Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-11
For the Enquirer
James w. Jackson, OF Alexandria,


Mcssrs. Editors:-The writer Of this har-
pened tn BE- in Alexandria on tho occasion when
james ". Jackson, late proprietor of the Mar
shall House Of that city, threw to the breeze,
from the top Of his house, q large and beauti.
full flag of the Confederate States. By the aid
Of a spy.glass it could be distinctly seen from
Washington, and was said to be a matter Of
great annoyance to Mr.. Lincoln. When infor.
nation reached Alexandria, by telegraph, that
Virginia had united her fortunes with her sis.
ter States of the South, Mr.. Jackson, on the
same day, hauled down tho flag, and, adding
another star to the number, again gave 1t to
the breeze, as the banner under which Virginia
marched. If not the first flag raised in |ir.
ginia after ithe passage Of the Ordinance oil
Secession, it was certainly amongst the first.
| Mr.. Jackson was repeatedly informed that per-
sons in Washington had pledged themselves TO
steal it and carry it eff. and hence DO was al
ways on the watch. On one occasion a party
came to his house for that purpose, and re-
NAMED all night, but could not screw up their
courage to the sticking point The next morn
Ing they avowed to Mr.. Jackson their purpose
in coming, and informed him that, before leaV-
ing Washington, they had made = bet that
they would return with the flag, and, thereup-
on, offered to purchase il, naming 4 sum con-
siderably over its cost, but he promptly and
prophetically replied-"nothing but blood can
buy it,"
It is O matter of history that, on the morn
ing of the oath of May, tho United States au-
thorities invaded the soil of Virginia by landing
troops at, and taking possession of Alexandria,
and that foremost among them was the New
York Fire Zouaves, under Col. Ellsworth
They were seen to rush up King street. and
thence to Green's large furniture warehouse
on Prince street, having evidently mistaken
it for the Mansion House. Discovering
their error, they hurried back, surrounded the
Hotel, and Ellsworth with 4 number Of his fol-
lowers, entered the house, rushed up the steps
to the attic, cut the halyards and hauled down
the flag, which was taken possession Of by Ellis
worth as the long.coveted prize; and which, it
is said, he promised Mrs. Lincoln, when be left
Washington, to bring back to her. Mr.. Jack
son was then in bed, and, being informed that
& party Of armed men had entered his house,
he hurriedly threw on o part of his clothes,
snatched up a double-barreled gun, which he
always kept ia his room, loaded with buck
shot, and passed out on the stairway. lie met
Colonel Ellsworth on the steps coming down
with the flag in his arms, and, as he approach.
ed, heard him say, this is tho prize I have
wanted for SOM time" Jackson replied, land
you are the prize I have wanted for some
time" and Immediately fired, killing Ellsworth
instantly. He quickly wheeled and fired the
other barrel at the person at Ellsworth's side, but
missed him, and, Mt the same moment, was shot
by one of the party accompanying Ellsworth.
His body was mutilated by repeated thruSts OF
the bayonct, and lay on one Of the landings
for Eve hours before they would permit it to be
removed. His poor distracted and heart-brokcn
wife, when informed Of his death, rushed out
of her room and towards the body, but they
not only would1no permit her to approach il,
but threw her rudely and violently aside and
forced her to remain in her own room. The
jury Of inquest, empanneled to enquire into
tho cause Of his death, most fearlessly dis.
charged that duty, and found that the said
James w. Jackson came to his death by the
hands of the Federal troops, while in his own
house, and defending his private property"
I have endeavored to give a plain, unvar-
nisbed history Of the sffalr, as detailed to Inc
By eye.witnesses, and it may be 'elied on MS
strictly correct
Tho blood Of Jackson WIS the first shed in
defence Of that flag, which now so proudly
floats over us. He must have known his fate
before firing, but hcroically determined to sur
render that flag only with bis life. lie leaves
Il widow-one Of the best Of wcmen-and three
interesting daughters-mere infants-to mourn
his death and their loss. He died very poor.
Shall his memory perish and his family be left
to suffer in poverty? FAIRFAX.