Elmer Ellsworth-- Part 6: At West Point and the White House

A high point of the tour for Elmer Ellsworth took place on July 26, 1860, when his outfit performed at West Point.  His one great desire earlier had been to attend the Point and become the soldier he wanted to be. Sadly for him, he had no political connections, something that was very important to get appointed to the USMA.   Now was his chance to show them what he could do.

And, the two American officers who had written the drill manual for American troops, William Hardee and Winfield Scott were in attendance.

Everyone was impressed.  To top it off, on August 4, the Zouave Cadets performed at the White House for President Buchanan.

There was no charge to see the Zouaves perform, but one time in New York City, they drilled inside and $1 was charged for each spectator.  This was badly needed as they were running out of money.

In Pittsburgh, Ellsworth was presented with a ceremonial sword.  That sword came up for auction a few years ago and had an opening bid of $60,000.

--Old Secesh

Elmer Ellsworth-- Part 5: Proving National Championship

To prove that his United States Zouave Cadets were the national champions in drill, Elmer Ellsworth determined to go on a 20-city tour.  But, in order to do so, $7,000 needed to be raised.  They sold Zouave drill manuals to raise part of it.

Even though his men were already a well-trained outfit, to be extra sure, Ellsworth launched a vigorous training regime.  They trained from 7 to 11 every night except Sunday.

They went on the road, appearing in Adrian, Michigan first and then to Detroit.  Ellsworth had strict rules and breaking any of them would get the man sent home immediately.

More stops at Rochester, Syracuse, Albany in New York and his Zouaves were becoming quite the celebrities. with their pomp and showmanship during the drills.

--Old SecZouave

Elmer Ellsworth & the U.S. Zouave Cadets-- Part 4: National Champions!

Next, Elmer Ellsworth went to Chicago and took command of the National Guard Cadets in 1859.  This group was on the verge of bankruptcy and danger of disbanding.  Ellsworth changed their name to the United States Zouave Cadets and started training them the Zouave way.  They appeared on July 4, 1859, at the famed hotel, Tremont House, in Chicago.

The Cadets found their new commander and drillmaster really took his job very seriously.  They had to sign a pledge not to enter a saloon, house of ill repute or be caught playing billiards anywhere.  If they were, expulsion would follow.

The Cadets had an armory and gymnasium in Chicago at the corner of State and Roosevelt.

They then went on competition to get a stand of colors worth $500.  They won, but other militias claimed unfairly so.  This enabled the U.S. Zouave Cadets to claim the National Championship.

Ellsworth decided to go on a national tour to prove how good they were.

--Old

Other Events Affecting the Civil War-- Part 6: Confederates Refusing to Cross the Potomac River

Continued from September 28, 2017.

**  Mobile as a port was closed in August 1864, but continued being held by Confederates until almost the end of the war.

**  Some Confederates refused to cross the Potomac River before the Battle of Gettysburg.

**  Inspections of equipment before military issue.

**  Grant being appointed to lead the Union armies which led to the first Union coordinated effort.

**  Did the South have the right to secede?  During the War of 1812, New England came close to it.  Plus there was the South Carolina Nullification which President Jackson forced them to back down.

Next month's discussion topic will be  "The Top Ten Blunders" of the war.

--Old Secesh

How To Pronounce Zouave

In case you're wondering how to pronounce Zouave:

ZOO-of

Now You Know.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT Discussion Group Meeting Nov. 25: The Black Experience in the War

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table Discussion Group will meet Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the Panera Bread Company at 8000 Northwest Highway (US-14) in Crystal Lake, Illinois, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The topic will be the Black Experience in the Civil War.

I will talk about Ann Stokes, U.S. Navy nurse and first black woman to receive a Civil War pension.  I will also talk about the movie "Glory."

Looking Forward to It.  --Old Secesh

Elmer Ellsworth & the U.S. Zouave Cadets-- Part 3: Iron Brigade Connection

Then Elmer Ellsworth went to Rockford, Illinois, and his group of militia made a name for themselves with their precision drill at Camp Sinnissippi in Rockford at an encampment.  This is where the Sinnissippi Park is located today.  The Kenosha Civil War Museum has a broadside advertisement for this.

Ellsworth fell in love while in Rockford with Carrie Stafford, the daughter of a rich and powerful Rockford father, who did not like Ellsworth's prospects and did what he could to prevent a marriage until Ellsworth could prove he could support his daughter.

Next, Ellsworth went to Madison, Wisconsin, and trained the Governor's Guard, some of those men going on to prominent positions in the famed Iron Brigade during the Civil War.  The Iron Brigade originally was made up of the 2nd, 6th and 7th Wisconsin regiments, but was later joined by the 24th Michigan and 19th Indiana regiments.

--Old Secesh

Elmer Ellsworth and the U.S. Zouave Cadets-- Part 2

Elmer Ellsworth lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1853 to attend Kenosha High School.  He came to Chicago in 1854 at age 17 and became a businessman, something that he was not suited for and this venture bankrupted him.

While in the city,thought, he vigorously studied the two main military drill manuals of the day by William Hardee and Winfield Scott.  He also got a copy of the Zouave training manual.  The Zouaves had impressed the world with their action during the Crimean War.

In 1857, he became drill instructor of the Rockford Greys and in the summer of 1858 taught them the Zouave system of drill.  Many of these men later formed three companies in the 19th Illinois Infantry.

--Old Secesh

Elmer Ellsworth and the United States Zouave Cadets-- Part 1

Presentation given to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table November 14, 2017, by Doug Dammann of the Kenosha Civil War Museum (Wisconsin).

Elmer Ellsworth was one of the most influential people of the Civil War, even though he died as young as he did and as early in the war.  It was the influence he had on his officers and what they accomplished later on in the war.  Mr. Dammann then showed a picture of the Green Bay Packer coaching staff  in 1992, featuring head coach Mike Holmgren and his assistants.  A whole lot of them went on to head coaching position and success on other teams.  And, that was what Ellsworth's officers did.

And, of course, there was the whole Zouave military thing and training.

Besides his own regiment that he raised in New York, the 11th, or Fire Zouaves (raised from New York fire stations) his mark was also on the 19th Illinois and 44th New York.

His great grandfather, George Ellsworth, was a private in the Continental Army during the American revolution.  His greatest ambition was to attend West Point but he didn't have the political connections to get nominated and attend.  But, he studied the all things military religiously.

Real Military bearing.  --Old Secesh

MCCWRT Meeting November 14, 2017

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table's Christmas Party will be Sunday, December 3 at the Bernard Mill Restaurant in Ringwood, Illinois, from 11 to 2.  The restaurant is in an actual 19th century mill.

Cost is $30, with proceeds going to the scholarship program.  Food will be served family style and guest speaker will be portraying Clara Barton.

The new officers and board were elected.

Our speaker for the night,  Doug Dammann is with the Kenosha (Wisconsin) Civil War Museum where he has been for the past ten years.  The museum opened in 2008 and they have a Second Friday Lecture once a month as well as a Campaign Tour the second to last weekend in October.  They just got back from Sailors Creek, Virginia and the Appomattox Campaign.

He spoke on Elmer Ellsworth and the United States Zouave Cadets.  I, of course, knew who Elmer Ellsworth was but didn't know anything about his Zouave Cadets which was why I looked them up and wrote about them this past week.

Well, At Least I May Finally Learn for Sure How to Pronounce Zouave.  --Old Secesh

Civil War II-- 594: Statues in Question

From the September 17, 2017, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Confederate Flags not banned in most Lehigh Valley schools.  (Win)  But guess what they want done.

**  Confederate statue at Ole Miss campus rammed by pickup--  not clear if intentional.  (Loss)  It was in area known as Confederate Circle and honored Confederate dead.    The suspected driver was intoxicated and received medical attention along with a passenger.  "Hey, let's get  drunk and ram that statue!!"

**  Confederate statue part of county history, some say.  (Bell County)

**  Demonstrators gather to remember Confederate statue removed in (d)allas.

--Old Secesh

U.S. Zouave Cadets-- Part 2: Doing That Zouave Thing

There is a song sheet cover for a song dedicated to them called "The U.S. Zouave Quarter Step."

There were numerous Zouave units on both sides during the war, some wearing variations of the loose-fitting uniforms.Elmer Ellsworth received a Zouave drill manual and took over a drill company in Chicago that was about on its last legs.  he renamed it the Zouave Cadets and toured nationally one summer/fall before the war.

Ellsworth was a law clerk for Abraham Lincoln before he became president.

Ellsworth's monument and grave are in Hudson View Cemetery in Mechanicsville, New York.

--Old Secesh

November Civil War Chronology-- Part 2: The Gettysburg Address

Nov. 17, 1863:  Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, begins and lasts for 16 days.

Nov. 19, 1863:  President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the Pennsylvania Battlefield.

Nov. 23, 1863:  Battle of Orchard Knob, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Nov. 24, 1863:  Battle of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.

Nov. 25, 1783:  British evacuate New York City.

Nov. 30, 1864:  Battle of Franklin, Tennessee.

--Old Secesh

MCCWRT Meeting Tonight: Elmer Ellsworth and the Zouave Cadets

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table will be meeting tonight at the Woodstock Public Library in Woodstock, Illinois, at 7 p.m..  The library is located at 414 W. Judd Street, just a couple blocks of the famous 1840s Woodstock Square, where the movie "Groundhog Day" was filmed.

Tonight's presentation will be "Elmer Ellsworth and the Zouave Cadets" given by Doug Dammann.

--Old Secesh

U.S. Zouave Cadets and Elmer Ellsworth-- Part 1

From the Smithsonian.

This will be the topic of the McHenry County Civil War Round Table presentation tonight in Woodstock, Illinois.

Most know Elmer E. Ellsworth was the first Union officer killed in the war on May 24, 1861, when he took down the Confederate flag from the roof of the hotel in Alexandria, Virginia.  But not so many know about the group that brought him to military prominence, the Zouave Cadets.

The U.S. Zouave Cadets were organized by Ellsworth in Chicago 1859-1860.  They were noted for their precision drills and colorful uniforms.  They toured the United States in 1860, putting on shows and in August 1860 were invited to the White House to put on a performance for President James Buchanan and his popular niece, Harriet Lane.

--Old Secesh