Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-09-17
With the Ellsworth Zouavea.

inc fetlfeu army offlCer,' said the
captain, lis your prince of raconteurs.
Two or three weeks ago was thrown
IN company with Generals Schwan
and Coates and Colonel Brayton, all
on whom have grown gray In the regu-
Tar army. ! was interested In Coates
because had heard the boys here in
Chicago speak of him as member OF
the original Ellsworth zouaves. \ ref
erence to Ellsworth started him. and
no told many stories Of the first weeks
of war in 1861, and Of the years pre-
ceding the war.
Coates was one of the tifty-one men
who made the celebrated tour with
Ellsworth in 1860. and he laughed as
he told of their experience in Albany
\. \ The officer commanding the
crack company in Albany that was TO
receive Ellsworth with his Zouaves
and escort them to quarters planned
to put the guests at Il disadvantage at
the start. lie reasoned that MS the
Zouaycs came from level country
they would know little of the difficult
ties of marching up hill, Therefore
he planned an UP hill march to put
The Chicago boys out of step ana out
Of Comltenancc before the crowd fill
ing the streets.
Ellsworth, however had trained
his men to do all sorts of things well,
and when the zouaves with their es-
cort came to the hill they went up at
a thirty three inch cadence step, and
never missed note. and showed not
the slightest sign of fatigue or con
fusion. The men of the escort how
ever, lost step or broke the cadence,
and there WAS slight confusion In the
ranks To EllSworth's men the march
seemed an everyday occurrence, and,
taken 10y surprise, the officer OF the
company WAS SO impressed by the
bearing Of the zouaves that he told
the story on himself
When Ellsworth organized the
Eleventh New York infantry or Fire
zouayes at the opening of the civil
war; Coates was one of the six men
vi tit' 'Ih hltap.p NOIIllldttA SIARIi
commissions in the New York regi-
mcnt He went with Ellsworth to
Alexandria, and just before the march
through the streets suggested 10 his
Colonel that he exchange the old cap
he was wearing for new one in his
quarters. Ellsworth dcnurred, say
ing he had II great liking for the old
cap because Of its associations. How
ever, he left the old cap IN quarters
and wore the new one.
when he saw the rebel flag on the
hotel and heard the threat of the pro
prietor to shoot any man who dared
10 take il down. Ellsworth did not or
der any OF his men to take the riSF.
but went to the roof to take the nag
down himself. lie came down the
steps with The flag thrown across the
left shoulder and gathered in folds
across 10 the right side The bullet
that killed him cut through the flag
10 his heart aud the flag was literally
stained or drcnched with his heart =
blood
Coates was given charge Of the
body aud went with it to ElIsworth's
old home. When asked after burial.
what memeut0 OF the Colonel he would
like he expressed - preference for the
old cap which Ellsworth had said WAS
So precious TO him. The blood stained
Nag was given him. and he has both
to-day rs reminders Of his short but
cYentful service In the volunteer army
In August, 1861, he was transferred
10 the regular army AZ Second Lieu,
tenant In the Second cavalry. and was
retired in 1900 after nearly forty years
OF active service Colonel Brayton. by
the way. went into the regular service
in May. 1861. as First Lieutenant IN
the Fifteenth infantry. and was re-
tired after thirty years service in
lS91.-C liicago Inter Ocean