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

wall, and exclaimed, -"Inere is an un-
answerable argument against the recog-
milton of the Southern Confederacy."
But the central idea of Ellsworth's
short life was the thorough reorganization
of the militia Of the United States. He
had studied with great success the theo-
ny of national defence, and, from his OBJ
servation of the condition of the militia
of the several States, he was convinced
that there was much of well-dlrected eff
fort vet lacking to its entire efficiency. In
fact, as he expressed it, well disciplined
body of five thousand troops could land
anywhere on our coast and ravage two or
three States before an adequate force could
get into the field to oppose them. To
reform this defective organization, he
resolved to devote whatever of talent or
energy was his. This was very large
undertaking for boy, whose majority
and moustache were still of the substance
of things hoped for. But nothing that
he could propose to himself ever seemed
absurd. He attacked his work with his
usual promptness and decision.
The conception of a great idea is no
proof of great mind mans calibre is
shown by the way in which he attempts
to realize his idea. A great design plant
ed in little mind frequently bursts it,
and nothing is more pitiable than the
spectacle of a man staggering into insan-
ity under thought too large for him.
Ellsworth chose to begin his work simply
and practically. He did not write
memorial to the President, to be sent to
the Secretary of War, to be referred to
the Chief Clerk, to be handed over to
File Clerk No. 80, to be glanced at and
then thrust into a pigeon-hole labelled
"Crazy and trasl g" He did not haunt
the anteroom of Congressman Somebody,
who would promise to bring his plan be-
fore the House, and then, lowing him
out, give general orders to his footman,
''Not at home, hereafter, to that man."
He did not float, as some theorists do,
ghasty and seedy, around the Adyta Of
popular editors, begging for space and
countenance. He wisely determined to
keep his theories to himself until he
could i'll usrate them by living examples.
He first put himselfin thorough training.
He practised the manual of arms in his
own room, until his dexterous
precision was something akin to the
sleight of a juggler. He investigated the
theory of every moment in an anatomi-
cal view, and made several most valua,
bic improvements on Hardee. His rear
ranged the manual so that every move
ment formed the logical groundwork of
the succeeding one. He studied the
science of fence, so that he could hold a
rapier with De Villiers, the most dashing
ofthe Algerine swordsmen. He always
had hand as true as steel, and an eye
like gerfaIcon. He used to amuse him.
self by shooting yentilation-holes through
bis window panes. Standing ten PAGES
from the window, he could fire the seven
shots from his revolver and not SILVER the
glass beyond the circumference of half
dollar. | have seen photograph of his
arm taken at this time. The knotted
coil of thews and sinews looks like the
magnificent exaggerations of antique
sculpture.
His person was strikingly proposes
ing. His form, though slight,-exactly
the Napoleonic size,-was very compact
and commanding; the head statuesquely
poised, and crowned with luxuria nee Of
curling black hair; a hazel eye, bright,
though 81 rene, the eye of a gentleman as
well as a soldier; nose such as you see
on Roman medals; light 'moustache
Just shading the lips, that were continual
" curving into the sunniest smiles. His
voice, deep and musical, Instantly attract
ed attention; and his address, through
not without soldierly brusqueness, was
sincere and courteous. There was one
thing his backwoeds detractors could new
er forgive: he always dressed well; and
sometimes wore the military insignia pre-
sented to him by different organizations.
One of these, a gold circle, inscribed with
the legend, Non NoBIs, SEQ PRO PArR1A,
was driven into his heart by the slug of
the Virginian assassin.
He had great tact and executive talent,
was good mathematician, possessed a
tlne artistic eye, sketcneu wen auu IaPiu~
", and in short bore deft and skill
full hand in all gentemanly exercise.
No one ever possessed greater power
of enforcing the respect and fastening
the affections of men. Strangers soon
recognized and acknowledged this pow
er; while to his friends he Away seemed
like Paladin or Cavalier of the dead
days of romance and beauty. He was
so generous and loyal, so stainless and
brave, Bayar9 himself would have been
proud of him. The grand bead-roll Of
the virtues of the Flower Of Kings con-
tains the principles that guided life; he
used to read with exquisite appreciation
these lines:-
ITO reverence the King as if he were
Their conscience, and their conscience IS
their King
To break the heather and uphold the
| Christ
To ride abroad redressing human wrong
Tc speak no SANDER, no, nor listen to it,
To lead sweet lives in purest chastity
| To q