The occupation of Alexandria, Virginia, by Union troops occurred shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War. In a strategic move to control access to the capital, Washington, D.C., Union forces, consisting of various regiments, marched into Alexandria and established a military presence in the town. Among the Union officers was Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, an influential figure who had developed a personal relationship with President Abraham Lincoln. Ellsworth’s reputation as a leader was bolstered by his role as the commander of the Fire Zouaves, a New York regiment known for their distinct uniforms and disciplined training.

On the day of the occupation, Ellsworth sought to remove a Confederate flag displayed above a hotel owned by a known sympathizer of the Confederacy. His intent was to assert Union authority and remove symbols of rebellion from a strategically significant location. Unfortunately, during this act, Ellsworth was shot and killed by the hotel owner, Jackson, as he was descending with the flag. This incident shocked the Union and intensified the fervor surrounding the war effort, creating a rallying point for enlistment and public support for the Union cause.

The news of Ellsworth's death quickly reverberated through the North. His close ties to Lincoln and his charismatic leadership made his passing especially poignant. Ellsworth's funeral became a public event with significant attendance, symbolizing both the personal loss for many and the broader societal impacts of the ongoing war. His enlistment and subsequent death underlined the earnest and often perilous nature of the conflict that had just begun, solidifying him as a martyr in the eyes of many in the North. This incident marked not only the loss of an officer but also a pivotal moment that signified the deep political and social divides of the era.