Carte-de-visite of Col. Elmer Ephraim Ellsworth shown in three-quarter portrait. Ellsworth stands facing the camera with his right hand in his trouser pocket. He wears a light colored vest and trousers, a dark jacket, a dark cloak, a white shirt, and a dark necktie with a tie pin. The bottom portion of the image is purposefully faded in the popular style of the time. There is a double-lined border printed in gold ink surrounding the outside edges of the card mount.