Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-06-27
ELLSwORTH's zOUAvEs.
Tragic Death of Their Young Com
mander at Alexandria.
Sergt. Frank Brownelrs Memories of Ono
of the Most Thrilling Episodes of the
Civil War-President Lincoln
Deeply Affected.
Especial Washington Correspondence


Assassination and revenge were in
stantaneous. Thirty years ago hand
some young man, the captain of the
best-drilled military company in the
United states, offered his services, and
President Lincoln accepted them. There
upon regiment was raised, and the
captain became Col Elmer E. Ellsworth,
and his regiment was known as Els
worths Fire Zouaves. Before the war,
with his splendidly- drilled company,
Capt. Ellsworth travelled all over the
country, south, west and north, giving
exhibition drills. His name was known
throughout the length and breadth of the
land, and the announcement THAT he
bad raised regiment for the war created
great enthusiasm among young men of
the republic.
The war had scarcely begun. On the
morning of May %, 1861, the regiment
was drawn up in line for dress parade,
and to receive the orders of the day.
Col Ellsworth made short speech, in
which he told his men that the presi-
dent had ordered him to Alexandria,
Va, with instructions to avoid all vio-
lence and bloodshed, if possible, and to
peaceably occupy the city which was in
rebellion in sight OF the national capi-
tai. He told the regiment that he had
asked permission to Aead the way across
into the state of Virginia, and the presi-
dent had granted his request because
the fire zouaves were the first volun-
teer regiment sworn into the service,
and because the president had conf
dence in the prudence and good disci-
pline of the zouaves. The country
was in a state of actual war,
and terrific conflict was impend-
ing, but Col. Ellsworth was going with
an armed force upon mission of
peace; ready for any emergency or con-
tingency incident to the unprecedented
circumstances of the occasion. And
he was going to his death. One hour
before the tragedy which startled the
nation he wrote letter to his father
and mother, jointly, commencing it:
my Dear Parents" In the letter he
stated that it might be his lot to be in
jured in some manner, and said:
"Whatever may happen, cherish the
consolation that was engaged in the
performance of a sacred duty. | am
perfectly content to accept whatever
my fortune may be, confident that He
who notes the fall of sparrow will
have some purpose even in the fate of
one like me-"
noble, manly fellow was Col. Ellis
worth, and his surviving friend and
avenger, Sergt. Brownell, who lives
to-day, believes that the letter to his
parents was prophecy; and that there
was Divine purpose in the fate of
the gallant young officer. Nothing
could have happened to stir the blood
of the young men of the north as did
the assassination of the popular young
soldier, who fell in line of duty at the
outset of the war in such dramatic,
tragic manner, while hauling down the
emblem of the confederacy. They
sprang to arms, and regiment after reg
iment came forward, more soi-
diers in fact than the fedora, gov
ernment at that time could take care of
and utilize. The tragic ending of Els
worth's life at the beginning of the war,
and the sudden taking of the life of
President Lincoln at the close of the
war, were most fatal to the well-being
of the section of the country then in re-
bellion. Both shots were fired by as.
sassins
Sergt Frank Brownell resides in
Washington, and is an efficient special
agent of the pension Office. He was one
of a squad of soldiers who accompanied
Col Ellsworth from the boat at the
wharf to the Marshall house where the
tragedy occurred Contrary to expecta-
tion, no resistance was made to the en-
try of the regiment into Alexandria.
ALI was peaceful, quiet and calm.
Speaking of the occasion of the cele-
brated event, Mr.. Brownell recently
said to friend: when we saw the
confederate flag flying over that hotel,
Col. Ellsworth sent an order back to
Capt Coyle to bring his company to
that spot. We walked on past the ho-
sel. when Col Ellsworth suddenly
turned, went across the street and pro.
>eeded upstairs. i followed, and nc
one molested nor hindered u.s. ]
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