The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-06
Funeral of Col. Ellsworth. ...Hfs last
Letter.

The remains Of Col. Ellsworth were
placed on special train in Washing
ton, on Saturday afternoon, which con-
veyed them to Philadelphia, whence
by another train they were carried to
New York, arriving in Jersey City at
an early hour on Sunday morning.
The remains were accompanied by
Lieutenants Stryker and Coates, both
associated with the deceased in connec-
tion with the Chicago Zouaves, Francis
E. Brownell, who avenged his death,
and several others. They were met at
the depot by the Zouave Fund commit
tee who escorted the body to the Astor
House, where it was conveyed to room
No. Al, and laid under canopy draped
in mourning and festooned with red,
white and blue.
The coffin containing the remains of
the lamented soldier was of solid iron,
painted like rosewood, and having a
large oval glass top, extending about
half way from the head. 1t was beau
tifully mounted, and decorated with
wreaths of evergreens, roses and vari-
ETY. of rare flowers, provided by Mrs.
Astor. At the head af the coffin, on
the left hand side of the deceased, was
placed the secession flag which he cap
tured before he was shot, sprinkled
here and there with his blood. On his
right was the American flag. The
coffin was literally covered with flowers.
A black velvet belt, bearing the words,
in raised silver letters" Washington
Zouaves," encircled the coffin towards
the foot.
The deceased soldier was attired in
full uniform, and looked as nearly
natural as possible. His face bore a
calm, tranquil expression. On his left
cheek bone was cut, which appeared
to have been caused by a fall.
The mother and father of Colonel
Ellsworth, with hearts bowed down in
grief, awaited the arrival of the body
of their beloved son in painful anxiety
at the Astor House, and as soon as the
coffin containing the inanimate soldier
was deposited in the room, both parent.
entered and proceeded to hold com
munion with grim death. 1t was /:
scene such as may be witnessed once
in long period of years-deeply af
i fecting, solemn and heartrending. o.
entering, Mrs Ellsworth first kissed th,
cold lips of her departed son; the faith
err followed the example, when ther
followed such wild paroxysms of grie
as only those who have beheld the lik
can realize. -ta
/ AT 9 o'clock appropriate funeral sci
vices were conducted in the same roor
by Rev. A. III. Birmingham, of the Sout
Baptist Church, Twenty Fifth stree
who pronounced an eloquent eulogiur
on the departed. Only select few {
the crowds that besieged the hous
were admitted to the room.
! ! In the course of Mr.. Birmingham
o remarks he read the following lette
the last ever penned by Col. Ellsworth
HEAD-oUARrERs, 1sr ZoUAvEs, CAMP LINCOLN,
WASHINGTON, d. c., May %, 1861.
My DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER :
e The Regiment is ordered to moN
: across the river tonight. We hay
no means of knowing what receptle
we are to meet with. am inclined
the opinion that our entrace to the CT
of of Alexandria will be hotly conteste
e as / am just informed large for
have arrived there to-day. Should tn
happen, my dear parents, it may be n
lot to be injured in some mannt
!" Whatever may happen, cherish t
~ consolation that was engaged in t
:" performance of sacred duty; and |
nioht fh;nlx;nnr ouor the nrnha hilifias