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Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865
During the summer of 1860, an acquaintance between Elmer Ellsworth and Abraham Lincoln, the Republican Party presidential candidate, began developing into a genuine friendship in Lincoln's hometown of Springfield, Illinois. Ellsworth worked briefly in Lincoln's law office, assisted with the fall campaign, and became an adviser to Lincoln after he won the election. In late February 1861, he was among the select group of aides who escorted Lincoln by train to Washington for his inauguration. Afterward, he was a guest of the first family at the White House. Lincoln lobbied the War Department-unsuccessfully-to detail Ellsworth for special duty as adjutant and inspector general of militia. After the president's proclamation of April 15, 1861, requesting 75,000 state militia, Ellsworth realized his opportunity and hastened to New York City, where he began recruiting a regiment of Zouaves from the ranks of the volunteer fire departments.
Charles Wesley Jarvis, 1861 |