[Illustration: COLONEL ELLSWORTH’S LAST LETTER
Reproduced by courtesy of Mrs. Charles H. Godfrey, Rockford,
Illinois]
It was a beautiful moonlight night and the bayonets of the troops
could be seen glittering as they crossed the Long and Georgetown
bridges for the invasion of Virginia. The regiment arrived at
Alexandria, seven miles below, at sunrise, disembarked unopposed,
formed near the wharf, and Colonel Ellsworth with a squad of men from
Company “A” started at “double quick” into the city, intending to
seize the telegraph office and dispatches. Observing the Confederate
flag flying from the roof of the Marshall House, he sent a sergeant
with an order for Company “A” to come up at once. It was evidently his
purpose to detail the company to remove the flag, for he then passed
on; but, as if reconsidering, turned and entered the hotel. It should
be stated here that the regiment had come to Alexandria under
embarrassing circumstances; for not only had certain of the citizens
expressed a desire that they should not be sent to the town, but
General Mansfield, commanding at Washington, had threatened to muster
them out of the service should they not conduct themselves in an
orderly manner. This partially explains Colonel Ellsworth’s desire to
obtain the flag without delay, fearing that it might enrage the men
and lead to acts of vandalism. On the other hand, it is affirmed that
before he left New York with his regiment, he remarked that “he would
bring to the city the first secession flag he might encounter,” and
that “he would not order any of his men to go where he would not go
himself.” Just what was in the young colonel’s mind will never be
known; probably a variety of motives impelled him to the act. He knew
that the city of Washington would be looking for the lowering of the
“bastard flag,” which for days had been flaunted as an insult and
challenge to the capital city. President Lincoln at that very moment
might be looking anxiously from the windows of the White House for its
disappearance!
The Marshall House is an old landmark of Alexandria, constructed of
brick and three stories high; it was famous as having entertained
Washington. The flag was flying from a staff about twenty-five feet in
length, attached to the frame of a rear dormer window, and was reached
by ascending to the attic by a stairway which had a landing and turn
at the middle. Colonel Ellsworth and his party, having left guards at
proper intervals, secured the flag, and were coming down from the
attic, when Corporal Francis E. Brownell, who was ahead, observed a
man with a gun, who proved to be James W. Jackson, proprietor of the
house, standing at the foot of the stairs. He immediately sprang
below, and struck down the weapon but before he could prevent him
Jackson raised his gun, a double-barrel shotgun, and fired at Colonel
Ellsworth, who had come onto the middle landing and taken a step or
two down, the charge entering his left breast. The Colonel cried “My
God!” and plunged headlong to the floor below, uttering soon after but
a low moan. He fell near the room that had been occupied by
Washington, and the medal he wore, inscribed, “Non nobis, sed pro
patria,” was wet with his blood. Brownell with great coolness and
rapidity of action took aim and firing struck Jackson in the middle of
the face and as he reeled to fall plunged his sword bayonet through
him, the assassin’s second shot flying harmlessly over Brownell’s
head. A scene of confusion followed the double tragedy, heart-rending
cries of agony, as Jackson’s wife bewailed her loss, resounded through
the hotel, while the Zouaves, fearing that they were trapped in a nest
of secessionists, posted themselves so as to command the corridors and
ordered all guests into their rooms on peril of being shot down.
Company “A” soon arrived on the ground, however, and on a litter
improvised out of muskets, the body of Ellsworth was borne to the
river, placed on the _James Guy_, and conveyed immediately to
Washington.
Among the many tributes that were published in honor of Ellsworth,
none were comparable to the beautiful words sent by President Lincoln
to his parents. He wrote:[131]
“In the untimely loss of your noble son, our affliction here
is scarcely less than your own. So much of promised
usefulness to one’s country, and of bright hopes for one’s
self and friends, have rarely been so suddenly darkened as
in his fall. In size, in years, and in youthful appearance,
a boy only, his power to command men, was surpassingly
great. This power, combined with a fine intellect, and
indomitable energy, and a taste altogether military,
constituted in him, as seemed to me, the best natural
talent, in that department, I ever knew. And yet he was
singularly modest and deferential in social intercourse. My
acquaintance with him began less than two years ago; yet
through the latter half of the intervening period, it was as
intimate as the disparity of our ages, and my engrossing
engagements, would permit. To me, he appeared to have no
indulgences or pastimes; and I never heard him utter a
profane or an intemperate word. What was conclusive of his
good heart, he never forgot his parents. The honors he
labored for so laudably, and, in the sad end, so gallantly
gave his life, he meant for them, no less than for himself.
“In the hope that it may be no intrusion upon the sacredness
of your sorrow, I have ventured to address you this tribute
to the memory of my young friend, and your brave and early
fallen child.
“May God give you the consolation which is beyond all
earthly power.
“Sincerely your friend in common affliction.