Colonel Augustus van Horne Ellis-- Part 5

GETTYSBURG

On the second day of the battle, the 124th NY was on Houck's Ridge by the Round Tops and Devil's Den.

The regiment was called the "Orange Blossoms" because they were from Orange County and wore orange ribbons on their uniforms. Their commander was Col. Ellis, who was described by Captain Charles Weygant as "a rather cold, harsh, ambitious man who sometimes chilled us with his terrible bursts of profanity." But, "In that indescribable soldierly quality which--for want of a better term--we shall call dash, he was unsurpassed by any officer in our Corps."

The 124th was trying to protect the 4th NY Battery which was under attack by the 1st Texas and 15th Georgia. Major James Cromwell of the Orange Blossoms rode to the front of the lone and led a charge that drove the Confederates back. He had just yelled, "The day is ours! when he was struck by a bullet and fell dead from his saddle.


ONE HARD FIGHT

The Confederates rallied and came back. Col. Ellis mounted a counter charge yelling, "My God! Mt God, men! Your major's down; save him! Save him!" Again the Confederates fell back. Ellis stood up in his stirrups waving his sword just as a bullet slammed into his forehead and down he went, dead.

The fighting raged hand-to-hand. The Southerners eventually won the day and took possession of the Devil's Den and Houck's Ridge and had captured three cannons. Ward's 2,200 man brigade, of which the 124th belonged, had suffered 781 casualties.

HAWAIIAN NAVY COMMANDER

A picture of Ellis is on page 87. Part of the caption reads: "A New York City lawyer, he ventured to California, becoming a fireman and then a sailor. Voyaging to Hawaii, he made friends with the island's kings and was appointed commander of Hawaii's navy. When he learned that the king had no warships, Ellis returned home to become a steamer captain."

From the Time-Life Books Gettysburg: The Confederate High Tide pages 85 and 87.

Brave Men, All. --Old B-Runner

Colonel Augustus van Horne Ellis-- Part 4

For someone who had never heard of this guy before last month, I sure am becoming knowledgeable. He was quite the hero.

I looked him up in my Civil War books and found two accounts concerning him.

Stephen W. Sears in his "Gettysburg" book, had this to say. (pages 273-274)

Confederates under Hood approached the Union line, "the 124th New York's Colonel Van Horne Ellis and his major, James Cromwell, determined that their best hope lay in a counterattack. Ellis and Cromwell mounted and took their places for the charge. To a staff man who urged them to lead on foot, Colonel Ellis said only, 'The men must see us today.' At the cry of 'Charge!' from Major Cromwell, the New Yorkers rushed from the west face of Houck's Ridge at the double-quick. The first Texas reeled back from some 200 yards under the surprise onslaught."

An officer of the 124th wrote, "Roaring Cannon, crashing rifles, screeching shots, bursting shells, hissing bullets, cheers, shouts, shrieks and groans...." Then, a second line of Confederates approached and "pored into us a terrible fire which seemed for an instant to bring down a quarter of our numbers."

"Major Cromwell tumbled dead off his horse, shot through the chest. Then Colonel Ellis was down, shot through the head." Captain Charles Weygant took charge and only around one hundred men were left to fight.

Now, this is up close and personal action. Being mounted or carrying a flag in battle drew extra attention from the enemy.

A Story of a Brave Regiment and Their Leaders. --Old B-R

Colonel Augustus van Horne Ellis-- Part 3

According to the auction house, Augustus had been a lawyer and a sea captain before the war. He was the first colonel of the 124th New York Volunteer Infantry (Orange Blossoms). The regiment had 40% casualties at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

The second day at the Battle of Gettysburg, the 124th was stationed at Houck's Ridge near Devil's Den on the left wing of the Union line. They got into a hot fight with the Texans under Confederate General John B. Hood.

Col. Ellis deliberately remained on horseback during the fight to inspire his outnumbered troops. He was killed, but the defense slowed the Confederate attack which broke on Little Round Top.

A monument in Col. Ellis' honor was erected on Houck's Ridge in 1885. There is also a Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War unit named in his honor.

Quite a Hero. --Old B-Runner

Colonel Augustus van Horne Ellis-- Part 2

The Rock Island Auction Company had a write up on the pistol.

It was sold in Lot 3187, but I didn't find out for how much.

The case in inscribed with "A. V. H. Ellis/Colonel 124th Regt./N.Y.V." on three lines on the left side of the frame.

The revolver was complete and in a four compartment English-style oak case with green lining. The case contains a wooden cleaning rod with steel tip, a full box of Winchester .32 Short cartridges and a steel screw-driver with ebony handle.

I would like too know the history of this pistol. It shows minimum handling and wear and wasn't fired, so it is unlikely this was the one he used in battle. Perhaps he received it when he became the colonel of the regiment and left it at home. Since he was killed at Gettysburg, perhaps his family was presented it by his men or the state.

What happened to it after the war? Did a family member hold on to it and a descendant needing money?

That Pistol's Git a Story to Tell. --B-R'er

Col. Ellis' Revolver-- Part 1

The September 6th Chicago Tribune had a full-page advertisement in it from the Rock Island (Il) Auction Company featuring lots of weapons dating back to the 1800s.

I found the picture and write up for one of particular interest since it was a Civil War item.

It was listed as a historic Smith & Wesson No. 2 Old Model Army revolver in a case that was inscribed to Civil War hero Augustus van Horn Ellis. A picture of him also accompanied the pistol. It was expected to get between $10,000 and $20,000.

I'd never heard of Colonel Ellis, so...

Who is Col. Ellis and Why is he Considered a Hero? --Old B-Runner