Francis E. Brownell

Francis E. Brownell
Francis E. Brownell
Born	1840 Troy, New York
Died	March 15, 1894 (aged 53–54) Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Bellefontaine Cemetery Saint Louis, Missouri
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	April 20, 1861 – 1863
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	Battle of First Bull Run
Awards	Medal of Honor

Francis Edwin Brownell (1840 – March 15, 1894) was a soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor for killing James W. Jackson, after he shot 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.

Brownell enlisted as a member of the 11th New York Volunteers, the "Fire Zouaves", in April 1861, 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 the telegraph office. On the way there, one of Ellsworth's men spotted a Confederate flag atop the Marshall House inn. 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 stabbing the innkeeper. For this, he was rewarded with a commission in the Regular Army and 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 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.”

Following the war, Brownell lived in Washington, D.C. where he worked as a clerk with the Pension Office. He was a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

He is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in Saint Louis, Missouri.