John A. Ellet

John A. Ellet
Born(1838-06-22)June 22, 1838
DiedApril 12, 1892(1892-04-12) (aged 53)
Boulder, Colorado, US
Buried
Columbia Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnion Army
Years of service1863
RankLieutenant colonel
CommandsUnited States Ram Fleet
Battles / warsAmerican Civil War
RelationsCharles Ellet, Jr. (uncle)
Alfred W. Ellet (uncle)
Charles R. Ellet (cousin)

John Alfred Ellet (June 22, 1838–April 12, 1892) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army during the American Civil War.

He commanded the ram USS Lancaster until she sank on March 23, 1863, while attempting to steam past the batteries of Vicksburg, Mississippi, at night.[1] He served as commanding officer of the United States Ram Fleet after his cousin Charles Rivers Ellet stepped down due to illness.[2]

He was the son of Johan Israel and Laura (Scarlett) Ellet, nephew of Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr. and Brigadier General Alfred W. Ellet and cousin to Charles Rivers Ellet.

He died in Boulder, Colorado and was interred at Columbia Cemetery.[3]

  1. ^ "Brown Water Navy". www.nps.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Laidig, Scott. "The Fighting Ellets: Ingenuity, Courage, Nepotism and Corruption?". www.ehistory.osu.edu. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  3. ^ togetherweserved