Alfred W. Ellet
Encyclopedia
Alfred Washington Ellet (October 11, 1820 – January 9, 1895) was a civil engineer
and a brigadier general in the Union Army
who commanded the United States Ram Fleet
during the American Civil War
.
on the banks of the Delaware river and was the youngest of six sons and the second youngest of fourteen children. In 1824, his family moved to Philadelphia where he attended the public schools. At age 16, he went to Bunker Hill, Illinois
to take up farming.
A farmer and dry goods store owner, he was a resident of Illinois
when the Civil War broke out.
In August 1861, Ellet was commissioned a captain in the 9th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which later became the 59th Illinois Infantry. In March 1862, he fought in the Battle of Pea Ridge
. When his elder brother, Col.
Charles Ellet, Jr.
, undertook the conversion of several river steamers to rams in the spring of 1862, Alfred Ellet became lieutenant colonel
of Charles Ellet's U.S. Ram Fleet.
Following Charles Ellet's death in June 1862, Alfred took over the unit and was appointed brigadier general of the newly formed Mississippi Marine Brigade
the following November. He commanded the Mississippi Marine Brigade during operations on the Western Rivers until 1864, when the unit was disestablished. He resigned his commission late in that year to return to civilian life.
Following the Civil War, Ellet was a businessman and civic leader in El Dorado, Kansas
, where he died. He is buried there in Belle Vista Cemetery.
, which was in service in 1939-46, was named in honor of Alfred W. Ellet and other members of his family.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and a brigadier general in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
who commanded the United States Ram Fleet
United States Ram Fleet
The United States Ram Fleet was a small group of rams on the Mississippi River during the American Civil War.-Formation:In March 1862, the U.S. Army authorized the noted civil engineer Charles Ellet, Jr., to establish a flotilla of steam rams for employment on the Western Rivers. Ellet converted...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Alfred Ellet was born at Penn's Manor Bucks County, PennsylvaniaBucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
on the banks of the Delaware river and was the youngest of six sons and the second youngest of fourteen children. In 1824, his family moved to Philadelphia where he attended the public schools. At age 16, he went to Bunker Hill, Illinois
Bunker Hill, Illinois
Bunker Hill is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,801 at the 2000 census.-Settlement:The original inhabitants of the Bunker Hill area were members of the Peoria, Kickapoo, and Winnebago Indian tribes. As pioneers arrived in Macoupin County, the site of the...
to take up farming.
A farmer and dry goods store owner, he was a resident of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
when the Civil War broke out.
In August 1861, Ellet was commissioned a captain in the 9th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which later became the 59th Illinois Infantry. In March 1862, he fought in the Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
. When his elder brother, Col.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Charles Ellet, Jr.
Charles Ellet, Jr.
Charles Ellet, Jr. was a civil engineer and a colonel during the American Civil War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Memphis.-Biography:Ellet was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, brother of Alfred W...
, undertook the conversion of several river steamers to rams in the spring of 1862, Alfred Ellet became lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of Charles Ellet's U.S. Ram Fleet.
Following Charles Ellet's death in June 1862, Alfred took over the unit and was appointed brigadier general of the newly formed Mississippi Marine Brigade
Mississippi Marine Brigade
The Mississippi Marine Brigade was a Union Army unit raised during the American Civil War as part of the United States Ram Fleet. These soldiers acted as Marines aboard United States Army rams patrolling the Mississippi River...
the following November. He commanded the Mississippi Marine Brigade during operations on the Western Rivers until 1864, when the unit was disestablished. He resigned his commission late in that year to return to civilian life.
Following the Civil War, Ellet was a businessman and civic leader in El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado, Kansas
El Dorado is a city situated along the Walnut River in the central part of Butler County, located in south-central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Butler County...
, where he died. He is buried there in Belle Vista Cemetery.
Namesake
USS Ellet (DD-398)USS Ellet (DD-398)
USS Ellet was a Benham-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for five members of the Ellet family of Pennsylvania who rendered service during the American Civil War: Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr.; Brigadier General Alfred W. Ellet; Colonel Charles R. Ellet;...
, which was in service in 1939-46, was named in honor of Alfred W. Ellet and other members of his family.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
- Charles Ellet, Jr.Charles Ellet, Jr.Charles Ellet, Jr. was a civil engineer and a colonel during the American Civil War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Memphis.-Biography:Ellet was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, brother of Alfred W...
- Charles R. ElletCharles R. ElletCharles Rivers Ellet was a medical student who became a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his command of the ram Queen of the West during the Vicksburg Campaign in 1863....
- John A. ElletJohn A. ElletLieutenant Colonel John A. Ellet was an officer in the United States Army during the American Civil War. He was the nephew of Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr. and General Alfred W. Ellet....
- Edward C. Ellet.