Francis E. Brownell

Infobox Military Person
name=Francis E. Brownell
born= 1840
died= March 15, death year and age|1894|1840


caption=Francis E. Brownell
nickname=
placeofbirth= New York City, New York
placeofdeath= Washington, D.C.
placeofburial= Bellefontaine Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri
allegiance= United States of America
branch= Union Army
serviceyears=April 20, 1861cite web | url = http://www.civilwargazette.faithsite.com/content.asp?CID=61710 | title = Corporal Francis E. Brownell of Company A, 11th New York Fire Zouaves | publisher = Civil War Gazette | accessdate = 2008-02-05] – "unknown"
rank= First Lieutenant
unit= 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
commands=
battles=Battle of First Bull Run
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Francis Edwin Brownell (1840–March 15, 1894) was a soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor for killing the murderer of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, colonel of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Brownell's actions marked the first action in the American Civil War to merit the award.cite web
url = http://www.medalofhonor.com/FrancisBrownell.htm
title = Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Sgt. Francis E. Brownell
publisher = Medal of Honor.com
accessdate = 2008-02-05]

Life

Brownell enlisted as a member of the 11th New York and was assigned to Company A. In the first days of the war, as the 11th entered Alexandria, Virginia on May 24, 1861, Ellsworth took him and several other men to capture while the telegraph office. On the way there, one of Ellsworth's men spotted a Confederate flag atop the Marshall House inn.cite web
url = http://www.medalofhonor.com/FrancisBrownell.htm
title = Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Sgt. Francis E. Brownell
publisher = Medal of Honor.com
accessdate = 2008-02-05] Ellsworth's group entered the inn and quickly cut down the flag, but they encountered the proprietor, James Jackson, as they descended the stairs. Jackson killed Ellsworth with a shotgun blast to the chest, and Brownell responded in kind by fatally shooting the innkeeper.cite web | url = http://www.myrtle-avenue.com/firezou/ | title = Tiger! Zouave! | publisher = Marc A. Hermann and Shaun C. Grenan | accessdate = 2007-12-04]

After the war, Brownell twice was denied his request for the award in recognition of his actions in killing Jackson. A third attempt with the assistance of his congressman was granted. Brownell finally was award the Medal of Honor in 1877, inscribed with his name and regiment. A request to have his action described on the medal meant it was returned to the War Department and a second medal was 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.”cite web | url = http://www.civilwar.si.edu/firstblood_brownell_medal.html | title = Brownell’s Medal of Honor | publisher = Smithsonian Institution | accessdate = 2008-02-05]

Following the war, Brownell lived in Washington, D.C. were he worked as a clerk with the Pension Office. He is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri.cite web | url = http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9400E4D81F39E033A25755C1A9659C94659ED7CF&oref=slogin | title = Death of Francis Edwin Brownell | publisher = New York Times | accessdate = 2008-02-05]

Medal of Honor citation

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 murderer of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth at the Marshall House Alexandria, Va.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*

References

External links

*http://www.medalofhonor.com/FrancisBrownell.htm

Persondata
NAME= Brownell, Francis Edwin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Brownell, Francis E.
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= 1840
PLACE OF BIRTH= New York City, New York
DATE OF DEATH= March 15, 1894
PLACE OF DEATH= Washington, D.C.