New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-01-11

Queen Victoria is followed by another proclama.
1ion, recognizing the independence of the South
Southern States, Louis Napoleon will follow suit.
Return, of Congressman ELY.
LWashi iston Correspondence New York Times. 27th.l
Hon. Alfred Ely arrived at O'Clock this even
ing, from Baltimore, and proceeded at once to
Wizards, where he was Immediately recognized
friends. His robust appearance would hardly indi-
cate that he had been five months prisoner Of
war. After haif-hour of hearty hand shaking,
he retired to his room at Wizards, accompanied
by his brother and Hon. John B. Haskin. - -
The following statement of facts have gathered
from Mr.. Ely: And first it will be gratifying to
know that, during his whole period of imprison-
ment, Mr.. Ely has never experienced despond
ing moment; that he has been in the best ofheath,
and his buoyancy Of spirits has so sustained him
that he now returns with his usual vigor, and
ready to resume the active duties Of his position
The particulars of Mr.. Ey's capture have never
been fully known, and he states them as follows:
He was captured by a South Carolina company
of infantry, about five o'clock, p NJ. of the day Of
battle. He had stoppedat blacksmith shop to
have his carriage mended, and after that, waited
had gone out with him. While waiting he walked
down towards a rayine, in which he saw COM
pany of national troops skulking or in ambush,
but as 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 a large tree near by to be out of
danger, and continued his observations. In Q
moment cannon ball went crashing through the
branches Of the tree and seemed to be telling the
whole top upon him. By the time he recovered
from his surprise, company OF soldiers, accom-
panied by two well dressed officers, emerged from
| the woods near by.
On perceivng Mr.. Ely, the two officers advanced
and demanded his name. He answered: Mr..
| Ely, of New York" The question followed: "Do
| you hold any civil office in the Government ~ For
the first time, Mr.. Ely said he felt he was in
| trouble. He replied that he was member of
| Congress, and thereupon one of the officers
clapped his hand upon him and declared him q
| prisoner; but assured him he should be treated
with every consideration. They took him to their
Mr.. Ely, member of Congress from New York.
Instantly the Colonel drew pistol, cooked it and
eveed it at Mr.. Ely's head, not two PAGES distant,
| and said: You ID rascal, I'd blow your brains
out" The two officers who had arrested Mr.. Ely
instantly threw themselves upon the Colonel,
| forced his pistol back, and persuaded him away.
They then apoogized to Mr.. Ely, saying they were
ashamed of their Colonel, who was excited by
drinking. This officer was Col. Cash, and the off
Ger who arrested Mr.. Ely was Capt Mullins.
Mr.. Ely was put with large herd of prisoners,
and all were started to Manassas. 1t was a march
of seven weary miles, and the prisoners suffered
tortures from the dust, heat and thirst. At Ma
nassas, which they reached at O'Clock p. NJ.
they were driven into an open space, surrounded
thckly by guards, and all began to fall on the
ground, then wet with fast falling rain, to seek
rest and sleep. While Mr.. Ely was preparing for
o similar movement, an officer rode into the yard
and called aond to know if y" Mr. Ely, of New
York, was present" Mr.. Ely thought his time
had come to be shot Nevertheless, he answered
the call, and was told that Gen. Beauregard re-
quired him to come to his headquarters. He fol.
lowed the officer and reached the log house, sur
rounded by verandah, on the porch of which,
with single candle burning on it, was table
and around the table sat jeff. Davis, Beauregard
Extra Billy Smith, Porcher Miles, and other rebel
officers anDareutly reCkOninp the raSult nf the
days battle.
Porcher Miles approached Mr.. Ely, and ex
| pressed regret at his situation but in q momen,
| changed his tone, remarkng that he had no opn
ion Of Congressman who would come to aid an
| army in invading State. Mr.. Ely was sent off to
| sleep in barn, where he found the captured
| national officers.
| The next day they were all started to Richmond
The morning after their arrival there Messrs.
Bocock and Pryor of Virginia, and Ket and
Boyce, of South Carolina, called upon Mr.. Ely,
and stated that they should use their influence to
secure his release They made an application for
this purpose to jeff Davis, who called meeting
of his Cabinet, and the result was consultation Of
several hours. The Cabinet generally favored MI
EIy's release, but Davis, Benjamin and Hunter
| were opposed to ii, on grounds of public policy
and Walker, the Secretary of War, sent an
| elaborate communication stating that the Cabinet
had come to the conclusion to deny the applica
| ton, . --
| Mr.. Eys arrival was announced by the Rich
mond papers and the whole press OF the South, By
| which he soon became notorious. Visitors came
to see him by hundreds, and il was not unfre
quently the case that he hadforty in his room at
| tine. Among them were Breckenridge, Hum
phrey Marshall and ex-Nlinister Preston, who ex
pressed the opinion that his being held in custody
was an outrage. The Governors and Episcopa
Bishops of most of the rebel States were alst
| visitors In fact, they came to him from all part
| of JEFF. Davis dominions. Boquets were sent hin
| almost daily, and sometimes not less than a dozel
! day. His meals, too, nicely prepared, were sen
| him by the families of Citizens In his converse
tions, politics were rarely alluded to- except h
himself introduced the subject, when there was
Tree interchange OF opinion. 8. f
The position of our hostages at Richmond i,
| painful. Seven of them are confined in roo1
| about twelve by fifteen feet in the Richmond jai
having two small windows, which admit but litt
light. They are permitted to see no person but tn
| jailor and the negro who waits upon them, and AZ
only permitted to leave their cells thirty minutes
the morning and the same time in the Afternoon
| to walk IN the narrow promenade between the Ia
building and the inner wall Their food consists {
| jail fare, sobby corn bread and boiled beef, an
they are not permitted to have anything better
| even though they purchased it. When Mr.. Ely wa
released he went in company with Mr.. Faulkner
the Jail, and the two were granted the favor of a
interview with the unfortunate officers.
Mr. Faulkner expressed his surprise at this rigor
and he stated that such was not the treatment tina
the privateers had received in New York and Phil
adepha--that though they were held for capita
! crimes they were allowed to receive visitors AM
u to have all the comforts compatible with their SAT-
custody. Mr.. Ely thinks that, based upon this las
statement by Mr.. Faulkner, the rebel authoritie
will lessen the severity of their treatment.
OF the reckless and outrageous conduct of th'
} rebel guards, Mr.. Ely speaks in terms OF the ut
most censure. He states that the prisoners hat
not been in the tobacco warehouse fifteen minutes
before a bullet was fred into the window of ont
of our prisoners, who had ventnred to put his heat
outside, and that in this way seven men had beel
wantonly killed. This conduct met with sever
censure from all who were aware OF the facts, bu