Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Ellsworth, Ephraim Elmer

ELLSWORTH, Ephraim Elmer, soldier, b. in Mechanicsville, Saratoga co., N. Y., 23 April, 1837; d. in Alexandria, Va., 24 May, 1861. After entering mercantile life in Troy and New York city, he removed at an early age to Chicago, where he studied law, and became a solicitor of patents. In 1860 he organized a regiment of zouaves, which became renowned for the perfection of their discipline, and of which he was commissioned colonel. He accompanied Lincoln to Washington in 1861, and proceeded thence to New York, where in April he organized a zouave regiment composed of firemen. Of this regiment he was appointed colonel, and sent to Alexandria, Va. Seeing a Confederate flag floating above a hotel owned by a man named Jackson, Ellsworth rushed to the roof and tore down the flag. On his way from the roof he was met and shot dead by Jackson, who in turn was immediately killed by one of Ellsworth's men, Frank E. Brownell.