The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-02
THE BOY MARTYR.
FIRST VICTIM OF THE WAR
AN INCIPENT BONAPARTE.

commenting on the recent dedication of
monument to Colonel Ellsworth, the New
York Tribune adds a bit to the few facts
known of the impetuous soldier whose fate
was decided so early. The points touched
indicate the authorship Of Col. John Hay,
whose position as private secretary to Lin
coin and as student in the late presidents
Office at Springfield, Illinois. brought him
into close contact with the young man
whose memory was honored at Mechanics
Vile yesterday. The Tribune thinks that if
Napoleon had been killed at the siege of
Toulon his history would not have been
unlike that of the boy.colonel OF
the Fire Zouaves. In his boyhood
and early youth Bonaparte showed
many OF the same traits of character
which gained for Ellsworth the devoted at
tachment the bitter antipathy of every
one who came in contact with him. Both
had the same rugged strength IN a diminu-
tive physique; the same absorbing passion
for arms and contempt fol- everything else;
the same imperious force Of will and arro-
CANT self-conceit. and the same bonndless
and ardent ambition. Bonapare never
doubted for an instant that he was to con-
quer and govern the world. Ellsworth,
when he was a lawyers clerk living on a dol
lar week, eating dried bread when he had
it and going hungry when he bad spent his
moneyfor bOoks,peOpled his garrett with mag
nificent dreams. Before he was twenty he
had plan for the conquest of Mexico and
the annexation of Central America. He in
tended to be secretary of war for the pur-
pose of organizing the militia of the United
States, but finding that with the present
laws the executive could not manage it, he
proposed TO be Senator first, so as to ini-
tiate the necessary legislation. and with that
IA QntQrad IincOln'a
cause Lincoln was the leading lawyer and
politician of Illinois. He came with the
president to Washington, wanting to be
chief clerk in the war department., but while
he was waiting the war broke out and there
was no place for him but in the field. In an
incredibly short space of time he raised his
extraordinary regiment, gave 1t some SEM
blance of drill aud discipline, and was killed
before he had a chance to show what was in
| him as a soldier. But if the report OF his
intimate friends can be trusted, he was a
| man of singular power. Entirely unedu-
Gated he had the speech, the manners, the
address of a man of the world. He was
| a fluent and graceful speaker He wrote with
| instructive force and clearness. his strength
was apparently inexhaustible; he was
known sometimes to work twenty-four
hours at once and appear on parade as fresh
as ever. His mere voice had more influence
on a crowd than a polieemsn's badge: and
| club. When Willard's Hotel took fire in
Washington, he snatehed the trumpet away
from a laggard foreman, and his orders
were obeyed without question. He was a
boy, every inch of him; no old head on
young shoulders; but head and heart and
blood all full of the fire, esgerness strength,
and weak ness of youth. The speaker to-
day will waste good deal OF time in dis
cussing the question whether lie met his
death wisely or recklessly. II it was as
many say, yielding to boyish temptation
80 NIT HI L. IL
rebel flag in sight of Washington, which he
had often seen from the White House win
dows, the fault appears a venial one. II
needs no explanation or apology; it was q
perfectly natural act in q soldier of his
4 years. And if we may accept the estimate
which some OF his friends place upon him
we snail have small reason to regret his
early death. His example called into the
service thousands of ardent youths; while
if he had lived and gained the prominence
which his own abilities and the favor of the
president would have given him, we should
have had among US now man of tremen
dous prestige and force, who was so muci
of soldier that he could never have been
genuine American citizen.
THE AvENGER" SPEAKS.
Lieutenant Brownell. who shot the ruffiar
who had assassinated Ellsworth, said at thu
unwilling of the monument: 1t has otter
been charged, even by those who intended {,
honor Ellsworth, that he lost his life Will
committing a very rash and reckless action
and some military men, inspired perhaps b,
. not the most lsudible of motives, nave In
situated that the young soldier lacked tn
very principle which he always exacted from
others-discipline and obedience to orders
To me it is plain that he sacrificed his life il
the endeavor to preserve order and enforc
discipline. The history of the formation O
his regiment-Of the unexampled feat &C
complshed in its rapid organization aut
equipment-the difficulties he encounters
and the obstacles placed in his way by thos
who looked with jealous eye upon hi
achievement-0f the discouragements, vex
atoms and annoysnces of the few days spen
in Washington prior to the fatal morn
ing Of the oath of May, 1861. will SHOW
, the groundlessness of the charge
He then goes on to show how Ellsworth, un
aided. raised ], 200 firemen and, after grea
impediments from the state authorities
threw his regiment into Washington City
, Here there was considerable doubts as to tn
, discipline Of his forces, and his actor
throughout was based on his desire to hav
} his men kept from all temptation to lawless
T ness and insubordination.
THE TRAGEDY AT ALEXANDRIA.
Drills were undertaken, discipline enforced
Now came rumors of an intended invasion
Of the sacred soil. Ellsworth knew tina
once in the field he could more readily com
: pei obedience and make soldiers of his mel
than he could in the vicinity OF the democrat
} lied capital of Washington. Ellsworth
asked to be sent into Virginia the citizens o
Alexandria, held upon parole by the gum
of the Pawnee, requested that if their towr
was to be occupied, the fire Zouaves SHOULD
! not be sent among them. Ellsworth wa
told that he might go on one condition, viz
that if any breaches of discipline or behavior
occurred the regiment should be mustered
out OF service. To many here presen
to-day such contingency would seen
slight; you who were in the ser
J vice at that time and fully appreciate the
term, will agree with me when say tina
J Ellsworth might better have been mustered
Eout, If possible, hundred times by tn,
angel Of death than have the threatened dis
grace put upon him. Up to day before we
left for Alexandria we had never received