Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-07-17

AT wizard tDouSiiI hli'i ouo Vi tnefl,
only deeper and slier. The simplicity
and directness of his character, bis quick
sympathy and thoughtless generosity, and
his delicate sense Of horror untitled him
for such scramble as that which de-
grades the quadrennial rotations of our
Departments. He withdrew from the
contest for the position he desired, and
the President, who loved him like
Younger brother, made him lieutenant
in the army, intending to detail him for
special service.
The jealousIy of the staff officers of the
regular army, who always discover in
any effective scheme of militia reform the
overthrow of their power, and who saw
in the young Zouave the promise of bril-
liant and successful innovation, was pro-
ductive of very serious annoyance and
impediment to Ellsworth. In the midst
ofihis, he fell sick at Wizards. While
he lay there, the news from. the South
began to show that the rebels were de-
termiued upon war, and the rumors on
the street said that wholesome North
westly breeze was blowing from tue Ex-
ecutive Mansion. These indications were
more salutary to Ellsworth than any
medicine. We were taking ONT night
of coming probabilities, and I spoke of
the doubt SO widely existing as to the
loyalty of the people. He joined, earn
estly,-"I can only speak for myself
You know have great werk to do, to
which my life is pledged; | am the only
earthly stay of my parents; there is a
young woman whose happiness regard
as dearer than my own: yet | could ask
no better death than t., fall next week be-
fore Sumter. am not better than 9TH
err men. You will find that patriotism
is not dead, even if it sleeps"
Sumter fell, and the sleeping awoke.-
The spirit of Ellsworth, cramped by a
few weeks intercourse with politicians,
sprang up fullstatured in the Northern
gale. He cut at once the meshes of red
tape that had hampered and held him,
threw up his commission, and started
for New York without orders, assist
ance, or authority, but with the consci-
business that the President would sustain
him. The rest the world knows. | will
be brief in recalling it.
In an incredibly short space Of time
he enlisted and organized regiment,
eleven hundred strong, of the best fight
ing material that ever went to war. He
divided it, according to an idea of his
own, into groups of four comrades each
for the campaign. He exercised a per-
sonal supervision over the most impor-
tant and the most trivial minutia of the
reeimental business. The quick SYM
pathv of the public still followed him. He
became the idol of the Bowery and the
pet of the Avepue. Yet not one instant
did he waste in recreation or lionizing.-
Indulgent to all others, he was merci-
less to himself. He worked day and
night, like An incarnation of Energy
When he arrived with his men in Wash
ington, he was thin, hoarse, flushed, but
entirely contented and happy, because
busy and useful.
Of the bright enthusiasm and the
quenchless industry of the next few
weeks what nacd to speak? Every day.
by his unceasing toll and care, by his
vigor, alertness, activity, by his generos-
itv, and by his relentless rigor when du-
tv commanded, he grew into tie hearts
of his robust and manly followers, until
every man in the regiment feared him
as a Colonel should be feared, and low
ed him as brother should be loved.
o. the night of the twenty-third of
May he called bis men together, and
made n brief, stirring speech to them,
announcing their orders to advance on
Alexandria. Nov, boys, 90 to
bed, and wake up at two o'clock for a
sail and skirmsh." When the camp
was silent, he began to work. He wrote
many hours, arranging the business Of
the regiment. He finished his labor MS
the midnight stars were crossing the
zenith. AS he sat in his tent by the
shore, it seems as if the mystical gales
from the near eternity must have breath
ed for moment over his soul, freighted
with the odor of amaranths and asphodels
For he wrote two strange letters: one to
her who mourns him faithful in death
one to his parents. There is nothing
drawer or more pathetic. With the proph-
etc instinct of love, he assumed the off
ice of CONSIDER for the stroke that mpcnd-
ed. @@
To the dewy light of the early dawn
he occupied the first rebel town. With
his own hand he tore down the first reb
ell flag. He added to the glories Of that
morning the seal of his blood.
The poor wretch who stumbled upon
an Immortality Of infamy by numbering
him died at the same instant. The two
stand in the light of that event clearly re-
vealed-types of the two systems in con-
flict to day the one, brave, refined, court
", generous, tender, and true; the other,
not lacking in brute courage, reckless,
besotted, ignorant, and cruel.
Let the two systems. Freedom AID
Slavery, stands thus typifed forever, in
the red light of that dawn,as on Mount
of TRANSPORTATION. / believe that may
| rol,,o +bo Jorl, ,,,yofary yyhv EllswOr