Description
Splendid carte view of Elmer Ellsworth. Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth was born in Malta, New York on April 11, 1837. While growing to manhood he lived in Mechanicville and New York City. In 1854 he moved to Rockford, Illinois where he worked for a patent agency. He went to Chicago to study law. In 1860 he went to Springfield and worked for a time in Abraham Lincoln’s law office and helped with his campaign for President. After his election Ellsworth accompanied the President to Washington. During his early travels Elmer became active in the militia and studied military tactics and subjects. By the time he arrived in Chicago to study law he was well versed enough to become Colonel of that city’s Chicago National Guard Cadets. Styling his unit after French Zouaves Elmer trained his men to the point that they were a fine drilled team and became nationally known. When the Civil War broke out Ellsworth raised a regiment from the fireman of New York. The regiment became known as the 11th New York Infantry or “The Fire Zouaves.” Ellsworth was made Colonel of the regiment and led it to Washington, D.C. After the secession of Virginia a Confederate flag could be seen from Washington flying above the Marshall House hotel in Alexandria. Ellsworth led his regiment across the Potomac River into Alexandria, went to the rook of the Marshall House and removed the offending flag. As he descended the stairs from the roof the owner of the hotel met Ellsworth with a shotgun and killed him instantly. One of Ellsworth’s men dispatched the killer with his bayonet. The young Ellsworth became one of the first Union heroes of the war. You’re not going to find a much better view and this one is back marked by Brady as well!
