The Case:
While going through some boxes that belonged to her parents, Gale Bay made a startling discovery: in an envelope labeled “relics” she found a swatch of tattered, red fabric about an inch round which apparently belonged to her Great-grandfather, Ira Wilson, also known as Ira Underhill Travis.
Her family had collected several letters that Ira Wilson wrote from Alexandria, VA including one in May of 1861 in which he refers to his slain commander, Col. Ellsworth. A Col. Elmer Ellsworth was the first Union officer killed in the Civil War. A Virginia innkeeper shot Ellsworth at close range as he removed a confederate flag that President Lincoln could see from the White House.
Gale asks History Detectives host Gwen Wright to find out if this red piece of fabric came from the flag that cost Col. Ellsworth his life.
Season 10, Episode 4
Detective:
Gwen Wright
Location:Alexandria, Virginia and Saratoga Springs, New York
Letters Home from Ira Wilson
Read some of the letters Ira Wison wrote home from the battlefront.
Related Content
Feature:
Explore
-
Also in Season 10
Carson Family Secrets
Is this book a Carson family heirloom?
-
Also with Gwen Wright
Lauste Film Clip
How is this odd strip of film connected to the invention of talking movies?
-
Also in Season 10
Valley Forge Map
Did George Washington use this map during the American Revolution?
-
Also with Gwen Wright
Lafayette China
Did the Marquis de Lafayette give this china set to the popular wife of the Patriot Mayor?
-
Also with Gwen Wright
Cherokee Bible
What can this bible written in Cherokee tell us about one of the darkest chapters in Indian history?
-
Also in Civil War: 1850-1877
Mark Twain's Watch
Was this watch a gift from noted author American author Mark Twain?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.