Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-24
THE WAR BEGUN IN EARNEST
A MIDNIGHT MARCH.
Movement Upon Alexandria and the
Virginia Heights.
Brutal Assassination Of Col
Ellsworth I'm Alexandria.
A SWIFT AND TERRIBLE RETRIBUTIoN

Last night was stirring one indeed. Through
the day and evening the reports Of contem plated
military movements kept the populace on the qni
rlrs to which excitement fresh fue! was added on
its being whispered that various Regiments had
been ordered to prepare for immediate service;
the words dropped also by Gen. Thomas at the
Seventh Regiment camp that the storm was about
to burst, indicated that decisive move was to be
taken. The general idea among the troops was
that an advance was to be made into Virginia.
bat nobody seemed to be posted as to the exact
purposes entertained at headquarters
At IL O'Clock we pushed of for the Long Bridge
to see what was developing Whereabouts We
found the vigilant sentries Of the Washington
Light Infantry Company Az posted some distance
up Maryland avenue, and portion Of the same
company stationed somewhat lower down. A
squad OF the Infantry had also been detailed to
point near the monument, to keep an eye on any
boats going out Of the canal Near the brid ge
and on the bridge were the Infantry, a Company
Of Rhode Islanders, Masac b usetts com pany a
U. s. cavalry company, a company of U. aftil-
lerv 1.-TWO piecss), the Putnam Rifles, the Turner
Rides, National Rifles, Metropolitan Rifles, and
Company Union Volunteers; while Company f.
Washington Light Infantry Captain Powt!l's
Zouaves) and the Constitutional Guards OCCUPIED
| the Virginia end of the bridge
full moon looked peacefully down, and per-
iect quiet reigned on all the neighboring shores
| But this was to give place very speedily to more
stirring movements.
Somewhat after midnight, Capt Smead's com.
pany, the National Rifles, and Capt. Powcll's
| neig hborhood of Roche's Spring. Scouts were
| sent out In all directions, who managed To Oct
past the line of the Virginia pickets Somewhat
later, the virginia pckets, getting the alarm, set
spurs to their horses and scurried down the road
| towards Alexandria in hot haste.
| Inc constitutional Guard, Capt. Degges, about
| 30 strong, Were on duty over the bridge, Col.
| Stone Of the ID. G.. Volunteers went to them and
asked IL they had any objections to 90 beyond the
l District, as they were very close to Alexandria
| The men answered unanimosusly in favor of 90.
| ing anywhere; and they were accordingly ad.
| vanced along the road, and through the country
| down as FAR as the four mile run. The Virginia
piquet guard stationed near ROach's spring, ran,
and about an hour after the alarm bells were rung
| In Alexandra.
| This morning, at . a m In pursuance of orders
previously given and rumored over WASHINGTON
| on which we were not at liberty to comment YES.
| terday, although within our knowledge, a large
| this city and It's neig hborh hood into Virginia.
| Ellsworths Zouaves, In two steamers. with the
| steamer James Guy Us accompanying tender lief,
| their camp on the Eastern Branch, and made di.
| rectiy ~: Alexandria by water. The Michigan
| Regiment under Col. Wilcox, accompanied by
| detachment Of L. ) cavalry and two pieces Of
| Sherman's battery, under command Of 1t Ran.
som, proceeded Dy way Of the Long Bridge d.
/ rect for Alexandria
The Seventh New York Regiment halted under
| orders at Hugh Tavern, at the Virginia end OF
the Long Bridge; the Second New Jersey Reoi.
| ment is at Roach's Spring, half mile from the
| end OF the Bridge; the New York Twenty ffth
1 and one Cavalry company, and the New York
| Twelfth, and the Third and Fourth New Jersey
Regiments proceeded to The right after crossin z
the Bridge, for the occupation Of the Heights OF
Arlington. They were joined by other troops
which crossed at the Georgetown Aqueduct
i Att O'Clock m, at about the same moment
he LAM nl
ers, and the troops before named who proceeded
/ by the bridge reached that town As the steam
ers drew up near the wharf armed boats left the
pawnee, whose crews leaped upon the wharves
just before the Zouaves reached terra frp1a The
crews Of the Pawnee's boats were fred upon nv
the few disunion sen,ries as the DO "a left the
steamship, by way Of giving the alarm, when
these sentries instantly fed back into the town
as FAST rs their legs could carry them. Their fire
was ANSWERED. by impromptu shots from some of
the Zouaves on the decks of the steamers bearino
them; immediately OH landing Col. Ellsworth
marched the Zouaves up into the center of the
town, no resistance to their progress whatever
being offered
Thus quiet possession was taken of that mart Of
Alexandria In the name of the United states by
the portion of the troops immediately commanded
by Col. Ellsworth
Those commanded by Col. Wilcox, at about
the same moment, as explained above marched
into the town by the extension of the Washington
turnpike, the cavalry and artillery MARCHING I'm
two or three streets below. The destination OF
both these detachmsnts was the depot of the
orange and Alexandria railroad, which they in
stanuy 9eiZed- They also found near NV at
Burch d Cook 8 negro pen, disunion COMPANY
II cavalry, commanded by Capt Ball thirty
hVe men and as many horses,) who were made
Of the sentries below
Everything found at tha depot In the WAY n,
rolling stock, etc, is Of course In the hands Of the
Government troops holding II.
Proceeding up town, Col. Ellsworth s,u +,
secession nag waving over the Marshall House
kept by James Jackson, a well known secession
list Instantly entering the house, with four or
hve OF bis men, Col Ellsworth proceeded to ths
under foot -
In descending the stairs the party were encoun.
tered by the keeper Of the house, double barrel
gun In hand be raised the gun to shoot tie fore
most Zouave, who knocked aside his aim when
Jackson instantly turned 1t upon Col Ellsworth.
md firing. disc hare ed the load Of one barrel into
the heart OF that gallant officer, who fell I'D upon
the stairs jackson squickiy pped the other bar
rel at ZouaVe standing next 10 Col Ellsworth
where private Brownell, another of the Zousvas
accom- anyine Ellsworth 10 take down the ffap'
discharged the contents Of hs musk et into Let
sons brain, bayoneting his body as he fell min.
ming II 10 the steps There IL laid up to IN .
under quad Of Zouaves, who will permit NO
one to remove 1t.
The news Of the assassination of Col -
Ellsworth reached this city at an early bour IN.
morning, and created much excitement here
though not at first believed generally. At a
iatci uooT ~ was conDTH'Q, ana at ten O'Clock
the tolling OF the bell of the franklin Fire Co.
announced the confirmation, and orders were
given to half. the flag Of the Company.
At four O'Clock this morning a large humber NJ
government wagons went across the Long Brdoe
loaded with picks, shovels and ali manner ~
tools OF that desert ption, and ACCOMPANIED with a
full corps Of carpenters and werkmen The U q
forces are now busily engaged throwing up forti
ncations on the heights on the Virginia shore
commencing at day break.
COL. KLLswoRTH's BODY BROUGHT TO wxsB1Na.
TON.
The steamer James Guy has arrived at the
Navy Yard bringing the body Of Col Ellsworth
In charge OF six Zouaves. The wildcat grief ~
exhibited by tie Zouaves, who fairly doat.d
upon Col. Ellsworth. One Of the escort, the man
who shot jackson, fairly bit his lip through to
keep from crying audibly.
FURTHER PARTICULARS
From Mr. Reed, correspondent Of the New
York "W orld, T" and Surgeon of the Zouave r col.
ment, we have the following particulars OF IN.
entree Of that Regiment into Alexandria:
Immediately on landing, the Zouayes marched
up into the center Of the town 10 the cty ,ostafS
upon which they Immediately hoisted the Amer,
lean nag. Col. Ellsworth then marched with =
portion OF bis command to the telegraph ofice
u he aaf ID 1f,A n n