This article is about Francis E. Brownell, a Union Army soldier. For a Washington state pioneer, lawyer, and businessman, see Francis H. Brownell.
Francis Edwin Brownell (July 18, 1840 – March 15, 1894) was a Union Army soldier who received a Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War. Brownell received the award for killing James W. Jackson after Jackson shot Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, colonel of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Although Brownell did not receive the award until 1877, twelve years after the war had ended, his actions were the earliest in the war that resulted in the receipt of the award.
Francis Edwin "Frank" Brownell was born in Troy, New York to Charles Brownell and Lucy Adams, where, prior to the Civil War, he worked as a clerk in the law office of attorney John A. Millard.[2] He enlisted as a private in the 11th New York Volunteers, the "Fire Zouaves", in April 1861, and was assigned to Company A.[2][3]
In the first days of the war, as the 11th entered Alexandria, Virginia on May 24, 1861, Ellsworth led Brownell and several other men into the heart of the city.[4][5][6] On the way there, the men spotted a large Confederate flag atop the Marshall House inn.[4][5][6][7] Ellsworth's group entered the inn and quickly cut down the flag but as they descended the stairs they encountered the proprietor, James Jackson.[5][6] Jackson killed Ellsworth with a shotgun blast to the chest and Brownell responded by fatally shooting and bayonetting the innkeeper.[4][5][6][8] For this, he was rewarded with a commission in the Regular Army. He served as an officer in the 11th Infantry Regiment (United States) for the next two years, retiring in November 1863 with the rank of first lieutenant.
After the war, Brownell requested an award of the Medal of Honor in recognition of his actions in killing Jackson but was denied. He made a second request which was also denied. A third attempt with the assistance of his congressman was granted and Brownell was awarded the Medal in 1877, inscribed with his name and regiment. A request to have his action described on the medal resulted in its being returned to the War Department and a second medal being issued. It was inscribed: "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."[9]
A fragment of the Marshall House flag that Brownell gave to Millard while on the way to Ellsworth's funeral near Troy remained in Millard's family for many years. The fragment was sold during the 21st century.[2]
Medal of Honor citationedit
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 11th New York Infantry. Place and date: Alexandria, Va., May 24, 1861. Entered service at: Troy, N.Y. Birth: New York. Date of issue: January 26, 1877.
Killed the southern sympathizer who shot Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth at the Marshall House (Alexandria, Virginia)., after that state had declared its secession from the Union.
The Werner Company (1896). The Story of American Heroism: Thrilling Narratives of Personal Adventures During the Great Civil War as Told by the Medal Winners and Roll of Honor Men. New York: The Werner Company. p. 798. OCLC 1085307831.
Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Public Welfare (1968). Edward M Kennedy, Chairman (ed.). Medal of Honor, 1863–1968 : "In the Name of the Congress of the United States". Committee print (United States. Congress), 90th Congress, 2nd session. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1087. OCLC 1049691780.
"Brownell, Francis E." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. CMOHS. 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
"Francis Edwin Brownell". The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross. VCOnline. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
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This article is about Francis E Brownell a Union Army soldier For a Washington state pioneer lawyer and businessman see Francis H Brownell Francis Edwin Brownell July 18 1840 March 15 1894 was a Union Army soldier who received a Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War Brownell received the award for killing James W Jackson after Jackson shot Col Elmer E Ellsworth colonel of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment Although Brownell did not receive the award until 1877 twelve years after the war had ended his actions were the earliest in the war that resulted in the receipt of the award Francis E BrownellFrancis E BrownellBornJuly 18 1840Troy New York USDiedMarch 15 1894 aged 53 54 Washington D C USPlace of burialBellefontaine CemeteryAllegianceUnited StatesUnionService wbr branchUS ArmyUnion ArmyYears of serviceApril 20 1861 1 1863RankFirst LieutenantUnit11th Regiment New York Volunteer InfantryBattles warsAmerican Civil War Battle of First Bull RunAwardsMedal of Honor Contents 1 Life 2 Medal of Honor citation 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksLife editFrancis Edwin Frank Brownell was born in Troy New York to Charles Brownell and Lucy Adams where prior to the Civil War he worked as a clerk in the law office of attorney John A Millard 2 He enlisted as a private in the 11th New York Volunteers the Fire Zouaves in April 1861 and was assigned to Company A 2 3 In the first days of the war as the 11th entered Alexandria Virginia on May 24 1861 Ellsworth led Brownell and several other men into the heart of the city 4 5 6 On the way there the men spotted a large Confederate flag atop the Marshall House inn 4 5 6 7 Ellsworth s group entered the inn and quickly cut down the flag but as they descended the stairs they encountered the proprietor James Jackson 5 6 Jackson killed Ellsworth with a shotgun blast to the chest and Brownell responded by fatally shooting and bayonetting the innkeeper 4 5 6 8 For this he was rewarded with a commission in the Regular Army He served as an officer in the 11th Infantry Regiment United States for the next two years retiring in November 1863 with the rank of first lieutenant After the war Brownell requested an award of the Medal of Honor in recognition of his actions in killing Jackson but was denied He made a second request which was also denied A third attempt with the assistance of his congressman was granted and Brownell was awarded the Medal in 1877 inscribed with his name and regiment A request to have his action described on the medal resulted in its being returned to the War Department and a second medal being issued It was inscribed 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 9 Following the war Brownell lived in Washington D C where he worked as a clerk with the Pension Office 6 He was member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States 6 He is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St Louis Missouri 6 A fragment of the Marshall House flag that Brownell gave to Millard while on the way to Ellsworth s funeral near Troy remained in Millard s family for many years The fragment was sold during the 21st century 2 Medal of Honor citation editRank and organization Private Company A 11th New York Infantry Place and date Alexandria Va May 24 1861 Entered service at Troy N Y Birth New York Date of issue January 26 1877 Killed the southern sympathizer who shot Colonel Elmer E Ellsworth at the Marshall House Alexandria Virginia after that state had declared its secession from the Union See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portalList of Medal of Honor recipients List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients A FNotes edit Corporal Francis E Brownell of Company A 11th New York Fire Zouaves Civil War Gazette Archived from the original on 2019 02 01 Retrieved 2008 02 05 a b c A Fragment of the Original Confederate Flag Cut Down by Col Elmer Ellsworth at the Marshall House and For Which He Lost His Life Along with a note and presentation envelope for the fragment from Ellsworth s Avenger Frank E Brownell which he gave to his mentor on the way to Ellsworth s funeral Ardmore Pennsylvania The Raab Collection 2011 Archived from the original on 2019 01 28 Retrieved 2019 01 28 Corporal Francis E Brownell of Company A 11th New York Fire Zouaves The Civil War Gazette FaithSite com Archived from the original on 2003 09 29 via Jabez Networks a b c 1 The Murder of Colonel Ellsworth Harper s Weekly 5 232 357 358 1861 06 08 Retrieved 2019 01 28 via Internet Archive 2 The Murder of Ellsworth Harper s Weekly 5 233 369 1861 06 15 Retrieved 2019 01 28 via Internet Archive a b c d Snowden W H 1894 Alexandria Virginia Philadelphia J B Lippincott Company pp 5 9 LCCN rc01002851 OCLC 681385571 Retrieved 2019 01 29 via Google Books a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help a b c d e f g Death of Francis Edwin Brownell PDF New York Times 1894 03 16 Retrieved 2019 02 01 Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Sgt Francis E Brownell Medal of Honor com Archived from the original on July 11 2007 Retrieved 2008 02 05 Tiger Zouave Marc A Hermann and Shaun C Grenan Archived from the original on November 20 2007 Retrieved December 4 2007 Brownell s Medal of Honor Smithsonian Institution Archived from the original on 2002 10 16 Retrieved 2008 02 05 References editThe Werner Company 1896 The Story of American Heroism Thrilling Narratives of Personal Adventures During the Great Civil War as Told by the Medal Winners and Roll of Honor Men New York The Werner Company p 798 OCLC 1085307831 Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs United States Congress Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare 1968 Edward M Kennedy Chairman ed Medal of Honor 1863 1968 In the Name of the Congress of the United States Committee print United States Congress 90th Congress 2nd session Washington DC U S Government Printing Office p 1087 OCLC 1049691780 Brownell Francis E Congressional Medal of Honor Society CMOHS 2014 Retrieved 19 August 2014 Francis Edwin Brownell The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria amp George Cross VCOnline 2020 Retrieved 2 May 2020 External links editFrancis E Brownell at Find a Grave nbsp nbsp Media related to Francis E Brownell at Wikimedia CommonsPortals nbsp Biography nbsp American Civil War nbsp New York Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis E Brownell amp oldid 1185539173, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
