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Zouave Colonel ELMER E. ELLSWORTH Signed c 1860 Civil War Mathew Brady Photo CDV

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Zouave Colonel ELMER E. ELLSWORTH Signed c 1860 Civil War Mathew Brady Photo CDV
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Autographs
Martyr Zouave Union Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth Likely Signed Original Mathew Brady Photograph Carte de Visite
ELMER E. ELLSWORTH (1837-May 24, 1861). First Union officer killed in the American Civil War while removing a Confederate flag in Alexandria, VA. He was a Law clerk and United States Army soldier, who commanded the 11th New York Fire Zouaves.
c. 1860 Civil War Period, Extremely rare Carte de Visite Photograph Signed on the reverse, “Col. E E. Ellsworth” of the Martyr Zouave Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, Published by Mathew Brady, New York, Choice Extremely Fine. An excellent, sharp contrast early Civil War-date CDV of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth showing him as Colonel of the uniform of the Zouave Cadets c. 1860, together with an impressive signature on the CDV reverse bearing the Brady imprint. Ellsworth later he commanded the 11th New York Fire Zouaves and was murdered by Alexandria hotel owner Mr. James W. Jackson on May 24, 1861. The story of his death is well-known as an early casualty of the Civil War and a friend to President Abraham Lincoln. Ellsworth joined Abraham Lincoln's law practice in Springfield, IL as a law clerk. Being impressed with his hardworking, enthusiastic clerk, Lincoln invited Ellsworth to join his campaign for President. Following his victory, Lincoln asked Ellsworth to join him in Washington. CDV Published by Mathew Brady, New York, in excellent condition with a strong rich brown Signature “Col. E E. Ellsworth” across to top portion on its blank reverse. This item has what appears to be an authentic signature of Ellsworth on the verso. However, we have not been able to find third-party authentication with the expertise required to either authenticate or condem, having been informed that they simply don’t know. Therefore, careful examination is strongly suggested and this example is sold “as is” as such. A wonderful Civil War historic rarity in exceptional quality.
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 killed in the American Civil War. He was killed while removing a Confederate 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 defiant sign of the Confederacy.

Before his death, as tension built up toward the war, Colonel Ellsworth had been the leader of a famous touring military drill team known as the "Fire Zouaves" and was a close personal friend of Lincoln. Lincoln called him "the greatest little man I ever met", and his body lay in state at the White House after his death. Following his death, "Remember Ellsworth" would become a Union rallying cry.

Elmer Ellsworth was a hero in the North even before the first shots of the Civil War. Born in Saratoga Springs, NY, Ellsworth moved to Chicago to study law. It was here that Ellsworth was introduced to the Zouaves - colorful military units outfitted in pantalooned uniforms based on those worn by French colonial troops in Algeria. Ellsworth formed his own Zouave unit and molded it into a crack drill team.

In the summer of 1860, Ellsworth and his Zouaves toured the North performing precision drills before awed audiences in 20 cities. At the end of the summer, Ellsworth joined Abraham Lincoln's law practice in Springfield, IL as a law clerk. Impressed with his hard-working, enthusiastic clerk, Lincoln invited Ellsworth to join his campaign for president. Following his victory, Lincoln asked Ellsworth to join him in Washington.

As tensions between the North and South states intensified, Ellsworth moved to New York City. He formed a Zouave unit made up of volunteers from among the city's firemen - the New York Fire Zouaves - and became its colonel.

May 1861 found Ellsworth and his Zouaves stationed in Washington, DC. On the 23rd of that month the Virginia legislature voted to secede from the Union. Before the sun rose the next morning, Ellsworth, anxious to see some action, led his Zouaves across the Potomac River as part of an eleven-regiment Union invasion of Virginia. Ellsworth's objective was to secure the port of Alexandria.

The Zouave's landing at Alexandria was uncontested, and they quickly spread through the town securing important targets such as the telegraph office and rail station. As Ellsworth led his men through the streets his eye caught sight of a Confederate flag waving from the top of the Marshall House Inn. Followed by four of his men, Ellsworth rushed into the building, ran up its stairs and cut down the offensive symbol. Descending the stairs, Ellsworth was confronted by the inn's proprietor, James W. Jackson, armed with a double-barrel shotgun. Firing at point-blank range, the inn keeper ended the life of the twenty-four-year-old and conferred upon him the distinction of being the first Union officer killed in the war. Almost instantaneously, Jackson was cut down by Ellsworth's men.

Grief stricken, Lincoln ordered that Ellsworth's body lay in state at the White House before being returned to New York. Both Ellsworth and Jackson became martyrs to their respective causes. Recruitment of new enlistees increased dramatically on both sides as a result of their deaths.

In addition, Ellsworth, Michigan, Ellsworth, Wisconsin, Fort Ellsworth, and possibly Ellsworth, Iowa were named in his honor, as were Fort Ellsworth, various other institutions, and various individual people.