Elmer Ellsworth

Telegraphed reports of Ellsworth's death caused a sensation throughout the North: church and fire bells tolled, and flags flew at half-mast from Poughkeepsie to Pittsburgh and beyond. Lincoln was deeply distressed. Ellsworth had been particularly close to the Lincoln family in the last months of his life, and when his body was brought to the Washington Navy Yard, the president and first lady wept. Lincoln arranged for Ellsworth to lie in state in the East Room of the White House the next day, May 25. Mrs. Lincoln made a floral wreath with Ellsworth's picture in the center and placed it on his casket. That afternoon a military escort, including Francis Brownell carrying the Marshall House flag, paraded solemnly to the train station. Ellsworth would be interred in his hometown of Mechanicville, New York.