Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-18
HOW ELLSWORTH FELL
The Story Of One Of the First Thrilling
Tragedies OF the War

The Story Of One Of the First Thrilling
Tragedies Of the War.
YNHE NEW YORK FIRE ZoUAyES. UNDER
- the command Of the lamented Ellsworth.
having CHARTERED in the Capitol and csmped in
the insane Asylum grounds, were in MAY. 1861,
In their third location-encamped at Giesboro
Point (now known as City View. Col. Els
worth had made himself q name as the COM
mander Of the Chicago Zouaves. who made a
tour Of the country the year before and had
come on with Mr.. Lincoln and party before the
Inauguration. From that time to the 18th OF
May, when he resigned . position in the War
Department to raise the zouaves, having de-
clined the command Of the Washington
Zouaves company E., WILL, which had
been kept open for him. he gave his
services a. drill master to that command.
1t was on May Is that orders went out to the
commands then in and about the city to be in
readiness to move at midnight and for some
reason the Fire Zouaves were not notified. Col.
Ellsworth went to the President and asked that
his regiment be included. At IL o'clock at
night the regiment was formed and Col Els
worth addressed his men, stating that move
ment was to be made, and urged them to do
nothing to shame the regiment; to treat all
WIN kindness ana use no violence: to kill them
with kindness. and. no matter what might hap
pen, not TO fire . shot without orders. The
regiment was dismissed till O'Clock and during
the interval Coz Ellsworth wrote two letters,
one to bis parents and one to his afianced. In
that to his parents he says: 1T may be my lot
to be injured in some manner. Whatever may
happen cherish the consolation that Was en-
gagged IN the performance OF q sacred duty, and
tonight, thinking Of the probabilities of the
morrow and the occurrences OF thS past, am
perfectly content to accept whatever my for
confident hat He no
even to the fall OF q sparrow will have some
purpose even in the fall OF one like me-
The regiment embarked at o'clock a. nigh.
on the steamers Baltimore and Mt Vernon 1.-TWO
Of the Southern Mail line steamers seized by
orders Of Gen. Scott by company A. Washing
ton Light Infantry, ON April IS, which had
come down from the navy yard. Col Els
worth and Col Wilcox, who was to approach
by land over the Long bridge, were to signal en-
route and reach Alexandria simultaneously.
They were TO cut of communications by rail
or telegraph with the interior, &c.
DEMANDING TINE cITY's SURRENDER
The United States steamer Pawnee, Com
mauder Rowan. had been lying off Alexandria
tor several days, and as the Mt Vernon and Bal
timore approached the town Lieut.. Lowry was
sent to Col Territt to demand the surrender
OF the town. Col Territt asked till o clock
to get such property and people outss he desired
Lieut.. Lowry met Col. Ellsworth at the wharf
and informed him that the town would be
evacuated. Lieut.. Chaplin Of the Pawnee cut
on the morning train and the master brought
out the steamers Collyer and Gipsey. In the
meantime the troops that arrived by land had
taken Possession of the railroad depot.
When the zouaye regiment Was forming on
the wharf Col Ellsworth passed with two cor
respondents and Chaplain Dodge. Some one
suggesting q guard a squad composed OF
Sergeant Marshall and four men Qncluding f.
Z. Browneli) followed.