The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-15
COL. ELLSWORTH,
His Death at Alexandria Leaves
From His Diary Before the War

The murder of COL E. E. Ellsworth, the first
Union officer to fall by rebel bullet, was one
of the saddest events of the late rebellion
Ellsworth was but "a years Of age when he was
killed, and had he been spared would have un-
doubtedly risen to high military fame. For
one so young he had displayed soldierly quail
ties akin to genius. In childhood he was a
general among his playmates, and superin-
tended the erection of miniature mud breast
works and terribIe-looking brick-bat forts. As
he grew older he began to make maps OF battle
fields TO plan Notifications, and to study TANKS,
charges and couutercharges. Finally he en-
tered the militia; and, at the mutterings in
the South, placed himself at the head OF the
celebrated New York Fire Zouaves, and with
them came to Washington in April 1851
On the morning of the cath of May he took
his men to Alexandria, Va, to suppress the in-
surgents. The people in that part of Virginia
were mostly loyal TO the Union, and great deli
cacy mad TO be used in sending troops to Alex
andria TO drive out or capture those who were
defying the Government and doing other trea-
sonable things. President Lincoln had kindly
feeling for Ellsworth, having had the young
in his Office al one tine as a law student and
when Ellsworth requested that his ZouaveS be
sent to quell the disturbance at Alexandria,
President Lincoln consented. The President
impressed upon the mind of the young COM
mander the Importance of cautious movement
and the disastrous consequence
IF BLOOD WAS SPILLED
or severe measures resorted to. Ellsworth
vouched for the good behavior of his men, and
dropped down the river toward Alexandria.
When he arrived he was met by an officer from
the rebel gunboat Pawnee, who carried a
white flag. Ellsworth and the Confederate
held conversation, which was understood by
the Union soldiers to be in effect that the city
wished to be placed under a flag of truce. The
Zouaves landed at the foot of Cameron street,
and Ellsworth, accompanied by Chaplain Dodge,
two New York correspondents and guard Of
five men, started up town with the intention of
visiting the telegraph Office. 1t was o'clock
in the morning, and the May sun shone brightly
as the party moved up Cameron street. After
walking a few minutes they turned into King
street and from there proceeded to Royal. As
they rounded the corner of King and Royal
the Marshall House came in view, from the top
of which waved Confederate flag The squad
Of soldiers and newspaper men continued on
their way until they reached the Marshall
House. When opposite the hotel Ellsworth
crossed the street and entered the bar-room. A
man stood behind the counter. Ellsworth asked
for the landlord and he gruffiy replied that he
was not about Ellsworth and his escort then
assembled the stairs and the Confederate flag
was hauled down. As the party were return
ing to the bar-room Capt. Frank E. Brownell,
who was in the lead, observed a brawny fellow
at the bottom of the stairs, gun in hand.
Brownell sprang from the steps and Knocked
the fellows gun down with his own, but before
he could recover the stranger, who was Jack
son, the landlord, raised his weapon and pulled
the trigger. The charge struck Ellsworth di-
rectly above the heart, and he
FELL DEAD ON THE FLOOR,
with the exclamation, "My God!" Jackson
raised his gun again, and as he did so Browneu
shot him dead in his tracks.
The tragic end of the young soldier created a
great deal of indignation throughout the North.
AT President Lincoln's request the body was
taken TO the White House. where funeral SER
vices were held. From Washington it was
taken to New York city, where another funeral
was held at the Astor House. From New York
it was sent to Albany, where it lay in state for
some days. Thence it was tenderly transferred
to Troy, where still other services took place.
after which it was buried at Mechanicsyille,
the home of the hearth broken parents.
Col. Ellsworth would have undoubtedly risen
to high military fame had he lived. Athougha
very young man, he thoroughly understood mil
ltary tactics, and was In every respect finished
soldier. All his waking hours were spent in
the study of military matters, and no problem
was too deep for his acute mind. Upon one oc-
caslon his mother demonstrated with him, tell
ing him that West Point furnished all the Off
GERS necessary, and as the country was at peace
he was evidently wasting his time and talents.
The time is soon coming when the United
States will need all the soldiers it can get" was
his prophetic reply. By his bedside was black
board, and at night when he came upon an idea
that was good he would hastily arise and record
it in chalk TOR use the next day. He wrote a
volume of tactics, invented the Zouave uniform
that bore his name made many improvements
In camp paraphernalia, and was the organizer
of large number OF military companies With
one of the companies which he organized in
h.a ia1 ooi+.
bly, TO drill for a handsome banner and the
championship of the United States, but in
reality TO
STIR UP POPULAR FEELING
and prepare the way for military activity,
which he declared would be necessary in very
short time. His friends now say that he fore
saw the rebellion in the South, and for this
reason was DESTROYS of doing all in his power to
prepare the North for the inevitable.
Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth was born in Sara
tOga County, \. Y, in 1887. He drifted 10
Chicago at an early age, where he Joined a
military company called the National Guard
Cadets.
He had very rigid ideas concerning military
discipline and morality, and was eventually
forced out of the organization. From Chicago
he went to Elgin, ILL.,, and succeeded in estab-
fishing company there. A short time after
ward the Elgin boys entered competitive drill
with the Chicago Cadets and defeated them SO
completely that Ellsworth was invited again
to take command, which he did. The National
Guard Cadets were disbanded later ON, and the
best material i'll the organization Immediately
got together and joined the United States Zou-
ayes. So thoroughly did he drill his men that
his fame spread throughout Illinois, and he
was solicited to drill the officers Of the State
militia, and by invitation
VISITED WEST POINT.
1t was in the early part of 1860 that Ellsworth
and his Z9uaves made their tour of the United
States. They created wonderful interest in
military matters, and organizations sprang up
in every quarter.
When they returned to Chicago Ellsworth
met Abraham Lincoln, who was then a candi-
date for the Presidency, for the first time. Ellis
worth had been reading law, and so great was
Lincoln's inclination toward the young man
that he requested him to go to Springfield to
finish his studies. Ellsworth accepted the
proposition, and later Oh entered Lincoln's law
Office. During the campaign he took the stump
and pleaded the cause OF his benefactor and
when the new President started for Washing
ton to accept the honor TO which he had been
elected Ellsworth accompanied him. The war
came on, and Lincoln called for 70 600 men,
Ellsworth was in New York city few hours
after the cali, and in two hours had collected
1900 firemen from the different engine houses
who wished 10 go to the front From the num-
Der he picked out enough for regiment and
took them 10 Washington, where they were
encamped until they moved On Alexandria, as
detailed above. Such in brief was the wonder
fnl life and tragic death N