Career
Brownell"s actions marked the first action in the American Civil War to merit the award. 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.
Foreign 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. A request to have his action described on the medal meant it was returned to the War Department and a second medal was issued.
lieutenant was inscribed: “The Congress to Sergt Frank East. Brownell, 11th New York Volume(s) Information’y for gallantry in shooting the murderer of Colonel
Ellsworth at Alexandria, Virginia, May 24, 1861.” Following the war, Brownell lived in Washington, District of Columbia where he worked as a clerk with the Pension Office. He is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in Saint Louis, Missouri. Killed the southern sympathizer who shot Colonel.
