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These two small fragments from a pitcher were recovered from excavations at Fort Hays in Ellis County. They partially depict the killing of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, shown descending the stairs of the Marshall House Inn, Alexandria, Virginia, clutching a large Confederate flag removed from the roof. He was killed by James W. Jackson, owner of the Inn and Jackson was in turn either shot or bayonetted (shown on the larger fragment) by one of Ellsworth's men (show on the smaller fragment). Both Jackson and Ellsworth became martyrs for their respective sides of the Civil War. The double killing was often featured at that time on commemorative items, such as this Benningtonware pitcher. The larger sherd contains the words: "J. W. Jackson The Traitor" while the smaller sherd shows the beginnings of Ellsworth's name: "Col".
Date: 1867-1889
Item Number: 315559
Call Number: 14EL301-0-56 (surface); 14EL301-26-54 (Fort Dump #1)
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 315559
Collections - Archeology
Date - 1861-1869
Date - 1870s
Date - 1880s
Military - Facilities - Forts - Fort Hays
Objects and Artifacts - Archeological Artifacts
Objects and Artifacts - Archeological Artifacts - Artifact Class - Ceramic
Objects and Artifacts - Furnishings - Household Accessory - Pitcher
Places - Counties - Ellis
Places - Forts and military installations - Fort Hays
Thematic Time Period - Civil War, 1861 - 1865
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/315559