, 1861-05-25
Col. E. T., Ellsworth

throughout the 1oJl States will be hailed,
viii be dsmpened In Thousands OF hearts
by the intelligence that this movement
has cost the Life Of COLONEL E. E. Ellis
WORTH, formerly of this city, and since
| widely knaFu aa the commander Of the New
York regiment Of Fire Zousves, who met his
fate a Is detai1cd by dispatch from our
+ special Washington correspondent in another
| column Of this iesue
Although at tie time Of his death
brfllsntly, fs:oclated With the military
Of another city, our own citizens feel
| au interest in The fame and mourn
the early decease Of one who was for several
years resident Of Chicago, and who won for
himself \ national reputation, In connection
With our own soldiery, ~ the founder and
commander Of the Chicago ZouaYes.
4. E. Ellsworth was native Of Mechanics
vile, Saratoga county, New York, where bis
parents still reside He was at the time Of
hls death about 23 years Of age. He came to
Chicago in 1856, In nnrrow circumstances, aud
with no capital but an iudetatigahle Will to
succeed. His talents were not those that wtn
| their greatest SUCCESS In buBtness career,
however, and though he for time WIS en-
gaged in the sale Of Patent Rights, 1t WAS un-
| fitted to him and was abandoned His genius
Eas of the military stamp, and strongly
] marked. Previous to his residence In Chi
cago, while mere youth, he had been honor
ably associated DC with an Al92h, military corps
as its drill officer.
Very early In his residence in this State he
became connected with military matters. The
Zouave Cadets were first organized tn the
Spring Of 1850, aud first began their drill with
fifteen members. With this company this
young ofaeer developed and made practical
asyEtem Of tactics that Will ever be associated
with his name+ It should be considered at
what low ebb long protected peace had
left our nilitia system, throughout oil our
communities. The arts Of peace had flourish
ed well nigh to the extinction Of the military
spirit, Drill rooms were deserted, tbs armo-
ries Of our citizen soldiery were bur1esque
On tie name.
Could It have been foresecn that SO short
hpse Of time would have brought tho late call
to arms, no more substantial preparatory SER
vice could have been rendered to the country
than that which now is sadly proven to hare
been the Life work Of Col Ellsworth. Tho
history Of the Chicago Zouaves was new
page in military annals. The patience and
zsal with which, through long months Of
daily evening drill the young commander md
Lis men wrought themselves up to perfection
in their manaal, the Spartan rules they
cheerfully incorporated into their regime,
their brilliant parades, all eliminating in the
Triumphant ovation which followed them in
their tour through Eastern cities, constituted
new era, and secured justly shining repu-
tation for the founder Of the new Zouave 6ys-
ten.
It Is memorable that among the most de-
lighted spectators Of their precise and mar
rellous accuracy Of drill were veteran army
officers, not ordinarily too ready to accord
prsa1e to citizen soldiers. But the triumph
was universal, and West Point Wed in praises
with the tlroaged audiences Of the New York
Academy Of Music war veterans at Washing
ton were equally delighted with the less pro-
fessional thoueands who ehoncred laudations
on the ZouaVes.
Underlying MI this perfection Of drill, was
feature, made its important adjunct, which
waa even more praiseworthy. Col Ellsworth
saw and placed his stamp Of disapproyal upon
the ordiEary vices Of the driu-room. Abste-
mlous himself he made 1t a first requisite with
his ZouaTes to let strong drink alone. Their
uniforms were never Been In saloons, nor were
the evils aud vices Of the latter traasp1anted
to their armory. They were taught and hero
ically practiced tho first virtue OF conquerfng
themselves. So while their drill developed
muscularity, the foundation principle Of the
new system made the mind keep pace with
bodily Development by thus leaving It free and
clear to the practice Of the whole duty Of the
to1dier.
Other military companies had taken long
expeditions, and in the fe.sting aud fetiug and
dissipation found their seyerest physical tax.
The Chicago zonaves upon their tour, lived
abstemiously, drilled severely with q. brilliant
success everywhere, and found their most lux
uriant couches upon their blankets In the
drill-1ooms they made their temporary bar.
racks In the cities visited. We recall these
matters, as honorable and glorious in the fame
Of the young soldier the f1rst victim to the
rancoro1ts hate Of rebel Virginia. We recall
them that our readers may note how rapidly
their rceults eprang up along the line of the
zouage expedition, aud In cities where only
their fame extended.
The SIX months following. their tour ssu
hundreds Of military companies founded and
revived throughout tho North, modelling
wholly or in part after the system of the CHI
cago Zouayes, whose light dashing move
ments On parade, and whose precision In the
manual constituted them worthy example Of
all that wns soldieriy. Shortly after their re-.
turn to this city tbs zouages formally dlsband-
I'd. They were young men whose life duties
were not then apparently in the career Of the
soldier. That their lessons were not lost upon
them ii attested By the fact that recent events
hare proven their corps MAS valuable school
hare, and since tho War opened, been called as
officers to employ In drilling Others the
tactics they SO faithfully and notably learned.
Several Of them are with the New York Fire
Zoua7ea, Others are connected with new Zou-
ere companies in this and other States. A
little treatise by Col. Ellsworth clearly and
well presenting bis Manual Of Arms," was
published in this city few months since and
has favorable rank among treatises Of sim.
liar character.
Col EllsWoHh's services to our State MILL
tia system were In 1850 acknowledged BY his
appointment as Paymaster General Of the H.
1inols State Militia, he resided for several
months in Springfield, and not then destgring
to enter fully upon a military career, com
menced his readings as student in the law
office Of Mr. Lincoln. Subsequent to hi.
Lfncoln's election to the Presidency, Col
Ellsworth wRs prominently associated in
efforts to amend and reyirHy our nearly ex-
ttnct militia system. The bill prepared by
him failed to become law, but Its chief fea.
tnres were highly spoken Of BY military au-
thoriues.
Col. Ellsworth Was one Of the suito accom-
panying the President elect to Washington,
where he remained up to the time Of his
death, ave during the brief period which WIS
all That was requisite, such Has his reputation,
to rally about him the gallant Fireman Of
New York. In the Interim he had declined
to accept q usutenant's commission In the
Army. Believing that war WIS to be tho
result Of the disturbances Of the country, the
plan Of the regiment he led to Washington
WIS one which to the writer's own knowledge
Col. Ellsworth had entertained for come tina
previous to tts actuxl enrolment. ut IL
there" said he,," I shall look for my regiment
when tho time co1nea."
The time came and found Col Ellsworth In
the position he had coveted, held all too