Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth.

[major bill]

Elmer E. Ellsworth was an early war hero but would he have made a good senior officer? So let us look at his qualifications.

It remains unknown if Ellsworth would have made a good general. Having worked for and studied under Abraham Lincoln so it seems likely he would have became a general however, he only had militia experience and he did not attend West Point or have any other formal military training. He did study military science in his spare time. He also only had militia experience and no real experience in the regular army and had never been in a war. It appears his real equalizations is he formed and lead the the Zouave Cadets of Chicago. He was also a drillmaster for some other militia units. He also recruited the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment and became the regiment's commanding officer.

Ellsworth was killed too early in the War for anyone to know how good of general he would have made. It is claimed he was the first Union officer to die but this should read as first Union officer killed. Most Civil War senior generals had a good understanding of military engineering as well as a knowledge of logistics. Ellsworth had neither. It is possible he could have learned these skills on the job, but learning on the job is a bit iffy. Being a great drillmaster does not automatically make one a great tactician So would have Ellsworth been one of the best political general or not?

 

[Kurt G]

He was enthusiastic and brave , but I don't think that would translate to a great general. I've read that he liked to play with the Lincoln children , so I also wonder about his maturity. The village of Ellsworth , Michigan ( Antrim County ) was named after him by the postmaster , Lewis A. DeLine who had served under Ellsworth. There is also an Ellsworth Township in Lake County , Michigan named after him.

 

[major bill]

Let us look at how he died. Colonel Willcox B. Willcox was in charge of the capture of Alexandria. Ellsworth over stepped his authority when he offered surrender terms to the Confederate commander in Alexandria and Colonel Willcox over ruled Ellsworth. Colonel Willcox ordered someone to bring down the Confederate flag flying from the town square. Even though the town was not secured Ellsworth left his regiment to go to the roof of a hotel to personally cut down a Confederate flag. He probably should have sent aa lieutenant to cut down the flag.

Willcox showed his experience and maturity, however, in both cases Ellsworth appears to have been seeking personal glory and one could say showed his lack of experience and lack of maturity.