Brigade On November 1, 1862, Ellet was promoted to brigadier general and charged with creation of the Mississippi Marine Brigade, an amphibious raiding unit. The unit was to contain an infantry regiment, two cavalry squadrons, an artillery battery and the U.S. Ram Fleet. Ellet had difficulties recruiting for the brigade and General Ulysses S. Grant was ordered to reinforce the Mississippi Marine Brigade with a company of men from the 18th Illinois Infantry Regiment. Ellet had to eventually request that General Henry Halleck allow his unit to recruit from convalescing veterans of other units. Ellet promised recruits bonuses, the opportunity to serve aboard clean vessels with good food and the potential for fame. He was eventually able to fully recruit for the brigade and his nephews Charles R. Ellet and John A. Ellet served under him. On June 14, Ellet led the brigade along with Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower in the Battle of Richmond, Louisiana and skirmished with the Confederates, losing 3 wounded. On June 30, Ellet led the brigade in action at the Goodrich's Landing. Two African-American Union regiments, the 1st Arkansas and the 10th Louisiana had come under attack from Confederate forces. The brigade arrived and pushed back the Confederate forces, suffering two casualties and one death. In August 1863, the Mississippi Marine Brigade was placed under command of General Grant. Ellet continued to command the Mississippi Marine Brigade during operations on the Western Rivers until 1864, when the unit was disestablished. There were allegations of profiteering levied against Ellet due to irregularities in accounting of seized Confederate cotton. He resigned his commission late in 1864 and returned to civilian life. Following the Civil War, Ellet was a businessman and civic leader in El Dorado, Kansas, where he died. He is buried there in Belle Vista Cemetery. Legacy The U.S. Navy destroyer, USS Ellet (DD-398), in service in 1939–46, was named in honor of Ellet and other members of his family. See also List of American Civil War generals (Union) References Sources External links Charles Ellet, Jr. Papers, University of Michigan Library Guide to the Ellet Family Papers, Stanford University 1820 births 1895 deaths Burials in Kansas Businesspeople from Kansas People from Bucks County, Pennsylvania People from El Dorado, Kansas People from Macoupin County, Illinois People of Illinois in the American Civil War People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War Union Army generals United States Ram