Alfred W. Ellet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred W. Ellet
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Alfred W. Ellet
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| Born | October 11, 1820 Bucks County, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | January 9, 1895 (aged 74) El Dorado, Kansas, US |
| Place of burial |
Buena Vista Cemetery, El Dorado, Kansas
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| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Unit | 59th Illinois Infantry United States Ram Fleet Mississippi Marine Brigade |
| Commands held | United States Ram Fleet Mississippi Marine Brigade |
| Battles/wars | |
| Relations | Charles Ellet, Jr., Charles Rivers Ellet, John A. Ellet |
Alfred Washington Ellet (born October 11, 1820 – died January 9, 1895) was a general in the Union Army. He was a leader during the American Civil War. He commanded special boat units like the United States Ram Fleet and the Mississippi Marine Brigade.
Contents
Early Life and Moving West
Alfred Ellet was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was one of many children in his family. In 1824, his family moved to Philadelphia. He went to public schools there.
When he was 16, Alfred moved to Bunker Hill, Illinois. He started working as a farmer. Later, he also owned a dry goods store. He was living in Illinois when the Civil War began.
Serving in the Civil War
In July 1861, Alfred Ellet gathered a group of men from Bunker Hill. He became a captain in the 9th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. This unit later became the 59th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In March 1862, he fought in the Battle of Pea Ridge.
His older brother, Charles Ellet, Jr., created a special group of boats. These boats were called the United States Ram Fleet. They were designed to ram, or crash into, enemy ships. Alfred became the second-in-command of this fleet. He was given the rank of lieutenant colonel.
The Battle of Memphis
On June 6, 1862, Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr. led the ram fleet in the Battle of Memphis. Alfred W. was in charge of the USS Monarch. The Ellet brothers attacked without waiting for other Union ships.
The Queen of the West, led by Charles, rammed and sank a Confederate ship. The Monarch, led by Alfred, hit another Confederate ship, the CSS General Price. This forced the General Price to stop and run aground. Charles Ellet, Jr. was hurt during the battle. He died 15 days later from an infection. After his brother's death, Alfred took command of the ram fleet.
Later, on June 26, Alfred W. Ellet led the Monarch on the Yazoo River. His nephew, Charles Rivers Ellet, was also with him. They were trying to capture Confederate gunboats. But the Confederates burned their own ships to keep them from being captured.
Leading the Marine Brigade
On November 1, 1862, Alfred Ellet was promoted to brigadier general. He was given the job of creating the Mississippi Marine Brigade. This was a special unit that could fight on land and from boats. It included soldiers, cavalry, artillery, and the Ram Fleet.
It was hard for Ellet to find enough people for his new brigade. He asked for help from other generals. He promised recruits good food and a chance for fame. Eventually, he was able to fully staff the brigade. His nephews, Charles R. Ellet and John A. Ellet, served under him.
On June 14, Ellet led his brigade in the Battle of Richmond, Louisiana. They fought against Confederate forces. A few of his men were wounded.
On June 30, Ellet's brigade helped at Goodrich's Landing. Two African-American Union regiments were under attack. Ellet's brigade arrived and pushed back the Confederate forces. They had a few casualties, including one death.
In August 1863, the Mississippi Marine Brigade was placed under General Ulysses S. Grant. Ellet continued to lead the brigade until 1864. The unit was then closed down. There were some questions about how certain supplies were managed. Ellet resigned from the army in late 1864. He returned to his life as a civilian.
After the Civil War, Ellet became a businessman. He was also a community leader in El Dorado, Kansas. He died there and is buried in Belle Vista Cemetery.
Legacy
A U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Ellet, was named in honor of Alfred Ellet and his family. This ship served from 1939 to 1946.
