First is a vignette view of Colonel Ellsworth from the knees up. He is posed with one had behind his back and the other rests on his hip. He wears a dark double-breasted frock coat with Colonels shoulder straps and light trousers. At his waist is his belt and Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword and on his head is his kepi. The reverse has a photographer’s imprint that reads “E. ANTHONY… FROM A PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVE IN BRADY’S NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY.” Image is grainy but in good condition.

With the CDV is an 8.50 x 10.50 piece of thick stock with a bust view steel engraving of Ellsworth at center. The engraving is wartime and is by G. P. Putnam of New York. Stock has some light discoloration around the edges otherwise it is very nice.

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.

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