The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-07
ASSASSINATION OF COLONEL ELLIS
WORTH.

The Colonel was shot through the breast
by one charge of a doube-barreled gun,
the other charge entering a wainscoting
near him. lie fell on his face only exclaim.
ing MY Cod" and the blood gushed from
his wound with such profusion as to drench
the entire passage. A few seconds after
ward he uttered low moan, but his eyes
were instantly fixed, and he had ceased to
breathe. He was laid upon bed in a room
near at hand, with the rebel flag stained
with his blood, and now a trophy to bis
glorp, about his feet.
The man who killed him was James w.
jackson, who proved to be the keeper of
the house.
He must have died suddenly. He was
shot through the head, and afterward run
through the body by the saber bayonet of
the same private. His wife presently dis
covered the fatality, and approaching the
body, uttered the most agoniziDg cries, and
although treated with the utmost consider
alton that could be offered her in her mis-
cry, she remained for long time in the
widest state of frenzy. The house was in
the utmost confusion. The dodgers darted
from their rooms, but were held in control
by the four or five Zouaves who accompa-
MED the Colonel and who at once estabs
lished and maintained order. 1t was long
time before reinforcement arrived, and it
was almost thought that we might be hem
med IN by the number of persons in the
house, which was considerable. But the
trepldatlon was too great for any organiza-
ton, and nothing of the sort was attempted,
although think that the Zouaves, mad with
grief at the loss of their leader, would have
been but little disappointed if it had been.
Surgeon Gray made an examination, and
discovered that the slugs from the gun en-.
tered between the third and fifth rib, shat
tering the fourth rib, and pushed into the
left auricle of the heart, destroying all the
integuments with which it came in contact.
Especial Dispatch to the New York Herald
Col. Ellsworth's remains are deposited in
the neat little engine house of the navy
yard, the fire apparatus having been re-
moved. They are still clad in his uniform,
the breast being shockipgly lacerated by
the slug shot. They were sewed up in a
red blanket. The body rests on a small
bench, covered with the national flag, with
wreath of flags and Grape, and a detach-
ment of the seventy-frst detailed to guard
it.. All the flags in the city are displayed
at half mast, in honor of the gallant de-
ceased. The fact of his death was kept
two hours from his men to prevent demon
strations of violence.
1t is stated that when he received the fatal
shot he dropped his sword, and Selling hold
of his clothing over his breast, tore it en-
tirely off, looking down upon the wound,
closed his eyes and fell down dead without
Mt or N l. L.
secession flag himself, he politely but vainly,
requested his murderer to remove the odious
emblem.
The body of Col. Ellsworth was brought
over in charge of sixZouaves. The widest
grief is exhibited by the members of the re-
giment. Before wrapping the secession flag
around his body, Ellsworth had trampled it
under foot. l called at the White House
this morning, with Senator Wilson of Mas
sachusetts, to see the President on press
ing matter of public business, and as we
entered the library we remarked the Presi-
dent standing before window, looking out
across the Potomac, running at the foot of
Presidential grounds He did not move till
we approached very closely, when he turned
round abruptly, and advanced towards US,
extending his hand : -" Excuse me" be said,
but l cannot talk" We supposed his
voice had probably given way from some
cause or other, and we were just about to
inquire, when to our surprise the President
burst into tears, and concealed his face in
his handkerchief. He walked up and down
the room for some moments in silence, we
not little moved at such an unusual spec.
tacle, in such place.
flor oompocinu bip,cnIf cop,ou,bof {l,o
President took his seat and desired us to
approach. II will make no apology, gen.
tlemeD," said the President, " for my weak
ness; but knew poor Ellsworth well, and
held him in great regard. Just as you en-
tered the room, Capt. Fox left me, after
giving me the painful details OF Ellsworth's
unfortunate death. The event was so un-
expected and the recital so touching, that it
quite unnamed me-" The President here
made violent effort to restrain his emo.
ton, and after pause he proceeded with a
tremulOus voice, to give US the incidents of
the tragedy as they had occurred. "Poor
fellow" repeated the President, as be closed
his relation, d" it was undoubtedly an act of
rashness, but it only shows the heroic spirit
that animates our soldiers, from. high to low
in this righteous cause of ours. Yet who
can restrain their grief to see them fall in
such way as this, not by the fortunes of
war, but by the hand of an assassin ?" To-
wards the close of his remarks he added,
"There is one fact that has reached me,
which is great consolation to my heart,
and quite relief after this melancholy af-
fair. 1 learn from several persons, that
when the stars and stripes were raised
again in Alexandria, many of the pc ople of
the town actually wept for joy, and mani
tested the liveliest qualification at seeing
this familiar and loved emblem once more
floating above them. This is another proof
that all the South is not secessionist and it
is my earnest hope that as we advance we
shall find as many friends as foes"
At this moment Senator Chandler was
announced, and he related to the President
some interesting details of the capture of