Current Exhibition & Auction

Auction 739 April.

Boston
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Lot 363

Elmer Ellsworth

Opening: $200

Estimate: $600 - $800

Two swatches of the Confederate flag torn from the roof of the Marshall House—one red and one white in color, each about 1˝ x .25˝. The weave and color of the cloth entirely consistent with material used at the time to construct flags. Lying above the flag remnants is a 3/8" x 1/8" swatch of finely-woven crimson red fabric identified as a piece of Ellsworth's shirt. This is consistent with the regiment's dark blue Zouave style uniforms with red shirts and trim on the jacket and pant's stripe.

The relics are clippings from larger pieces which were accompanied by two paper tags with period identification notations, in full: "Col. Ellsworth, his trophy and a piece of his Shirt" and "Pieces of the Secession Flag taken by him, and a piece of the robe shirt on him at the time of his death." These were housed in a period daguerreotype case, a small image of which is included.

Also includes a 6.5˝ x 1.25˝ wooden fragment, identified as "A piece of the Flag Staff from which Col. Ellsworth took the secession flag & lost his life—Alexandria—Marshall House." Further accompanied by a carte-de-visite portrait of Elmer Ellsworth standing in a full-length pose, published by J. Gurney & Son. In overall very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges to the carte-de-visite's mount.