Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-08-24
Miscellaneous.
Statement Of Prisoners from Rich

Statement Of Prisoners from Rich
mond.
The prisoners who were released from cns
tody at Richmond by the rebels, and who
srrived ut Washington, tell some strange sto.
ries about the doings of the rebels at that
city. The following statement from a lady
who was released at the same time. gives
some interesting facts:
STATEMENT OF MRS. CURTIS.
have had aD interview this afternoon, saws
the Washington correspondent of the New
York Times. with Mrs Curtis, Of Albion
Orleans coontv. New York, whose capture BY
the Secassionists soon after the battle OF
Boil RIM has been already noticed. She ar.
rived this morning from Fortress Monroe,
with the twenty three other released prison.
ers, who had been forwarded from Norfolk,
under flag Of trnce. Mrs. Curtis is lady
about twenty eight years old. and Of prepos
sessing appearance. we'll educated and intplli.
gent. She is the daup hter of Hiram Curtis.
Esq, OF Albion. Her narration was given
with great fnency. and from stenographic
notes | have prepared the following state
mert, based upon the facts related by her:
Mrs. Curtis arrived iu the city few days
after the Fourth Of July. she having come to
visit her brother, George u Curtis. pri-
vate in the Thirteenth New York Volunteers.
After the retreat from Rull Run, the Ragi-
ment encamped at Fort Bennet. a half mile
north Of Fort Corcoran, opposite George.
town. During several mornings. accompa.
MED ny an escort, she rode ont on Falls
Church road aud. on the Friday morning
succeeding the battle. was accompanied by
the younger daughter of Mr. Pearca. q Virgin.
ian. whose farm is on the Falls Church road,
and in whose family Mrs. Curtis had hpep
boarding Their escort was Private Eldridga,
of the Thirteenth. They passed two of the
rPbel pickets without being aware of the fact,
they being concealed. The third sprang for.
ward and seized Edrdge's horse, and then
ordered the ladies to ride forward to the lieu
tenant Mrs. Curtis said she would not. The
picket repl ed that she would have to 90. She
refused again. saying that she acknowledged
no allegiance to the rebels, and she should
not 60 one step with them. lie repeated his
demand. saying that he shonld take her for.
ward II she did not go. She replied that she
shonld not he surprised at any outrage that
shon'd he committed hy men who made war
npon women and children. and she and Miss
rearce turned their horses and galoped OF
towards our lines. She passed the second pick.
Pearce was fortunate enough to pass him.
and the account given by the fellow when
asked why he did not stop both ladies, was
that Mrs. Curtis drew q revolver upon him.
the barrel Of which was within six inches OF
his head. and 10 his struggle to secure her,
Miss. Pesrce escaped. The statement was
faIsehood, Mrs. Curtis stating that che was
without weapon of any kind.
On being taken before the lieutenant, she
Was asked if she knew where she was She re-,
piled that she was painfully aware. lie asked
her what bad brought her to their lines. -
She said 1t was curiosity which hade fair 10
he more painful than profitable; that she
had come to see if there was any secesb
about He SAID he would provide her with a
suitable escort, so that there would be nc
danger Of her being lost She told him tha,
she did not wish any insult; that If he had
any orders. TO give them. and il il was desira
BILE that she should 60 to Manassas, she
could 60 alone if wanted.
An escort was furnished, and soon they
overlook Mr.. Eldridge, in the custody Of
Others. On arriving at Falls Church, Col
Stewart, of the FIRST Virginia Cavalry, came
out, aud after being introduced to Mrs.
Curtis, asked her If she was the Colonel OF
the regiment. She did not feel disposed to
answer, ana ne explained his question by
saying that she had q spread eagle on the
bride bits Of the horse she was riding. The
| trappings belonged to one of the officers of
the New York Thirteenlb, though the horse
was one which had been taken from the
rebels at Bull Ruu. Col Stewart then asked
her IT she came from the National army. She
replied IN the affirmative. and then requested
him. ii he had any further questions. to wait
until more suitable place could be provided.
as she did not like to be- catechised 10 the
presence OF gang Of rowdy soldiers. He
conveyed her to headquarters. where, after
providing her with room, she made .
st-temeu', in purport the same as she had
made 10 response to the questions of the
lieuienant.
| Col. Stewart treated Mrs. Curtis with
great kindness and poiteness, expressing his
rsgre. that she had been arrested, and vol
eo'ssripg TO do al IN tls p9ssr 10 eHsr, h;r