The Civil War - 150 Years Later - Alexandria Captured / Death of a Union Hero

In this and subsequent special editions of Hooves, Heels and Wheels, the blog will take a look at the 150th anniversary of the events of the Civil War, and reflect on how they came about, and what implications they have for today ...

The Civil War

150 years ago This Week - Alexandria Captured / Death of A Union Hero

May 24, 1861

150 Years ago this week, Washington DC throbbed with activity, swarmed with troops, and clattered with noise. For six weeks, soldiers had gathered in Washington DC, and in various depots in the Confederate south – surely a great battle was in the making.

Zouaves

A colorful assortment of uniforms paraded about the camps. Although there was such a thing as a “US Army uniform”, uniform regulations did not apply to the vast majority of volunteer units marching about Washington, Charleston and Richmond. Both Union and Confederate armies were comprised of state militia units. Thus most of the men were managed and clothed by their states, not by any national government. In these early days of the war, soldiers were arrayed in a variety of uniforms. Some were plain, some were flashy, and some were ludicrous. War, after all, was not seen as a brutal project of destruction, but as a gallant and glamorous adventure, and one might has well go as well dressed as possible.

A favorite uniform pattern, in both North and South, was that of the Zouaves. Zouaves were French light infantrymen who fought in North Africa, and their dashing uniforms made all the newspapers and catalogues– at a time when France was seen as the cultural leader in many things from science to art to the military, to fashion. As soldiers tramped off to war, many were attracted to the fancy uniforms that seemed to bellow “elite troops!” Little wonder then that as trains lumbered into the Washington DC rail yards, many of the Union regiments that disembarked proudly – even pompously- called themselves “Zouaves”.

One of the Zouave units was the 11th New York, and their colonel, the 24year old Elmer Ellsworth, was already a national celebrity. He had foreseen in 1860 that a war of some kind was on the horizon, and set about training volunteer units. He had been in command of the U.S. Zouave Cadets, an Illinois drill team that became nationally known. His photographs were everywhere, and his drill team performances played to thousands.

Politicians, then as now, court the friendship of popular celebrities, and President Abraham Lincoln was no exception to this rule. Ellsworth campaigned for Lincoln in the 1860 election, always at his side of his fellow Illinoisan. He served as Lincoln’s bodyguard and confidant, spending so much time in the White House that he caught the measles from the Lincoln children, Willie and Tad.

When war became a reality, Ellsworth donned that hat of a recruiter, and went to New York to form his regiment, the 11th New York. As the proud and polished 11th NY strutted though Washington, Ellsworth, not a bit above glory seeking, secured a promise from his Commander-in-Chief and friend that his Empire Stators would be the first Union soldiers to invade the rebellious South.

Ellsworth didn’t have long to wait. On May 23d, 1861 150 years ago this week, Virginia officially seceded from the Union. (For the Old Dominion, secession was a two-step process, the legislature voted for it on April 17th, but put it up for the popular vote on May 23rd). Confederate territory was now a few hundred yards across the Potomac River, in the city of Alexandria, VA.

A Hero Dies

US Army General in chief Winfield Scott decided to strike immediately, and on the early morning of May 24th, sent 11 regiments across the Potomac River into Virginia. In one fell swoop, the Union captured Robert E. Lee’s mansion in Arlington, and the city of Alexandria. The Confederates, who had little hope of defending the town, offered no resistance and fell back.

It seemed like a bloodless victory. The 11th New York marched into Alexandria, with the proud Elmer Ellsworth at his head. Ellsworth then spied a hotel, the Marshall House at the intersection of King and Pitt Streets. At four stories, it was one of the tallest buildings in town, and from it flew a large Confederate flag. Ellsworth would put a stop to that forthwith.

The suave Zouave colonel charged into the Marshall house with four soldiers plus a reporter from the New York Tribune, Edward E House. He made his way up a staircase to the roof, and cut down the Confederate banner.

With that mission accomplished, Ellsworth and his party went back down the staircase, with corporal Francis Brownell leading the way. As Brownell and Ellsworth reached the third floor landing, they encountered the furious innkeeper, James Jackson.


Jackson burst from his bedroom toting a double-barreled shotgun. There was no time for Brownell to shout a warning before Jackson took his first shot. At nearly point-blank range, the shotgun blast tore into the young colonel. The fatally wounded Ellsworth slumped and tumbled forward down the steps behind Corporal Brownell.


Jackson then tried to pivot to kill Brownell, but the corporal used his rifle to bat away the barrel of the shotgun as Jackson fired, sending the second blast into the wall. Now it was Brownell’s turn. He fired his rifle, also at point-blank range, into Jackson’s face. Brownell then sent his bayonet plunging into Jackson’s body, and thrust the dead man down the staircase.

Ellsworth was already dying on the landing, his blood staining the Confederate flag he had captured. The shotgun slug had torn a great hole through the colonel's coat and body.

Northerners were at once elated at the Federal capture of Alexandria, the first Union progress of the War, but at the same time grief-stricken at the death of the charismatic and popular Ellsworth. Ellsworth’s parents aside, none were more devastated then the President and First Lady – to say nothing of the Lincoln children. Lincoln cried openly at the sight of his young friend’s body, and wrote his family a three-page epistle of condolence. Then he ordered Ellsworth’s body to lie in state in the East Room of the White House.

“My boy! My boy! Was it necessary that this sacrifice be made??” -- Abraham Lincoln

As Ellsworth made his final journey to New York and interment, the popular culture canonization of Ellsworth swept the North. Here now was a hero who must be avenged, a martyr to inspire countless recruits! The images of Ellsworth and his Zouaves were sold as drawings, postcards, and stamps. The ghost of Col Elmer Ellsworth, the Union’s first war hero, would stand at the side of each green rookie as he mustered into his army camp.




Southerners, of course took quite a different view of the situation. The late James Jackson was seen as a hero of the Confederacy, a man defending his home, but Southern attempts to immortalize Jackson would never compare with the Northern remembrance of the already famous and celebrated Ellsworth.

Avenge Ellsworth! War to the knife, knife to the hilt! --Northern Recruiting slogan

“Cause Of Death: He was killed in defense of his home and private rights.” Confederate coroner report on James Jackson, (a report that fails to mention the rifle and bayonet wounds)

Nations at war require heroes, then as now. Civil War soldiers were going to be asked to perform uncountable feats of daring and bravery in the face of mortal danger and hideous suffering. Both sides would require men and women to hold up high as shining examples of duty, dedication and courage. 150 Years Ago this Week, the Union received their first great example, the first of very many to come on either side.