Roll of Honor

Horsecar at the 49th Street and Madison Avenue Columbia College campus


Augustus Van Horn Ellis

  • School: Columbia College
  • Class Year: 1844
  • War: Civil War
  • Date of Death: July 2, 1863

After leaving Columbia in 1840, Augustus Van Horn Ellis had a variety of occupations, some of the time spent working in California as a lawyer, sea captain, tax collector, and fireman. When the Civil War began, Ellis joined the 71st New York State Militia from New Windsor, in Orange County, as a captain. In 1862, he became the first colonel of the 124th New York Infantry, which became part of Army of the Potomac in Northern Virginia. Colonel Ellis died on the second day of the three-day Battle of Gettysburg. He was killed by a bullet to the head while mounted on his horse with his sword drawn. Ellis's body was returned to New York City, where he was buried in Manhattan's Saint Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.

Augustus Van Horn Ellis

Is any of our information incorrect? You can submit corrections, additional photos, and/or tributes to uarchives@columbia.edu.