The Marshall House - Alexandria, Va. - Where Col. Ellsworth was Killed - 1861
3D red/cyan anaglyph created from glass plate stereograph at Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: www.loc.gov/pictures/
LOC Title: Alexandria, Va. The Marshall House, King and Pitt Streets
Date: 1861
Photographer: Not Identified
Link to glass plate: www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2018667033/
Notes: Summary from Wikipedia: "The Marshall House was an inn that stood at 480 King Street (near the southeast corner of King Street and South Pitt Street) in Alexandria, Virginia. At the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861, the house was the site of the killing of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth during the Union Army's takeover of Alexandria. Ellsworth was a popular and highly prominent officer and a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln.
Ellsworth was the first conspicuous Union Army casualty and the first officer killed in battle during the war. He was shot by the inn's proprietor James W. Jackson after removing a Confederate flag from the roof of the inn. Jackson was immediately killed after he killed Ellsworth. Ellsworth's death became a cause célèbre for the Union, while Jackson's death became the same for the Confederacy."
Below are several newspaper articles that provide some additional background information.
------------------------
The Evening Star
Wash., D.C.
April 18, 1861
“AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA….The announcement that a Confederate States' flag would be hoisted on the flag-staff at the Marshall House, collected quite a large assemblage in that neighborhood yesterday afternoon. The flag was hoisted about 4 o’clock, and greeted with cheers and a salute of artillery…..Several American flags in addition to those already up, were raised yesterday at private residences in this city.
-------------------------------
Alexandria Gazette And Virginia Advertiser
May 16, 1861
Local Items.
The Northern View of Alexandria.
“….A messenger who came in from Alexandria this evening, says there are not one hundred and fifty troops in the place, and they are not all armed. It is true that the secession flag still floats over the town. Senator Wade, upon observing it with a glass from the President's room yesterday, expressed his regret to Mr. Lincoln that it should be tolerated; to which Mr. L. replied that he did not think it would wave there long."
-------------------------------
The Independent
Oskaloosa, Kansas
Wednesday, May 22, 1861
Important Points to be Captured.
Washington, May 17.
“It is the prevailing impression here today….that an attack on Harper s Ferry, the seizure of Alexandria, and the capture of Pensacola, are events very near at hand. It is confirmatory of this that the troops at the North enlisted for three years service are ordered to be here immediately.
The fourteen regiments of New York in addition to her quota, are ordered here today. The Government will have seventy thousand men here by the end of this month and will then be in a condition to make important movements. The Government is ready for them at any moment and will not permit the rebels to remain there but a few days longer.
The President remarked a day or two since that the Eastern part of Virginia would be taken possession of and the rebel flag in Alexandria which can be seen from the White House wave there no longer.”
--------------------------------
The National Republican.
Wash., D.C.
May 25, 1861.
ARRIVAL OF THE REMAINS OF COLONEL ELLSWORTH AT THE NAVY YARD.
"The remains of Colonel Ellsworth were escorted up to the Navy Yard by the Mount Vernon, under Lieutenant Pendergrast, and were placed in the neat little engine-house of the yard, the fire apparatus having been removed. The body was laid on a small bench, and covered with the national flag, with a wreath of flowers upon the breast. The building was draped in flags and crape, and a special guard of the seventy-firs t regiment placed on duty about it, with orders to admit no person; but as the doors and windows were all open, the crowd outside had a very good opportunity of viewing the body. The flags about the yard were all at half-mast, and a spirit of deep grief pervaded the entire vicinity.
The President of the United States and Mrs. Lincoln visited the remains of Colonel Ellsworth, which were laid out in the engine-house of the navy yard, yesterday afternoon. The sight of the corpse of the gallant Colonel, who was looked upon as one of their household, caused both of them to shed tears freely.
THE FLAG.
The flag which Colonel Ellsworth captured was seventeen by fourteen feet, and was purchased by forced subscriptions from the citizens of Alexandria, who were threatened by Jackson that, if they refused to subscribe, they would be regarded as inimical to secession, and be treated accordingly. When Colonel Ellsworth was shot, he fell on this flag. A portion of it was shown to us yesterday, much saturated with blood. Several of the Zouaves have cut pieces from the flag, which they intend to preserve as relics.
CHARACTER OF JACKSON.
Jackson has, for a long time, been a terror to the Alexandrians. He is the same man who led the crowd which cut down the pole at Occoquan and who cut an ear from the body of John Brown after he had been hung.”
-------------------------------
The Evening Star
Washington City
Saturday, May 25, 1861
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
"James Jackson, who killed Col. Ellsworth, was a man of violent character, yet of generous impulses where his prejudices were not immediately roused. He headed the company that not long since cut down the Republican flag at Occoquan, and the Secession flags flying over his house was the first one thrown to the breeze in Alexandria.
As late as the day before yesterday, some of his neighbors remonstrated with him upon essaying to keep it flying in view of the fact that it was highly probable that the troops of the United States would very shortly occupy Alexandria, and it was well known that the disunionists authorities had ordered its evacuation, by the few disunion troops there, at the first moment they might make their appearance. He, however, aware that he would sacrifice his life in keeping it flying -- and by daybreak the next day his oath was fulfilled.
A week ago, a Union man of this city, who was In Alexandria on business, was denounced by a Washington refugee and a band of avowed disunionists threatened to shoot or hang him; when Jackson went to his rescue and threatening to kill any man who molested him, saved him (Mr. Diffendaffer) from the vengeance of some of the most violent and reckless disunionists who for a month past had been the terror of the peaceable people around them.
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA.
At 9 ½ o’clock last night the body of Jackson was laid out in the parlor of the Marshall House, the corpse dressed in the uniform of the artillery company to which he had belonged. This company is resuscitated from a company in existence there many years ago, and the members wear the uniform worn then. The coat buttons bear the State coat of arms. There was no guard about the house, and no crowd. A few friends of Jackson were superintending the removal of the furniture to the country, and with that exception all was quiet in and about the place,”
------------------------------
Link to Marshall House flag, in the collection of the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, at:
museum.dmna.ny.gov/flags/other/confederate/marshall-house...
-----------------------------
Link to additional information and 3D anaglyph of Private Brownell, "Ellsworth's Avenger," at this flickr link: www.flickr.com/photos/110677094@N05/52415352097/in/datepo...
************************
Red/Cyan (not red/blue) glasses of the proper density must be used to view 3D effect without ghosting. Anaglyph prepared using red cyan glasses from The Center For Civil War Photography / American Battlefield Trust. CCWP Link: www.civilwarphotography.org/
The Marshall House - Alexandria, Va. - Where Col. Ellsworth was Killed - 1861
3D red/cyan anaglyph created from glass plate stereograph at Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: www.loc.gov/pictures/
LOC Title: Alexandria, Va. The Marshall House, King and Pitt Streets
Date: 1861
Photographer: Not Identified
Link to glass plate: www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2018667033/
Notes: Summary from Wikipedia: "The Marshall House was an inn that stood at 480 King Street (near the southeast corner of King Street and South Pitt Street) in Alexandria, Virginia. At the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861, the house was the site of the killing of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth during the Union Army's takeover of Alexandria. Ellsworth was a popular and highly prominent officer and a close friend of President Abraham Lincoln.
Ellsworth was the first conspicuous Union Army casualty and the first officer killed in battle during the war. He was shot by the inn's proprietor James W. Jackson after removing a Confederate flag from the roof of the inn. Jackson was immediately killed after he killed Ellsworth. Ellsworth's death became a cause célèbre for the Union, while Jackson's death became the same for the Confederacy."
Below are several newspaper articles that provide some additional background information.
------------------------
The Evening Star
Wash., D.C.
April 18, 1861
“AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA….The announcement that a Confederate States' flag would be hoisted on the flag-staff at the Marshall House, collected quite a large assemblage in that neighborhood yesterday afternoon. The flag was hoisted about 4 o’clock, and greeted with cheers and a salute of artillery…..Several American flags in addition to those already up, were raised yesterday at private residences in this city.
-------------------------------
Alexandria Gazette And Virginia Advertiser
May 16, 1861
Local Items.
The Northern View of Alexandria.
“….A messenger who came in from Alexandria this evening, says there are not one hundred and fifty troops in the place, and they are not all armed. It is true that the secession flag still floats over the town. Senator Wade, upon observing it with a glass from the President's room yesterday, expressed his regret to Mr. Lincoln that it should be tolerated; to which Mr. L. replied that he did not think it would wave there long."
-------------------------------
The Independent
Oskaloosa, Kansas
Wednesday, May 22, 1861
Important Points to be Captured.
Washington, May 17.
“It is the prevailing impression here today….that an attack on Harper s Ferry, the seizure of Alexandria, and the capture of Pensacola, are events very near at hand. It is confirmatory of this that the troops at the North enlisted for three years service are ordered to be here immediately.
The fourteen regiments of New York in addition to her quota, are ordered here today. The Government will have seventy thousand men here by the end of this month and will then be in a condition to make important movements. The Government is ready for them at any moment and will not permit the rebels to remain there but a few days longer.
The President remarked a day or two since that the Eastern part of Virginia would be taken possession of and the rebel flag in Alexandria which can be seen from the White House wave there no longer.”
--------------------------------
The National Republican.
Wash., D.C.
May 25, 1861.
ARRIVAL OF THE REMAINS OF COLONEL ELLSWORTH AT THE NAVY YARD.
"The remains of Colonel Ellsworth were escorted up to the Navy Yard by the Mount Vernon, under Lieutenant Pendergrast, and were placed in the neat little engine-house of the yard, the fire apparatus having been removed. The body was laid on a small bench, and covered with the national flag, with a wreath of flowers upon the breast. The building was draped in flags and crape, and a special guard of the seventy-firs t regiment placed on duty about it, with orders to admit no person; but as the doors and windows were all open, the crowd outside had a very good opportunity of viewing the body. The flags about the yard were all at half-mast, and a spirit of deep grief pervaded the entire vicinity.
The President of the United States and Mrs. Lincoln visited the remains of Colonel Ellsworth, which were laid out in the engine-house of the navy yard, yesterday afternoon. The sight of the corpse of the gallant Colonel, who was looked upon as one of their household, caused both of them to shed tears freely.
THE FLAG.
The flag which Colonel Ellsworth captured was seventeen by fourteen feet, and was purchased by forced subscriptions from the citizens of Alexandria, who were threatened by Jackson that, if they refused to subscribe, they would be regarded as inimical to secession, and be treated accordingly. When Colonel Ellsworth was shot, he fell on this flag. A portion of it was shown to us yesterday, much saturated with blood. Several of the Zouaves have cut pieces from the flag, which they intend to preserve as relics.
CHARACTER OF JACKSON.
Jackson has, for a long time, been a terror to the Alexandrians. He is the same man who led the crowd which cut down the pole at Occoquan and who cut an ear from the body of John Brown after he had been hung.”
-------------------------------
The Evening Star
Washington City
Saturday, May 25, 1861
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
"James Jackson, who killed Col. Ellsworth, was a man of violent character, yet of generous impulses where his prejudices were not immediately roused. He headed the company that not long since cut down the Republican flag at Occoquan, and the Secession flags flying over his house was the first one thrown to the breeze in Alexandria.
As late as the day before yesterday, some of his neighbors remonstrated with him upon essaying to keep it flying in view of the fact that it was highly probable that the troops of the United States would very shortly occupy Alexandria, and it was well known that the disunionists authorities had ordered its evacuation, by the few disunion troops there, at the first moment they might make their appearance. He, however, aware that he would sacrifice his life in keeping it flying -- and by daybreak the next day his oath was fulfilled.
A week ago, a Union man of this city, who was In Alexandria on business, was denounced by a Washington refugee and a band of avowed disunionists threatened to shoot or hang him; when Jackson went to his rescue and threatening to kill any man who molested him, saved him (Mr. Diffendaffer) from the vengeance of some of the most violent and reckless disunionists who for a month past had been the terror of the peaceable people around them.
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA.
At 9 ½ o’clock last night the body of Jackson was laid out in the parlor of the Marshall House, the corpse dressed in the uniform of the artillery company to which he had belonged. This company is resuscitated from a company in existence there many years ago, and the members wear the uniform worn then. The coat buttons bear the State coat of arms. There was no guard about the house, and no crowd. A few friends of Jackson were superintending the removal of the furniture to the country, and with that exception all was quiet in and about the place,”
------------------------------
Link to Marshall House flag, in the collection of the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, at:
museum.dmna.ny.gov/flags/other/confederate/marshall-house...
-----------------------------
Link to additional information and 3D anaglyph of Private Brownell, "Ellsworth's Avenger," at this flickr link: www.flickr.com/photos/110677094@N05/52415352097/in/datepo...
************************
Red/Cyan (not red/blue) glasses of the proper density must be used to view 3D effect without ghosting. Anaglyph prepared using red cyan glasses from The Center For Civil War Photography / American Battlefield Trust. CCWP Link: www.civilwarphotography.org/