The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Ellsworth, Ephraim Elmer

ELLSWORTH, Ephraim Elmer, American soldier: b. Mechanicsville, N. Y., 23 April 1837; d. Alexandria, Va., 24 May 1861. He organized about 1859 a zouave corps which became noted for the excellence of its discipline. In March 1861 he accompanied President Lincoln to Washington, and in April he went to New York, where he organized a zouave regiment of firemen, of which he became colonel. Ordered to Alexandria, he lowered a Confederate flag floating over a hotel, for which act the hotelkeeper shot him dead.