This small but generous lock of hair belonged to James W. Jackson who was the murderer of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth of the 11th New York Fire Zouaves on May 24, 1861. The lock of hair is tied into a circle approx. 0.75 of an inch across and is almost a 0.25 of an inch thick. This is not just two or three strands but a generous portion.

The lock comes with the original period envelope and card telling the story of the famous incident in which Mr. Jackson was involved. The card meas. approx. 3.00 x 2.25 inches and has a wonderfully decorative handwritten explanation that reads “HAIR CUT FROM THE HEAD OF JOHN S. JACKSON PROPRIETOR OF THE MARSHALL HOUSE ALEXANDRIA VA. AND (MAY 24, 1861) THE ASSASIN IN HIS HOUSE OF COL. E. E. ELLSWORTH. JACKSON WAS SHOT AND BAYONETTED ON THE SPOT BY PRIVATE BROWNELL OF THE NEW YORK FIRE ZOUAVES. PROCURED + PRESENTED BY WILLIAM JOHNSON CORP. COMP. F, N. Y. 4TH REGT. DEPOSITED 1877.”

With the item is the original envelope the hair came in. One side of the envelope bears the inscription found on the card minus the 1877 date while the other side of the envelope has an inscription that reads “HAIR OF JACKSON WHO KILLED ELSWORTH.” The hair was most likely stored in this envelope originally with the inscribed card made and added in 1877 hence the wrong fist name for Jackson on the card.

All three pieces, the hair, card and envelope, are in good to excellent condition with only the flap of the envelope being loose.

There was a Private named William Johnson in Company K, of the 4th New York. He enlisted April 23, 1861 and deserted at Baltimore on August 3, 1861.

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 roof of the Marshall House and removed the offending flag. As he descended the stairs from the roof the owner of the hotel James W. Jackson, 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.

Not much is known about James William Jackson other than that he was the owner of The Marshall House Hotel in Alexandria and that he became the South's first martyr when he was shot and killed after murdering Colonel Elmer Ellsworth of the 11th New York for his hauling down of a Confederate flag flying from the roof of Jackson’s establishment. Jackson is buried in the Fairfax City Cemetery in Fairfax, Virginia.

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