The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-05-29

On FRIDAY morning last, Col. Ellsworth
OF the New York Fire Zouaves, was shot in
the breast by rebel resident Of Alexandria,
Va, and died instantly. The circumstan.
Co.'S OF his death were as follows: About
midnight ofThursday, the government made
rapid descent upon that part Of Virginia
comm' nding the approach to Washington
The N. Y. Fire Zouavcs with some four o,
live oth,r regiments were detailed to take
Alexandria. The city was entered about
daybreak, without much opposition-the
rebels firing and rctrcating Subsequently
the commander Of the expedition directed
that detachment Of Zouavss should take
possession Of the telegraph office, and Col.
Ellsworth with a squad of his men proceed.
ed up the street to accomplish the Job. On
the way, noticing secession flag flying
from ncighboring housctop, with reck.
lessncss that bordcred upon bravado, he left
his men in the street, and with a solitary
companion brok: into the house, made his
way to the roof, hauled the flag down, and
with it wrapped about his person was dcs-
cending when he was met by the propric-
tor Of the house, who shot him down and
was instantly shot in turn by Ellsworths
companion. The young Colonel uttcring
the words my God!' fell and instantly ex-
PRED.
Col. Ellsworth, the first officer and the
first representative of the Northwest, who
has been killed In the presch. war, was
graduate Of West Point, and young man
Of fair promise. With good personal ad.
dress, and dash Of the chivalric, he natu-
rally attached himself to the young compa.
ny Of Zouavcs in Chicago, and after brief
but evcntful tour through several Of the cast
crn cities, became somewhat famous. Short
~ after the return ofthis expedition, he an.
nounced his intention Of retiring from the
military profession, and with this intent
went to Springfield, Illinois, to study law
with Hon. Abraham Lincoln. Had it not
been for the election of Mr.. Lincoln to the
Presidency Of this Republic and the domcs.
tic difficulties which broke out at the same
time, Mr.. Ellsworth would undoubtedly
have become very respectable member of
the legal profession and fought no other bat
ties than those engaged in by the disciples
of Coke and blackstone before jury Of
their peers, or the arbitramcnt Of grave and
substantial (Aldermanic) judges.
When Mr.. Lincoln went to Washington,
Mr.. Ellsworth-who may truly be said to
have been a pet Of the Prcsidcnt-acconpa
MED him, and was afterwards, offered the
Colonelcy Of the N. Y. Fire Zouave Rcgi-
mcnt. His career soon closed.
Attributing the best motives to the step
which resulted in our young hero's death,
we must regard it as very rash act, justi-
fed by no circumstances. 1t was proper
that Col. E. should have headed the SQUAD
detailed to take the telegraph Office, if he
so desired, but that he should stop in the
performance Of that duty to break into
private house at that unreasonable hour to
pull down flag, few, we imagine, will ad.
nit. 1t does not even appear that he called
on the man of the house to surrender and
lower his colors-a step which the code Of
war provides; the provocation was there
fore deep, and we regard it as the most nat
ural thing in the world that he should have
been shot by the hot FLOODED Southron.-
Dashing, impetuous, brave, this unfortunate
young man Of seven and twenty had not the
sagacity, coolness and genius essential
for regimental officer, and while we mourn
his fate, we cannot but regard the character
of tn, action in which he met his death, as
one which would reflect no credit upon any
field officer. How much more glorious his
death, had he died upon the field with the
enemy's standard in his grasp.
Much as we regret to write an article of
this kind, rejecting upon the dead, the in.
fucnce of such indscrctions upon our
young and impctuous volunteers, must be
countcractcd. The government has right
to the best services Of her soldicry, and he
who goes out of the path of duty to court
death, he he officer or soldier, is not the
best friend of his country.
The Flag.
On Thursday next tomorrow the
UNITED STATES FLAG will be raised on the
Public Square at McGregor with appropri-
ate ceremonies. The Staff will be 10 feet