My colorization of Francis Brownell who received the Medal of Honor for killing James W. Jackson after Jackson shot Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, colonel of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Although Brownell didn’t receive the award until 1877, a dozen years after the end of the war, his actions were the earliest in the war that resulted in a Medal of Honor being awarded. Brownell twice put his name forward to receive the medal and succeeded a third time with the help of his congressman. Brownell received his decoration in 1877, inscribed with his name and organization. He returned the medal to the War Department, with the request to describe the action. He was given a new medal, 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.” Although Brownell received his medal long after the event, his medal marked the first action in the Civil War to merit the award.

Francis Edwin Brownell

25 years old and enlisted on 4/20/1861 at New York City, NY as a Private.

On 5/7/1861 he mustered into “A” Co. NY 11th Infantry 
He was Mustered Out on 7/4/1861

On 7/4/1861 he was commissioned into US Army 11th Infantry 
He Resigned on 11/4/1863

Promotions:
* 2nd Lieut 5/14/1861 (As of 11th RA Inf)
* Sergt 5/26/1861 
* 1st Lieut 10/24/1861 

Other Information:
Born in 1840 in Troy, Rensselaer Co., NY
Died 3/15/1894 in Washington, DC 
Buried: Bellefontaine Cemetery, St Louis, MO

Medal of Honor Information:
He was awarded the Medal of Honor
for action on 5/24/1861 at Alexander, VA.

After the war,