My father writes:

"My encyclopedia says an Elmer E. Ellsworth was the first Union officer killed in the Civil War. He had worked in Lincoln's law office in Springfield, IL, and aided in the presidential campaign. He was killed removing a rebel flag from a hotel in Alexandria, VA, and became a Northern hero. He was leading a Zouave volunteer regiment from NY."

So this is a generation before my Elmer, but it's a great story. The Zouaves were the ones who wore the gig, bright red pantaloons and red turbans that made them such easy targets...

http://www.zouave.org/

http://www.zouave.org/craze.html

Janelle