotel, which proved tc
be the Marshall House, n second class inn
On entering the open door, the Colone
met man in his shirt and trowsers, o.
whom he demanded what sort of flag il
was that hung above the roof The stran
ger, who seemed greatly alarmed, declar
ed that he knew nothing Of it, and thai
he was only boarder there. Withou
questioning him further the Col. sprane
up stairs, and we all followed to the top
most story, whence, by means Of a lad
der he clambered TO the root, cut dow
the flag with Wisner's knife, and brough
it from the staff. There were two mel