On this date in 1861, Colonel Elmer Ellsworth of New York noticed that atop the Marshall Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia flew the recently unveiled Confederate flag. The indignant Ellsworth entered the hotel, ascended to the roof, and took down the flag. While descending the stairs, he was confronted by the hotelier James Jackson and shot dead. Ellsworth's troops retaliated and shot Jackson down.

The incident became a sensation (mirroring the reactions to Preston Brooks' beating of Senator Charles Sumner in 1856), with Northerners lionizing Ellsworth for defending Union and Flag from the upstart traitor Jackson, and Southerers honoring Jackson for defending his property and loyalties from the invading trooper Ellsworth.