history with him is only a matter of a few weeks. He brought
his regiment down to Washington early in May, arriving thin as a
greyhound, his voice hoarse with drilling; but flushed and happy to
know he was busy and useful at last.

There was no limit to the hopes and the confidence of his friends.
We had grown to admire and respect him for his high and honorable
character, his thorough knowledge of his business, ardent zeal for the
flag he followed, and his extraordinary courage and energy. We fully
expected, relying upon his splendid talents and the President's
affectionate regard, that his first battle would make him a
brigadier-general, and that his second would give him a division.
There was no limit to the glory and usefulness we anticipated for him.
How soon all these hopes were dust and ashes!

[Illustration: COLONEL ELLSWORTH AND A GROUP OF MILITIA OFFICERS.

From a photograph taken by Colonel E.L. Brand, a member of Ellsworth's
Chicago company, and reproduced by the courtesy of Mr. H.H. Miller,
also a member of the company. The photograph was taken in New York
City, July, 1860, on the occasion of an exhibition drill given
there by Ellsworth's company. The persons shown in the picture are,
beginning on the left, the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixth Regiment,
New York Militia; E.E. Ellsworth, Captain of the United States Zouave
Cadets (Ellsworth's Chicago company); Joseph C. Pinckney, Colonel
of the Sixth Regiment, New York Militia; the Adjutant of the Sixth
Regiment, New York Militia; H. Dwight Laflin, Second Lieutenant of the
United States Zouave Cadets, and J.R. Scott, First Lieutenant of the
United States Zouave Cadets. The colors shown in the picture were
won by Ellsworth's company in a drill competition at the National
Agricultural Fair, Chicago, September, 15, 1859, and were, by it,
never lost. They are to-day in the custody of the company's color
sergeant, B.B. Botteford, Chicago.]

On the evening of May 23d he received his orders to lead his regiment
on the extreme left of the Union lines in the advance into Virginia.
The part assigned him was the occupation of Alexandria. He worked
almost all night in his tent, arranging the business of his regiment,
and then wrote a touching letter of farewell to his parents.
Anticipating an engagement, he said: "It may be my lot to be injured
in some manner. Whatever may happen, cherish the consolation that
I was engaged in the performance of a sacred duty; and to-