The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-03
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ELLSWORTH MONUMENT.

Representative John r. Fall of the
Tcnth PENNSYLVANIA district. has intro
duced 4 bill in congress providing for
an appropriation of $4,000 for the
erection at Washington of n monu-
ment to Colonel Elmer Ellsworth. the
first union officer who was killed in
the civil war. When tho regiment of
Colonel Ellsworth was marching
through Alexandria. May "a. 1861. he
saw a confederate flag floating over
the old Marshall house. a hotel which
place ana up the stairs to The roof. he
tor" tn" flag from its staff. AS he
descended the stairs he was shot and
Killed by the proprietor of tn" house.
l.. NJ. Coates of Washington. who
was a lieutenant in the Ellsworth
regiment has this interesting inter-
view in the Washington Post in re-
gard to a tragedy which aroused in
tense excitement all over the coun-
try:
Before the opening of the war. Col
onel Ellsworth was in President Lin
coins law office in Springfield. Ill.,"
probable that war would break out
h" formed the Ellsworth Zouaves in
Illinois. He brought the regiment east
and We Travelled about challenging
other military troops to competitive
drills. Their We returned to Illinois,
and the last drill was held in front
of Lincoln's law Office. Later the or
ganization became the First Illinois
regiment.
After President Lincoln was in
a~ugurated, Colonel Ellsworth lived at
the white house with him. He was
then head of the secret service. He
was a very close friend of President
Lincoln. He was greatly admired by
all who knew him.
Just before the war broke out Col
onel Ellsworth Went to New York, and
was there persuaded by General Scott
and Others To form a regiment of New
York city. We tried to get him to
to Chicago. but he would not,
and, therefore, | went with him into
the New York regiment.
That regiment came to Washing-
ton n stayed in camp here for som"
time. 1t was decided by General
that Alexandria should he taken.
and our regiment was sent there by
while another column Went on
o o w" arrived there first. After our
arrival Colonel Ellsworth decided 10
to the telegraph station to let Gen
Scot know that Alexandria had
been captured.
on his way to the telegraph sta
ton he passed my company and asked
me 10 give him two men as an escort.
| detailed Corporal Darnell. a recruit.
ana another man. Tho three started
out together. IT happened that tho
Marshall house was on the other side
OF the street. and Colonel Ellsworth
saw a confederate flag which was fv-
over it.
1T seems that several days "%afore.
Jackson. the proprietor of the Mar
shall house, had put the flag on the
top of his house and had declared
he would kill n one who at
to take it down. He meant
business. but Colonel Ellsworth did
fear him.
In company with his two men Col
onel Ellsworth started for the house
to take down the flag. He got the
and had it over his shoulder and
was descending the stairs when he
vas me- by Jackson. who was carrying
i double barreled shot gun. Jackson
Colonel Ellsworth. killing him.
Corporal Darnell was also armed Both
ne n jackson raised their guns, but
Darnell shot first. hitting Jackson in
face and killing him instantly.
Had he not been a recruit. and more
used to fighting. I think he might
nave saved Ellsworth's life.
After the fight ! made inquiries
about Colonel Ellsworth's body. I
that it vas on a ship at the
wharf. beir~ embalmed. 1t was taken
10 Washington and laid in state at the
white house.
president Lincoln was deeply af-
fected by the sudden death of his
and the incident caused a deep
stir at the time. Colonel Ellsworth
being the first union officer killed In
he war. Hundreds of people went
% the white house to view his body.
Funeral services We're held at the |
white house and were conducted by
he Rev. DR.. Prime. Afterward I and
took the body to New York.
where we were met by Colonel Ellis
mother and father. The BODY
ay in state in the New York city hail
md after being carried in a process
ion through the streets Of the me-
topolis. was finally taken to- his. BIRTH