Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-21
COL. ELLSWORTH'S DEATH
Thirty-Six Years Ago Monday the Tragic
Event Occurred.
How the Northern Troops Conducted
Their Midnight Invasion of the
Soil of Virginia.

the Union troops and the death of Col.
Elmer Ellsworth of the New York Fire
Zouaves at the Marshall House in Alex
andria. The movement was under the COM
mand of Major General Sanford of the
New York state militia, and the troops en-
gagged were eight regiments of his own
command and regiments from Michigan.
Massachusetts and New Jersey. with some
of the regular army and numbers of our
District volunteers.
At that time the confederate capitol was
being made ready in Richmond for Presi-
dent Davis and the congress of the con-
federacy from Montgomery. The Norfolk
navy yard and vessels destroyed batteries
erected on the Virginia shore of the Po-
tOmac. Alexandria was occupied by confed-
crate troops. pickets were posted on the
edge of the city, and the rebel flag could be
seen from the higher points of the city,
and floating at Munson's hill. behind Ar
liEgton. giving color to the rumors that a
force of 100000 men was being assembled
to capture Washington. Besides the Dis
trict troops, the sailors and marines and
the regulars-some artillery, cavalry and
infantry-over twenty regiments OF state
troops had arrived, but they were all north
of the Potomac.
Order to Advance.
The movement was ordered after mid
night of May 23-the regiments selected to
at am. by the Aqueduct and Long
bridges, and Ellsworths Zouaves to go by
steamers to Alexandria. General Mans
field was then in command Of the depart
n ent of Washington. and General Bonham
Of the c. S. A. of Alexandria and vicinity
Before midnight many of the companies of
District troons were on the move. The
Presidents Mounted Guard, Capt. S. w.
Owen rode across the Chain bridge to re-
connoiter the country, and from the West
Washington Battalion details OF ten men
each were sent Overcome by the Aqueduct'
one by boat to a point opposite the Three
Sisters and one by boat across to Analos-
tan Island. At the Long bridge Colonel
Stone had a number of the District com
panies assembled and details from the Ma
tional Rifles and PoWelfS ZouaVeS WERE
after midnight, sent over, taking opposite
sides of the road. The Anderson Rifles de
tail returned with Capt. M. d. Ball, ami
one of his Fairfax cavalrymen. ana the
Presidents Mounted Guard brought in the
rest of his company from near Alexandria
A detail from a Georgetown company made
the capture of a wooden gun near the Three
Sisters, and thus relieved the fears or their
neighbors. This gun had protruded its ugly
muzzle from the foliage for weeks. toward
the town, and had occasioned much alarm
When the detail was made. 1t was thought
that Lieutenant Drew and his ten men had
the most hazardous work of all They
however, took to boat. and pulled direct
ly to the point Sergeant VIM. norman
from the bow jumped out as the boat
grounded, and ran for the gun, when, p.ac-
ing his hand on it. he exclaimed an SURPRISE
Ibid you know It, Bill?" asked the lieu
tenant.
NO" he answered.
Why did you run ahead of us?' he was
IF 1 had remained with you, and it had
been fired" he replied. sit would have
knocked the devil out of all of US. Had it
gone off 1 would have been the only one
hurt
AS the District boys advanced several
points were found picketed but the SEN
tries galloped off. and the District men, as
agreed upon. connected on the other side.
Ellsworth's Command.
The Fire Zouaves were the regiment as
signed to take Alexandria. They We're
camped at St. Elizabeth. scarce three miles
this side of Alexandria. and overlooking
that city. Col. Ellsworth spent the early
part of the night in writing letters, and
promptly at 2 o'clock called out his regi-
ment. The United States steamer Pawnee
dropped down from the navy yard. slowly
steaming to the front of Alexandria, The
steamers Philadelphia and Mount Vernon
We're made fast to the wharf near st. Eliz-
abeth's. and the Zouaves, having hastily
formed. were In little time on board AS
the steamboats, approached the Alexandria
Wharves, the Pawnee having taken a DO
sltlon to cover the landing some of her
armed boats pulled for the town As they
approached confederate pickets fired few
shots from the wharves and ran IN into
town The landing of the troops was eff
1ected without incident, and the regiment
was left by Col Ellsworth near the
WharVes, awaiting sunrise. In walking up
the street he observed the rebel flag f1yinp
from staff on the Marshall House
HoliS back to the regiment, he took a
squad OF men and returned to capture if
10
mouse. hauled down the flag and was
coming down the stairs when jackson. the
proprietor, shot and killed him Sergeant
P Ers IN turn instantly shot Marshall
f.hsWorths companions at once removed
ms BODY to the boat. being careful that tba
SAD news should not be made known 70
the men generally, for fear they Womb
", M[eak vengeance on the people CT the town
Liuiserlfnlnately. The body was first taken
10 the navy yard, and thence to the White
House, where the funeral services fool
rdace In the east room few DAYS after
ne toihng or the fire bells announced the
SAD tidings OF his death TO the people and
important as was the general movement
OF the troops to the Virginia soil the center
OF interest was Ellsworth's tragic death.
Details Of the Advance.
over the Long bridge and Aoueduct the
state troops pas5ed-the New York 7tb
lith' l2th 2oth 2Sth and Goth, the 2d New
Jersey and others. Some of the DISTRICT
companies acquainted with the country
were detailed to show the way to the noints
10 be occupied. The New York 7th frnno
men camp at Mt. Pleasant, marched d.
Iectiy over the brige to Hughes Tavern =.
the New York 18th from Franklin Snnare
70 arlington; the Jersey regiment to near
four Mile Run. Over the Aoueduct aftar
the reconno1ter by the District troons
passed the New York Goth, 18th and othar
commands to Arlington Heights. TINS MO 9
me territory of Brigadier General Ronh.ro
INVADED, and fertilization commenced IN
Forts Corcoran. at Arlington; Runyon nea -
feoach spring, and Lyons, at Alexandrio
S softiihs the nucleus of the chain of United
STATES mes torts on Virginia soil.
Ihat the death of Ellsworth should bovo
caused much sorrow throughout the com.
ny was 10 be expected, for his short ga raar
as commander Of the famous Ch;nara
cadet Corps had brought him into nror,
ihence; and he enjoyed the CONFIDENCE nf
the PRESIDENT and the leading loyaI men If
!he country. In local military circles he
curing the few months he had snent IN
washington. formed many acquaintance
ana made number of friends. He had az.
companied Mr.. Lincoln to this civ in Feh-
fuary. Soon after he found that the wash
lngton Louaves. under the command ~
Lieut.. J. L. Powell, were hard at worjx
ne mad received an appointment In the
war Department which would in times Of
peace, have led to his settlement here as a
resident. In this event 1t would have been
agreeable I'm To he 49,