Elmer E. Ellsworth was born in Malta, New York,
on April 11, 1837. From an early age he had aspirations
of becoming a professional soldier. Although his
early education was meager and disqualified him
from attending West Point, Ellsworth moved to Chicago
and organized what became the U.S. Zouave Cadets.
This volunteer militia unit went on tour in 1860
and won admiration for the precision of its close
order drill and for its brightly colored Algerian
inspired uniforms of short jackets, baggy pants,
and gaiters.
Ellsworth became a friend of Abraham Lincoln
during the fall campaign of 1860 and accompanied
him to Washington for his inauguration. With the
outbreak of hostilities, Ellsworth hurried to
New York City and organized the 1st New York Fire
Zouaves, which became the 11th New York Infantry.
This regiment, composed of city firemen, was one
of the first to arrive in Washington. The Zouaves
proved to be expert at putting out city fires—they
saved the Willard Hotel from burning—but they
were rowdy soldiers. They sorely tested Ellsworth’s
efforts to instill in them a sense of military
discipline. Immediately after their commander’s
death in Alexandria, the Zouaves threatened to
burn the city in retaliation. Union authorities
quickly removed them from town and set them to
work digging earthworks for Fort Ellsworth, which
overlooked the city.
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