Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth is listed by the US Government as the first official casualty of the US Civil War.
Ellsworth, a New Yorker by birth, had spent a considerable period of the year 1860 reading law in the office of Abraham Lincoln and became one of Lincoln's campaign directors.
He stated that he wanted to be the first American to invade the south, a chance he got when ordered into Alexandria on May, 24 1861, the day after Virginia seceded from the Union.
Ellsworth was part of two Union military units ordered to Alexandria, Va. The First Michigan under Colonel Wilcox was ordered to march on Alexandria from Arlington and Ellsworth, in command of the New York Fire Zoaves, was transported across the Potomac with his unit on two steamers. The Zoaves reached Alexandria at 2 am. Ellsworth noticed the upstart flag flying over the Marshall House shortly after daybreak.
For what its worth Virginia voted 3 to 1 for seccession.

Ellsworth was given a state viewing the next day in Washington, D.C. His body was moved around several times during the next few days for viewing before being buried in Mechanicsville, New York.

I believe its safe to state that if Sam declares Ellsworth to be the first casualty then Alexandria must be the official place of the start of the conflict.

Henry E. Whittle

Henry E. Whittle