American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on January 26, 1877 for his actions as a sergeant in the Company A, 11th New York Infantry Volunteers, US Army, on May 24, 1861 at the Marshall House, an inn in Alexandria, Virginia. Following the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 11th New York Volunteers, the "Fire Zouaves". and was assigned to Company A. During the the first days of the war, as the 11th entered Alexandria, Virginia on May 24, 1861, Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth led Brownell and several other men into the heart of the city and on the way there, the men spotted a large Confederate flag flying over the Marshall House Inn. Ellsworth's group entered the inn and quickly cut down the flag but as they descended the stairs they encountered the proprietor, James Jackson, who killed Ellsworth with a shotgun blast to the chest and Brownell responded by fatally shooting and bayonetting Jackson. He was rewarded with a commission in the Regular Army and served as an officer in the 11th Infantry Regiment for the next two years, before retiring in November 1863 with the rank of 1st lieutenant. Following the war, he worked at the Pension Office in Washington DC. He was denied twice for the Medal of Honor but on the third time, with the assistance of his congressman his request was granted. His actions were the earliest in the war that resulted in the receipt of the Medal of Honor. His citation reads: "Killed the southern sympathizer who shot Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth at the Marshall House (Alexandria, Virginia)., after that state had declared its secession from the Union."
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award on January 26, 1877 for his actions as a sergeant in the Company A, 11th New York Infantry Volunteers, US Army, on May 24, 1861 at the Marshall House, an inn in Alexandria, Virginia. Following the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 11th New York Volunteers, the "Fire Zouaves". and was assigned to Company A. During the the first days of the war, as the 11th entered Alexandria, Virginia on May 24, 1861, Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth led Brownell and several other men into the heart of the city and on the way there, the men spotted a large Confederate flag flying over the Marshall House Inn. Ellsworth's group entered the inn and quickly cut down the flag but as they descended the stairs they encountered the proprietor, James Jackson, who killed Ellsworth with a shotgun blast to the chest and Brownell responded by fatally shooting and bayonetting Jackson. He was rewarded with a commission in the Regular Army and served as an officer in the 11th Infantry Regiment for the next two years, before retiring in November 1863 with the rank of 1st lieutenant. Following the war, he worked at the Pension Office in Washington DC. He was denied twice for the Medal of Honor but on the third time, with the assistance of his congressman his request was granted. His actions were the earliest in the war that resulted in the receipt of the Medal of Honor. His citation reads: "Killed the southern sympathizer who shot Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth at the Marshall House (Alexandria, Virginia)., after that state had declared its secession from the Union."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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