Col. Elmer Ellsworth was a lawyer and soldier and friend of Abraham Lincoln who would become one of the first casualties of the Civil War. As a colonel of the Chicago National Guard Cadets before the war, Ellsworth introduced French-inspired Zouave uniforms and drills to the unit. He worked in Lincoln’s law office in August 1860 and assisted him during the fall campaign. After Lincoln’s election he helped organize troops, including the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was shot and killed on May 24, 1861 while removing a large Confederate flag from a tavern in Alexandria Virginia.
Transcript (excerpt):
New Orleans
Nov 24. 1860
[Excerpt middle of p2]
Times are hot here and if they do get into open conflict with the north Greek will meet Greek. These fellows are strong courageous young men and as hungry for blood as a nigger catching hound. They are used to it you see and they need the excitement. They are generally excellent shots with the Mississippi Rifle & dont fear the devil himself. I have seen young fellows jump into a crowd with his knife in his teeth and drive out a house full of irishmen—all around too. Its shoot or cut at the word go here and the law seldom punishes them for it.
[Excerpt p3, last paragraph]
You are favorably known here but your Zouaves are called boy soldiers & their excellent drill is said to be because they did nothing else. This is the peoples opinion and not nice for I know I see an admirable photograph of you on Camp Street and if abolition was not so all in all in your state you would have more credit. They would not recognise you here as an officer unless you came here to stay or “declared your intentions” for a northern man has a poor show for anything here just now unless he has many personal friends here. This is the extent of my information as I am not well posted anyway
Truly Yours
J. A. Hendson
Citation. J.A. Hendson, autograph letter signed to Elmer Ellsworth. New Orleans, 24 November 1860. AMs 811/2.5