The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-01-27
Ellsworth.

not to say, great men. In the fOrma.
tive period of our history there were
such master-builders us Washington,
Adams, and Jefferson. And in the
peace that followed that stormy pc.
Rod we read such names as Webster,
Clay. Irving, and Bryant. And it is
rs these names are pronounced, that
Il panorama of the times in which
they lived comes up before us.
AS we turn to the Rebellion, a host
Of men come to mind, who are noted,
not always for rank, but for bravery
and true merit displayed in securing
and maintaining their positions of
trust.
Col. Ellsworth is Il character worthy
of our study, not on account of his
pure and noble life. The bOyhOOd of
this man was not passed in wealth
and luxury, but on the contrary he
seems to have learned early that life
is serious thing. He was yet very
young when he left his home in New
York and removed to Chicago, where
he began the study ef law, and in
pursuing his studies. as well as in his
business, he was remarkable for his
perseverance and great endurance.
He spent in hard work those hours
which many devote to recreation;
and while other young men of his
age were taking their meals ut the
fashionable hotel or club, Ellsworth
purchased his daily loaf of the baker.
But poverty had not power to con.
quer the spirit of the man whose in.
dustry and honor made him certain
Of success. III would receive no
favors from others which he could
not return, and without following in
detail the busy life of Ellsworth, let
us note some of the principal points
IF interest.
Just previous to the Rebellion we
ind him studying on the problem of
national defense, and devOting to it
I'll his talent and energy. The way
in which he carried out his plans is
here worthy of notice. He did not
lsk aid of individuals or the gov.
eminent He kept his theories to
himself, but worked necessarily in
his own room. 1t is said of him that
he practiced the manual of arms un.
til his dextcrOuS precision was some.
thing akin to the sleight of a juggler.
And it is also stated that "he studied
The science of fence until he could
hold rapier with the most dashing
of the Algerine swOrdsmen. He
lid not stop here; he organized com.
panies of men, and demonstrated that
his theories were not idle dreams.
In person, Ellsworth is represented
rs havinga compact and commanding
| figure. his head crowned with cur
ling black hair, and having bright,
hazel eye-the eye of Il gentleman as
well us Il soldier; his voice was deep
and musical. No one ever possessed
greater power of enforcing the re
spect and retaining the affections of
men. lie impressed them with his
own purity of life. LicentiOHsness
and intemperdnce was not tolerated in
the ranks.
Such IL man was Ellsworth; earnest,
active, pure, and noble. 1t is not
strange then that such Il man was
among the first to see indications of
the coming contest. And the guns
that were fired on Sumptcr, awOke all
the youthful and fiery patriotism of
his nature, and the outlook showed
that the country needed strong arms
and brave hearts.
| In short time Ellsworth had or.
ganiZed a regiment composed of the
best material for fighting. He be.
came the idol of the city; but the
gentlemanly soldier could not be
spoiled by hattery in those dark days
of 81. The regiment was ordered to
the front without delay, and very
early on the morning of the oath OF
May, Ellsworth occupied Alexandria,
on which rebel flag flOated
The impetuous officer with his own
hand tore the hated emblem of seces-
sion from the staff, and in its place
flung out the stars and stripes to the
morning breeze. The world knows
the rest. But moment more and
the brave young life is taken away
by the bullet of an assassin. He fell
in the very outset Of the struggle,
but he lived long enough to show to
the world that he was man whom
flattery could not spoil, nor the tempt
ations of army life corrupt; long
enough to leave behind him a noble