This .31 caliber Adams Patent Pocket Revolver was engraved for presentation to Frank Brownell by the New York Board of Brokers on May 29, 1861. Brownell became something of a celebrity as the avenger of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, who was killed at the Marshall House hotel in Alexandria, VA, on May 24, 1861.
Frank E. Brownell donated this .44-caliber Colt 1860 Army revolver, Serial No. 1987, to the Smithsonian. It has a fluted cylinder and "ELLSWORTH" engraved on the backstrap. Colt factory records indicate it was delivered to Governor William Dennsion of Ohio. Brownell became something of a celebrity as the avenger of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, who was killed at the Marshall House hotel in Alexandria, VA, on May 24, 1861. It is likely that Governor Dennison presented the revolver to Frank Brownell.
Model 1855 U.S. Percussion Rifle, .58-caliber single shot muzzleloader with Maynard primer; lug on right side of barrel for saber bayonet; walnut stock, patchbox on right side of butt.
Description
Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, commander of the 11th New York Infantry, was killed on May 24, 1861. Ellsworth led a company of his men into Alexandria, VA where they saw a large Confederate flag flying over the roof of the Marshall House hotel on King Street. They went to the rooftop and lowered the flag. As they were descending they were surprised by the innkeeper, James W. Jackson. Jackson leveled a double-barrel shotgun at Ellsworth and killed him instantly with a shot to the chest. Pvt. Frank Brownell, of the 11th New York Infantry, used this Model 1855 Percussion Rifle and its bayonet to kill James Jackson.
This "Hunter" 12 gauge double-barrel shotgun was used by James W. Jackson to kill Colonel Elmer Ellsworth on May 24, 1861.
Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, commander of the 11th New York Infantry, was killed on May 24, 1861. Ellsworth led a company of his men into Alexandria, VA where they saw a large Confederate flag flying over the roof of the Marshall House hotel on King Street. They went to the rooftop and lowered the flag. As they were descending they were surprised by the innkeeper, James W. Jackson. Jackson leveled this shotgun at Ellsworth and killed him instantly with a shot to the chest. Jackson was shot and bayoneted to death by Private Francis E. Brownell. Ellsworth was the first notable casualty of the Civil War and became a martyr of the Union cause.
Sergeant Frank E. Brownell, of the Ellsworth Zouaves, stabbed James W. Jackson, the proprietor of the Marshall House hotel at Alexandria, VA with this bayonet. Jackson had mortally wounded Col. E.E. Ellsworth, United States Volunteers, for hauling down the Confederate flag from the hotel roof.