Object Details
- recipient
- Brownell, Frank E.
- referenced
- Ellsworth, Elmer E.
- Description
- Physical Description
- Brass-colored metal on ribbon.
- Specific History
- Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Frank E. Brownell, private, Company A, 11th New York Infantry. On May 24, 1861, Brownell killed James W. Jackson, who killed Brownell's commanding officer, Colonel Elmer Ellsworth. Ellsworth was the first Union officer killed in the Civil War. He was shot by Jackson as he lowered a Confederate flag flying from the Marshall House Inn in Alexandria, Virginia. Seconds later, Brownell shot and bayoneted Jackson. Brownell received two Medals of Honor; the first one issued to him was inscribed on the reverse: "The Congress to Sergeant Frank E. Brownell Co. 4 11th New York Volunteers." Brownell was not pleased with the inscription and sent the medal back. He was given a new medal with an inscription he had written himself: "The Congress to Sergt. Frank E. Brownell, 11th N.Y. Vol Inf'y for gallantry in shooting the murderer of Col. Ellsworth at Alexandria, VA, May 24, 1861."
- ca. 1863
- ID Number
- AF.6955
- accession number
- 30411
- catalog number
- 6955
- Object Name
- medal of honor
- Physical Description
- bronze (overall material)
- silk (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 4 1/2 in x 2 1/4 in x 1/2 in; 11.43 cm x 5.715 cm x 1.27 cm
- associated place
- United States: Virginia, Alexandria
- See more items in
- Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
- Military
- ThinkFinity
- Exhibition
- Price of Freedom
- Exhibition Location
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Medal of Honor
- Civil War
- related event
- Civil War
- Civil War and Reconstruction
- Record ID
- nmah_1301433
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-e479-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
