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:
St Paul, Minn Feby 6th 1861
Col E. E. Ellsworth
Springfield, Ill.
My Dear Sir,
Yours of the 23rd, with enclosures and accompanied with “Manual,” “Lithograph” and 3 copies of the Militia Law was rec’d on the 4th inst- I should have answered it sooner but that I have been detained by important business matters elsewhere. I am under great obligation, for your kindness, and if what I send with this, will be deemed any return therefore, shall feel perfectly satisfied. I enclosed letters from Sec’y of State & Surgeon General, which I hope will be of service to you. The former, is personally acquainted with Mr. Lincoln, and well known throughout your State.
The Governor is absent from town today, but I shall see him tomorrow and hope to get a Letter from him.
It gives me great pleasure, to be able to assist you in any way that I may, and if you can point out any mode to which I can render you further service, be pleased to signify it.
I sincerely hope, that you may be able to obtain the place you seek, nothing that I can do for you, shall be wanting. I shall tomorrow write the Hon. Cyrus Aldrich M.C. from this District in relation to you, and I think that he will aid you all in his power. Should you desire it, I can furnish a Letter of introduction to him, and also to Mr. Windom, his associate from this State, and to Mr. Wilkinson U.S.S.
The “Uniform” you send, I think perfect, it is just what I should like to see adopted here, and is precisely such an one as I have had in my eye, ever since I saw you “Zouaves” in Chicago. Can you inform me, to whom can I write, in Chicago, that would send me the entire uniform, Hat or Cap, Shoes, Gaiters, Sash, Knapsack (Zouave) everything that is on the Lithograph, in case I should desire to procure one- some one person.
I have not had time to give your “Military Law” that attention it deserves, but shall very shortly- I am convinced of one thing, in relation to our State, which is that the commutation system will never work here, and I doubt very much whether we shall be able raise a tax to support the Militia. Our people are not yet educated up to that idea. They will receive practical instruction I fear, before another year rolls round. No State needs an efficient Militia system more than ours, and in none is it harder to obtain one. Our poverty is of course one great reason, and yet that is not wholly the trouble- Our Legislators, do not give it the proper consideration, they in fact treat it lightly, and as long as they feel in that mood, it is perhaps as well that they should learn by experience the need of having a State Military Establishment. I am convinced that we shall have trouble here, if the Govt should be obligated to withdraw the Troops from our Frontier posts, and that I deem certain to occur, if our political troubles continue, and yet our Legislature makes no account of it whatever.
You will recollect that the largest Indian Tribe on this continent is all along our frontier, and in a situation to gather, and strike our settlements within 24 hours.
Hoping to hear from you again very soon,
I am Truly Your Friend
Wm. H. Acker
Citation: William H. Acker, autograph letter signed to Elmer Ellsworth. St Paul, Minn., 6 February 1861. AMs 811/2.6