Elmer Ellsworth

Elmer Ellsworth - Historic Artifact - Part of the Flag taken by Ellsworth

Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth (April 11, 1837 – May 24, 1861) was a law clerk and United States Army soldier, best known as the first conspicuous casualty and the first Union officer to die in the American Civil War. He was killed while removing a the flag from the roof of the Marshall House Inn of Alexandria, Virginia, at the behest of Abraham Lincoln, as the flag had been visible from the White House as a sign of defiancy.

Prior to the war, Ellsworth was the leader of a touring military drill team known as the "Fire Zouaves" and a close personal friend of Lincoln, who later eulogized him "the greatest little man I ever met". After his death, Ellsworth's body lay in state at the White House. The phrase, "Remember Ellsworth", became a rallying cry and tool for recruiting Union soldiers.

This custom 11 x 14 inch display features a small clipping of the Flag (clipped from the larger section obtained by Civil War Solider Valentine Walberg) taken by Elmer Ellsworth at the Marshall House, Alexandria, Virginia, May 27, 1861.

Provenance includes a copy of the two-page typescript transcription of a letter originally written on May 27, 1861 (three days after the event) written by Valentine Walberg, of the 5th Massachusetts Infantry to his father describing Ellsworth's funeral and the circumstances of how he obtained the fragments: "...one of the Zouaves game me a piece of the Secession Flag that Ellsworth took, and I enclose for you to keep for me till I come home".  This typescript had the original section of flag obtained by Wahlberg pinned to it and the image of the letter with pinned fabric section is included with this lot.

Also included is a copy of  what is presumably the original transmittal envelope the fragments were kept with a contemporary ink note written on the outside: "Part of the Rebel Flag which was taken off the Marshall House in Alexandria by Col. Elmer Ellsworth for which act he was shot and killed by Marshall proprietor."