The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-08-02

conception and creation of this dream
ing adventurer.
New York City read the story of Els
worth s Zouaves and the company were
engaged at Niblo's Garden for weeks.
Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati all
were visited and entertained and won
dered.
But Ellsworth IS ambition was not
sated He had blazed out as meteor
across the heavens of his dreams, and
still he hungered for fame and re-
nown.
He was appointed adjutant general
for the state of Illinois, with headquar-
tiers at the state capital (if I remem-
Der Alright, for / have consulted no
data and had access to no sketch of
Ellsworth's career, and what I have
narrated is entirely from personal rec
objection across a period of 60 years..
About the time that Abraham Lin
coin, in 1860, was nominated by the
Republican party for President of the
United States, Mr.. Ellsworth, had, with
strange prophetic fatalism, attached
himself to the arduous and stormy for
tunes of the great Emancipation, and
was studying in Mr.. Lincoln IS office at
Spring field. When the election had
passed, and the dark clouds of war be-
gan to overspread the republic; when
the thunders of approaching tempest
rolled across the national domain, and
men went daft, and public reason was
dethroned in the wild orgies of an aw-
full period of internecine strife, the
young captain of Zouaves preceded the
Prseident-electst to Washington, and as
the national strife became more immi-
nent, and threatenings of war more
vivid, Mr.. Lincoln commissioned Els
worth to raise regiment or brigade
out of the slums, the Bowery and
Five Points, of New York City.
With wonderful energy and activity
the bold and tireless little captain, had
in three weeks raised or modified
force of able bodied fighting men to
the number of $500, to whom was given
the sobriquet of the New York Fire
Brigade As such it is known in the
battle history of the Civil War.
Col. Ellsworth drilled and disciplined
this motely array of riff-raff and human
dereliets, shoulder-hitters, gamblers and
all around roughs with merciless sever
ity and tireless pertinacity, until these
big-chested offsprings of the slums be-
came obedient and pliable under the
least of military discipline
The sequel to this story and the I'M
timely death of Col Ellsworth is writ
ten on the pages Of history and old cit
liens will recall how this bold, heroic
youth swept, with his fighting brigade,
up the streets of Alexandria, Va, that
fatal May morning; how he climbed
the stairs of the Jackson Hotel, and
tore from its place the Confederate
flag flying from its staff. As he wrap
ped the trophey about his person, he
fell mangled and lifeless before the
deadly fire. Of Jackson, the proprietor,
as he descended the stairs. Jackson,
himself, was bayoneted and instantly
killed by Sergeant Frank Brownell,
who was one of his body guard.
AS my neighbor and personal friend
for some years, while residing in a
Missouri town, Sergeant Brownell
known as Ellsworth S avenger, told me
the story of this tragic event, which
closed the brilliant career of remark
able character at the youthful age
of 25.
Ellsworth s death was great shock
to the people Of the Northern States.
That his ability was much over-rated
was doubtless true, but for personal
courage and self confidence there was
no dangers he would not challenge, To
what high renown and honors Els.
worth would have attained, we can only
surmise, had he not so wantonly thrown
away his life to crafty youthful i'm
pulse.
Charles FL. Goffe.