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ELLSWORTH, EPHRAIM ELMER

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
ELLSWORTH, EPHRAIM ELMER
(1837 - 1861) Union officer and a close friend of Lincoln, leader of 'Ellsworth's Zouaves" who was killed by a hotel owner in Alexandria after tearing down a Confederate flag which had flown above the hotel. An historically important A.Ms.S. 2pp. folio, signed "Colonel Ellsworth" in the text, comprising a glowing tribute Ellsworth has written to himself with the intention of having it published in the press by one of his associates in order to advance his career! The wording of the article indicates that Ellsworth was far from modest, reading, in part:"…Occasionally a man starts up…who differs from others of the same age or station, who is eternally at work - who never hesitates or falters…if he undertakes any thing no matter what, it will be carried through if human energy can accomplish it…one of these happy instances of combination of talent, tact, sagacity & determined energy…such a one is Colonel Ellsworth…he has determined to turn his attention to the work of placing the militia of the country on a proper footing without any prospect of reward…if any faith can be placed in 'Pluck' backed by rare talents we shall see glorious fruits of this determination. Wherever he goes he carries with him the best wishes of our citizens…". In our October, 1999 sale, we offered a seven page A.L.S. by Ellsworth describing his plans to publish a series of such articles in the Chicago papers, and on the verso of this particular manuscript Ellsworth has written: "...Journal No. 2. Copy this immediately & send it to me". A similar A.Ms. S., recently sold, was intended for the Tribune, and used exactly the same wording on the verso. This article provides a rather surprising perspective of the true mind set and ambitious nature of the North's first "Martyr". Very good to fine condition.