The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-13

sabres and ordnance TO glitter with reflected
flashes along the compact masses OF soldery
moving forward TO the ominous accompaniment
of clashing sabres and rumbling cannon. The
Ellsworth Zouaves crossed to the Virginia shore
by steamer. They disembarked in the darkness
just before dawn
Eat daybreak Colonel Ellsworth ordered a
squad detailed from Company A, to proceed up
into the town of Alexandria and cut the tele-
graph wires There were eight, all told, in the
party, including the Colonel, the chaplain of the
regiment and newspaper correspondent They
marched right up the principal street OF the
town Colonel Ellsworth was the first perhaps,
to espy the rebel flag floating from the Marshall
House. He said nothing until the squad had
gone fully block past the hotel. Then no or
dered the men to right about face, and marched
back to the house over which the insulting en-
blem foated. AS the soldiers entered the house
they encountered a man in his shirt-sleeves He
seemed excited, more from fear than anything
else. Colonel Ellsworth demanded Who hoist
ed that fagP
"'I don't know said the man; Il am only a
boarder here
1.-THE soldiers marched up the stairs. The
house was an old fashioned brick, two stories
high. and with an attic from which dormer win
dows led out upon the roof Colonel Ellsworth
borrowed knife from one of the men named
Wisner, mounted to the roof and cut down the
flag. Then the return to the street was begun
My brother, Frank Z. Browneli. led the way,
Colonel Ellsworth followed with the flag in his
hand, ard behind him the newspaper correspond
emit
'As my brother reached the landing on the
stairs bstwean the second and third stories the
same man whom they had encountered when
they entered the house rushed from room near
the stairway He held double barreled shot
Colonel Ellsworth. My brother was armed
with an old-fashioned Springfield rifle,
with sword .bsyonst fixed on the end
OF it: His weapon was too long to handle
quickly. He stepped back, threw down his
gun on the assassin, and as the latter discharged
the deadly contents into the breast OF Colonel
Ellsworth shot him through the center of the
face. Brother Frank did not know, In the ex
element, whether he had hit the man or not,
and Immediately after firing the shot drove his
sword -bayonet through the mans (Jackson'sl
body, pushing him down the remaining section
of the stairway. The death of both mon was
iustan taneous Colonel Ellsworth fell forward
on his face, flooding the floor with his blood.
jackson, his assassin fell at the foot of the
stairs on his back as soon as the bayonet was
withdrawn from his body. Colonel Ellsworth
remains were laid out on bed in one Of the
rooms of the house in which he was murdered.
His death did more to enkinde patriotism and
swell the voluntary enlstmentS in the North
words of the telegram my brother sent home on
the occasion Of his killing jackson. The mes.
sage was short. It read:
Father: Colonel Ellsworth was shot dead this morn
ing. killed his murderer
MANY have blamed Colonel Ellsworth for
rashness and righteousness in tearing down the
rebel flag. My brother believes be had in mind
his promise to the President He feared his
men. seeing tho emblem OF disloyalty floating
above the Marshall House, might be frenzied
into committing acts of destruction. He re-
traced his steps with the purpose OF removing
the aggravating symbol of rebellion. The gal
liant martyr sleeps at fredericksburg. His blood
stained uniform, the rebel flag he tore from the
Marshal House, and the shotgun Of jackson are.
think, inclosed in glass case in the Capitol at