after the civil war, elliott found that his plantation property had been seized for nonpayment of taxes and distributed to his former slaves. they treated him well upon his return but it made it clear that the land no longer belonged to him. thereafter, he returned to a home in charleston and a former fishing hut at the seashore, began to make a living as a fisherman and was again elected to the south carolina legislature. however, he was completely debilitated by his wounds and exposure and died before taking office on february 21, 1866, at aiken, south carolina. he was buried in st. helena's episcopal churchyard at beaufort, south carolina.