The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-09-12
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING REMINiCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account Of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed On the battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-

of the first blood on hostile soil Ii
| the Civil War The victim was FL
| mer +. Ellsworth. Colonel commanding
the Eleventh New York Volunteers
| known as the Fire ZOuaycs. COlone
Ellsworth was killed by James Jackson
| proprietor of the Marshall House. a
| Alexandria, Va. Jackson. in turn. wa
killed by Frank L. Brownell. n corporal
who had assisted Ellsworth in lOwerin:
a Confederate flag. which had beer
hOisted above the hotel
Brownell rose To the rank of captain
On his retirement he went to st. LOHi
and lived there several years. He wa!
the only man VINO knew the truth abOu
the killing Of Colonel Ellsworth. Dur
ing his life he would never tell thu
story. Shortly before his death II
Washington. u. c., on March 10, 1894
This paper he left as legacy to hi:
brother. +. r. BrOwnell. now n promi
nent citizen of ST. Louis. through whose
courtesy it is now published. In sub
stance it reads thus:
On May !. 1861. Ellsworth ascer
tanned that the ColOnels of the different
regiments stationed about Washington
had received orders To hold their CON
mands to move at midnight. Ellsworth
not having received any, such order
went to the President and appealed tO
him that he might take part in the
movement, and through his personal in
fluence with the President he was told
he might go on one condition. namely,
that if any breach of discipline or mis-.
behavior occurred by his regiment il
would be mustered out of the service
Up to the day before the regiment left
for Alexandria il had never received
anything from the general government
except ratiOns and camp equipage. New
arms, OvercOats. etc. promised by the
authorities before the regiment left
New York never came. all of which
caused Ellsworth TO he extremely anx-
iOus as TO the conduct of his regiment,
upon which his future so largely de-
pended.
The arms with which we were
equipped were not received until the
day before we occupied Alexandria, the
Sharp rifles having been exchanged for
Harper's Ferry rified muskets. with the
exception of Company A, TO which be-
longed. which received Harper's Ferry
rifles with saber bayonet but without
bayOnet scabbards
shall never forget the remarks made
by him to the men the night before the
movement and his death. The regi.
ment was formed in column of divisions
massed. He said:
Boys. yesterday understood that
movement was TO be made against Al
exandria. l went to see General Mans
field and told him would consider it
a personal affrOnt If we were not al
lowed the right of the line. as 1t is our
due as the first regiment of volunteers
sworn In for the war. All can say Is.
prepare yourselves for nice little sail,
and at the end perhaps a skirmish.
go to your tents and lie down until
2 o'clock, when the boats will come for
us, and we will go forward to victory or
death. When We reach the place of des-
act like men: do nothing to
shame the regiment. Show the enemy
that you are men as we'll as soldiers,
and that You will treat them with kind
ness. and. no matter what may happen,
not shot must be fired without or
ders. Now go to your tents and do as
tell YOU"
So far as / know these orders were
not violated except in the single in
stance following his death.
The regiment embarked about 9
clock and arrived at Alexandria be-
tween and ) o'clock in the MORN
ing.
The troops moved against Alexandria
n three columns-by the aqueduct un-
Ter command of General Sanford, by
he long bridge under command of
Colonel Wilcox and by steamer under
Of Colonel Ellsworth. Ellis
worth was to approach by the river
'rOnt and Wilcox by the Washington
bike. They were to cut off telegraphic
Ind railroad connection with the in
eriOr.
Ellsworth landed his regiment with
.reat rapidity. The regiment was
Ormed on the wharf when Ellsworth
anne by the right of the line, starting
lnfowu Thnra Uaro x,-;tl, l,;,,, NJ W..
or. of the New York Times. Mr..
House. Of the New York Tribune. and
,haplain Dodge. As they passed the |
light line someone of them suggest |
d that a guard be taken. Ellsworth
urned and said: First squad. follow
ne
The squad. consisting of Sergeant |
larshall. two corpOrals. of which was
ne. and two priyates, fell in behind.
nd in that order we went up Cameron
treet on the double quick.
We went three blocks up Cameron
treet. l thought, and still think Ellis.
TOrth was on the way to the tele-
raph office 10 send word he had land
u ISie We South OH KuVHl !
treet. One square brought us to King
treet. and as we turned the corner TO
o west we came In sight of the Mar
hall house. just square ahead. with
,e Confederate flag flying.
Ellsworth turned abruptly TO the Ser
cant and said: Marshall, 20 back
nd tell Captain COyle 10 bring his COM
any up here as soon as possible.
This was the only thing Ellsworth
lid to show that he had noticed the
ag.
He kept up King street and did not
lrn across when lie came opposite the
house. supposed he was 60
lg to let Captain COyle take care of
lie flag. Ellsworth jumped over the
utter to cross the street above the ho-
j, when he suddenly halted. He said
Dthing, but looked back at the flag.
erhaps it occurred to him that the
ght of that flag might enrage the men
nd lead to the very thing he had prom
ed TO nrp-pnt