The national Republican., 1861-12-30
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
.ou. ALpnrD ELY's aARRATsvs.

NAlNNAU NHl oDAAOAAN'
HON, ALpNeD ELY's sARAATsvE.
A. ,otbine heretofore bas been known Of
Mr.. Eiys capture, or OF bis real condition
while in prison, the following narrative, given
BY himself, viii be read with much interest.
When the retreat Of our troops began, at
Ball Run, Mr. Ely wss making bis way toward
the Stone Bridge, 10 learn the particulars Of
the battle. About s O'Clock in the afternoon, |
he stopped ct blscksmith's shop to have his
carriage mended, and after that, waited awhile
for Senator Foster, Of Connecticut, whe had
gone out with him. While waiting, he walked
down towards . ravine, In which be saw 9
company Of National troops skulking or In an
bush, but - he approached them, they receded,
and, just as Mr.. Ely paused, to return to his
carriage, spent musket ball struck the earth
near him He stepped behind large tree near
by to be out Of danger, and continued his oh
ssrvstions. Iu a moment u cannon ball went
crashing through the branches oil the tree, and
seemed to be Telling the whole top upon him.
By the time be recovered from this surprise
company Of soldiers, accompanied by two we'll.
dressed officers, emerged from the woods near
by.
On percelving Mr.. Ely, the two officers ad-
vanced and demanded his name. He answered,
Mr.. Ely, Of New York" The question fol-
Government" For the 6rst time, Mr.. Ely said
he felt be was 10 trouble. He replied that be
was member Of Congress, and thereupon one
of the officers clapped his hand upon him and
declared him q prisoner, but assured him be
should be treated with every consideration.
They took him TO their colonel, and introduced
him formally a. "Hon. Mr. Ely, member Of
Congress from New York" Instantly the
colonel drew pistol, cooked il, and leveled II
at Mr.. Ely's head, not two PAGES distant, and
said, You id rascal, III blow your brains
ont The two officers who had arrested Mr.
Ely Instantly threw Themselves upon the colonel.
forced his pistol back, and persuaded him away.
They then apologized to Mr.. Ely, saying they
wrre ashamed Of their colonel, who was excited
by drinking This of1eer was Colonel Cash.
aud the ofdcer who arrested Mr.. Ely was Capt.
Mullins.
Mr. Ely was put with "a large herd Of pris-
Oners, and all we're started 70 Manassas. II was
3 march Of seven weary miles, and the pris-
onsrs suffered torturcs from the dust, heat and
thirst. At Manassas, which they reached at 9
o'clock p. m, they were driven Into an open
space, surrounded hickly by guards, and all
began TO fall on the ground, then wet with .
last falling rain, 10 seek rest and sleep. While
Mr. Ely was preparing for similar movement,
an officer rode into the yard and called aloud
TO know if Mr.. Ely, Of New York, was pres.
ent" Mr. Ely thought his time had come now
to be shot Nevertheless, he answered the call,
and was told that Gen. BeaureRsrd required
him TO come TO his headqusrters He followed
the officer and reached the log house sur
rounded by . versndah, on the porch Of which,
with single candle burning on IL, was table.
and around the table sat Je1. Davis Beaure-
gard, Extra Billy Smith, Porcher Miles, and
other rebel officers, apparently reckoning up
the result of the days battle.
Porcher Miles approached Mr.. Ely, and ex-
pressed regret at bis situation, but In . mo-
ment changed his tone, remarkiog that he had
no opinion of Congressman who would come
wsa sent of TO sleep in barn, where hs found
ths captured national officers.
The next day they vert all started to Rich
mond. The morning after their arrival there,
Aessra Bocock and Pryor, of Virginia. and
Keitt and Boyce, of South Carolina, called
upon Mr.. Ely, and stated that they should use
their influence to secure bis release. They
made an application for this purpose TO JET
Davis who called q meeting Of bis Cabinet
hours. The Cabinet generally favored Mr.
Ey's release, but Davis, Benjamin, and Hun
ter were opposed to it, on grounds Of public
policy, and walker, the Secretary Of War, seui
an elaborate communication stating that the
Cabinet bad come to the conclusion TO deny
the application.
Mr.. Ely's arrival was announced by the Rict.
mond papers and the whole press Of the South
by which he soon became notorious. Visitors
came TO see him by hundreds, and II was moi
unfrequsnuy the case that he had forty In his
at trpo tknu, g.,
ridge, Humphrey Marshall and eX.Minister
Preston, who expressed the opinion that bis
being held In custody was an outrage. The
Governors and Episcopal kishops Of most Of
the rebel States were also visitors. In fact
they came to him from all parts Of JEFF. Davis
dominions. Boquets were sent him almost
daily, and sometimes not less than dozen {
day. His meals, too, nicely prepared, were
sent him by the families Of citizens.
Tho position OF our hostages at Richmond Il
painful Seven Of them are confined In room
about twelve by fifteen feet, in the Richmond
Jail, having two email windows, which admi
but little light They are permitted 10 see NJ
person but the jailor and the negro who watt
upon them, and are only permitted 10 leav,
their cells thirty minutes in the morning, ant
the same time In the afternoon, TO walk in th,
narrow promenade between the jail building
and the interwall. Their food consists OF sObb,
corn bread aud boiled beef, and they are no
permitted TO have anything better even thougl
they purchased it, When Mr. Ely was released
he went in company with Mr.. Faulkner to tn
jail, and the two were granted the favor Of a
interview with the unfortunate officers. MI
Faulkner expressed his surprise at this rigoI
and be stated that such was not the treatmon
that the privsteers received 10 New York an
Philadelphia; that though they were held 70
capital crimes they were allowed to rscsiv
visitors and to have all the comforts compatl
BILE with their safe custody. Mr. Ely think
that based upon this last statement by Nj
Faulkner, the rebel authorities will lessen tn
severity Of their treatment.
OF the reckless and outrageous conduct Q
the rebel guards, Mr.. Ely speaks in terms Q
the utmost censure. He states that the prit
oners had not been in The tobacco warehous
fifteen minutes before u bullet was fired int
the window Of one of our prisoners who ha'
ventured to put bis head outside, and that il
this Way. seven men had been WantODly killed