The Portland daily press., 1875-01-18
Expl0its of a MissOurian in Three Ar.
mics.

A. C. Ellis, Democrat of the old school, is
a lawyer of Carson City. Mr. Ellis, though
man and presenting the appearance OF
beardless 10y, has seen more, suffered more,
and enjoyed more than any man in the West.
His life. if written would be book OF
troubles, misfortunes, vicissitudes, battle
scenes shipwrecks, hair-breadth escapes and
curious adventures, that would pnt to shame
the widest dreams of Sue, Dumas or Hugo.
Still his soul is in arms and eager for the fray.
Mr.. Ellis was born in Rails county, Missouri.
He received liberal education at the Van
Rensselaer, Academy. When the tOcsn OF
war sounded he was studying law i'll the Of
flee of Green Curtiss, in Sacramento. He
Immediately returned home by way of the
isthmus and New Orleans.
At the mouth of the Mississippi he suffered
shipwreck, but his usual good fortune saved
him from watery grave, and he lived to
reach the camp of the famous rebel General,
Sterling Price, where he enlisted in battal-
lion of infantry. He was present at the hot
contest of Springfield, Mo-, and, curiuosly
enough, his battalion was directly in front OF
that terrible German brigade which General
Lyon in person led to death. In the encoun-
ter Ellis received a bayonet wound. which
came near putting an end to his career. At
the siege of Lexington, Mo-, when old Nc
Donald, with his shattered battalions, was
retiring from the earthworks about the An
derson House which he had three times gained
and three times lost, Ellis, with saber drawn
threw himself in front of flying column, land,
uttering a few animating words to his troops,
placed his hat upon his sword and called up
on them to follow him. They obeyed, and
ten minutes after the gallant lieutenant, with
his own hands, planted the ''red, white and
redn upon she coveted redoubt. Old Nc
Donald embraced the boy, and taking from
his own bosom golden cross, that had been
presented to him by lady friends of Hannibal,
he pinned it upon the hero's breast, eXclaim-
irg 81 bestow it upon one who is worthy to
wear it." After the battle was over, a body
ofsoders bore him upon their shoulders to
the headquarters of the commander OF the ar
nv. and demanded that he should be made
General.
Price commissioned him Lieutenant Col
onel. Three days afterward he was captured
by the famous Jesse Benton scouts and sent
beyond Mason and DiXon's line. After
long Imprisonment he escaped and reached
Canada, From some port in that country, he
embarked upon French man-o-war bound
for Vera Cruz. Bazaine was disembarking
his French army, and through the influence
of distinguished southerner, young Ellis re-
ceived an appointment upon the old Mar
shal's staff During one of the engagements
about the City of Mexico, Ellis at the head
OF small body of infantry, was detailed TO
defend bridge. Suddenly he was confron-
ted by a brigade of infatuated MeXicans 5000
strong True to the instincts of great SOL
der, lie formed his troops into square and
withstood the army until Bazaine sent Tru-
sard to his relief
Before the close of the he war he became
favorite of Macmillan, and one of the last
official acts of that unfortunate Emperor was
to confer upon young Missourian the cross OF
the legion of honor. When the great Fran
co-PrHssan war broke out, Ellis again pre-
scented himself at the tent OF his old Marshal
He was assigned to active duty, land took part
in many OF the great battles that were fought
about Metz. In one of them he was badly
wounded. On the day of the surrender of
fortress he escaped, and after innumerable
perils reached Paris. During the siege of the
Capital he served under the American Cen
eral Riply, who recommended him to Marshal
Trochu, and Trochu made him General OF
division. A few days before the surrender
General Ellis. with twelve regmentsse of insan-
try, was ordered &c make a sortle IN the d,
| rection OF strong German work. No sooner
| out of the city than he was assaulted by a
| German army of 10000 men. Trochu Or
dered him to retire. Ellis, forming his men
into square. prepared to receive, aid if pos
sible repulse the army, The contest was ter
rible the French fought like devils, but were
annihilated. The next day Marshal Trochu
tore, with his own hands the decorations
from the MissoUrian's breast and dismissed
him from the army Ellis returned to Cason
City, rented little room, borrowed a copy of
Blackstone and commenced the practice of