, 1885-11-15
COL. ELLSWORTH.
A Talk With One Who Was His
Friend and Roommate.
Some Interesting Things About His
Chicago Life.

O'fSNbo wv
Late last night, while a LEADEE re-
porter was around in search of the agile
paragraph, he accidentally fell into con
versation with Capt. w. I. Roath, the
night clerk at the Inter Ocean hotel, con-
corning Col. Elmer Il. Ellsworth, the
commander of a Zouave regiment, who
was killed at Alexandria, Va, by a hotel
proprietor named jackson while Ellsworth
was in the act of taking down a confeder
ate flag which jackson had hung out over
his hotel.
Capt. Roath was a member OF the Chi
cago cadets before the war, and through
lack Of discipline, interest, etc, the COM
pany had run down to almost nothing. A
few of the men who wanted to sec the
company brought back to its former high
standard, consulted as to what was best to
be done, and some one suggested that
they elect Ellsworth captain. Ellsworth
had come to Chicago from New York
state with nothing. He was barely of
age, and his parents who were very poor
had nothing to give him. He was a book
keeper, and did a little work of that kind
that he could get, and being quite Il live
ly writer furnished an occasional article
to the newspapers, which he was paid for,
and in this precarious way managed to
exist. He was, however, clear gone on
military, and always wore a semi-military
dress On one Fourth of July, there be-
ing no celebration OF the day in Chicago,
Ellsworth put on a brilliant uniform-he
had been made a major of militia-and
mounting a fine horse paraded the streets
alone. Capt. Roath says
The boys took a fancy to him and
helped him along. He had pluck, en-
ergy and brass, never drank any kind of
liquor or used tobacco in any form, and
although having nothing to do he was
always in a hurry. He would rush into a
hotel, look over the register and rush out,
the busiest man in Chicago, apparently,
and was never seen loafng. Many of
the young men around town followed his
style of dress. He knew Hardee and
Scott by heart. In 1858 the Chicago
cadets had run down to fifteen men. They
had a meeting in the Highland Guards
armory to see what could be done. Joe
Scott. afterwards colonel in an Illinois
regiment, had resigned tho captaincy of
the company, and the organization was
about to 20 to pieces, when Ellsworth's
name was proposed. About this time
Ellsworth was being run down. He was
present and was anxious to take charge of
the company. He made a few remarks,
saying there had been structures upon his
character made by his enemies and COM
pared them to the ripples on the ocean,
which, if unchecked, would soon be waves
and engulph one in their depths. He
was elected and took command of the
cadets on April 10, 1858, and in six
months from that time he had secured
the Chicago Light Guard armory with
drill room, reading and reception room, etc.
in fact, one of the best appointed armories
in the west, and marched into it with
ninety muskets, Then the company's
anne was changed to the Ellsworth Chi
cago Zouaves, and he commenced drilling
the first company in that drill in the
United States, Ellsworth lived in the
armory aud was all the time drilling his
men in squa Is of two, ten or twenty.
How he lived at this time was a mystery
to many. After drill, which sometimes last
ed till II O'Clock, he would at that time
of night write and figure up some book
accounts for n merchant, thereby earning
a dollar or two. He was so proud that he
would not accept a favor for fear of being
called a beggar. The first exhibition drill
given by the Ellsworth Zouaves was in
front Of the fremont house, July 4, 1859.
Ellsworth had learned the Zouave drill
from an old French soldier who was in the
Crimean war, and whom he had stumbled
across on the north side. Ellsworth
was naturally very impulsive, and what
he attempted, he was bound il possible,
to carry through. He was very strict
with his company, and at a parade rest
would not allow one OF his men to move
until the order was given.
when he got a start he went all
night p queried the reporter.
Yes indeed, was Capt Roath's re-
ply. In a little while Ellsworth was
known only as "Commandant; the com
pany was composed of young men from
the highest social circles of Chicago. and
the drill Of the company was something
wonderful. 1t was very pleasant to see
the immense company out on moonlight
nights marching down street all whist
ling the Milwaukee Light Guard Quick
step, and keeping time to its music. The
great feature of the Ellsworth exhibition
drills in those days was the silent or drum
tap dill, which was new then
"Of course the company had great
social times p
We'll, | should remark. Ellsworth
was a great admirer Of women, but he
didn't take time to bother with them
much, and yet hundreds Of them were
gone on him. The salary paid HIM by
the company was an excellent one, and he
dressed elegantly. He was rather good