, 1862-01-01
Ron. Alfred Ely In TVashinnton-.
Interesting Stnte1nent of Els Gap-
fxvStr

Washington Cor. [27th.) n. Z. Tribune]
The Hon. Alfred Ely arrived here this even
ing, and took rooms at Wizards Hotel, where
he received Tic congratulations Of q great
number Of personal and political friends. He
is in good health and spirits, and Will remain
here Tor several days.
When the retreat Of troops hogan at Bull
Run he was going forward towards the Stone
Bridge 10 learn tile particulars OF tho fight,
wien hc WIS surrounded By q company of
reb,l infantry under Capt. Mullins. That Off
Ger treated lin with much respect, and con-
vcytd Kim at once to Col. Cash, who was
much excited, and Threatened to shoot him.
He vas, however, marched on to Manassas,
seven miles from where he was captured,
through Il road dark with dust. He suffered
greatly for water, of Which he obtained noue
until he reached Manassas, ut 9 P. m.
There he was placed in large field with
hundreds Of prisoners, many Of whom were
wounded and dying. He describes the scene
as s:ckcnlEg in the extreme. When about to
liz down Oil the grass (which was wet, for it
Vas 1:lining he:'yiy,) he WAS summoned to
Gcn. Beaurcgard's hcadquarters- There he
found that c1hcer in com}.any with Jefferson
Davis, u. Porcler Miles, Extra Billy Smith,
and some twenty officers Of the Confederate
army
Miles srokc to him in !. cool manner He
sid Ec was sorry to find 4 member of the Fed :
c1a! Congress urging on the soldiers in their
Efforts 10 subdne The South, and directed him
to quarters in Nil old barn, where he found so
I1al,y Of the Union officers that it WIS difficult
TO secure place 10 lie down. Fresh water
Was given lin, and, despite the cou1fortlcss
shed, he slrpt soundly.
Tie rain poured in torrents all night, aud
the ca1u1,s about Manassas we're almost inun
dated. IN ti:e morning thu prisoners were en-
had 1nuchto say Of the bravery Of his master
and The incidents Of the battle
AT O'clock Mr. mcC}usky, formerly Post
master Of the House Of Representatives, will.
Nl'oln Mr.. Ely was acquainted, waited upon
| hin. with Col. Batc and Rev Joseph Cross,
Of the Confederate army, who subsequently ls
wrote q ridiculous account Of the Interview
for Tennessee paper, Which WAS reprinted il
| New York.
AT 2 O'Clock, with the other prisoners, Mr.
Ely was marched from the barn to the cars
| for RicLElond. At loon, while in the cars,
they were supplied with bread and ham Il
| wss o clock before the train started
| All day the anibulances had been bringing In
! wounded rebel and Union soldiers. Somc65G
| pFisoners were on the train, and, with the
| bcr Of passengers up to 1900. So heavy was
| the trnin, and 80 frequent the delays that tWo
and half days were occupied in reaching
Richmond.
Jefferson Davis accompanied tic train j par
of the day, wien he was sent forward by cx
| Iltss- iaL Hl1 li4C ei&kl1OlS lIE fGtPAL Viii uGI
/ out in great numbers to see the Yankee pris
oners, and vert often inso]cnt, and only KEEP
ircm violence l,y the officers in charge.
1he prisoners were in great apprehension o
rcpgA handling at Richmond, but by goo(
management the citizens Of that place Wer'
isled as to the hour Of tho arrival or tue train
which was at ~ in the evening.
The privates were sent on in advance, to th,
| tobacco factory, one and half miles distant
Fcrty-four officers and Mr. Ely followed. an,
were thrown into the same room, all huildle{
| together in confusion, and slept upon Ill,
loor. No lcds or bedding were provided. Al
tic furniture now in that prison has been pur
chased BY the prisoners.
For some days the food was served In caul
drons placed III the centre Of the room, an'
disks, knires and forks were not TO be had;
TIE position Of Our hostages at Richmond i
painful. Seven of them are confined in root
twelve by fifteen feet, in the Richmond jail
having two small windows, which admit bu
little light. They are permitted to see no pei
| SCH but the }ailoE and the negro who wait
n},on them, and arc only permitted to leay
| tic;r cells thirty 1ninntcs in tho morning, NJ
tic sa1ne time III the afternoon, to walk in til
narrow promenade between the Jail buildip
and the intcrwall. Their food consists Of ia
fare, soggy corn brcad and boiled beef, au
they ART not permitted TO have anything bc!ts
t ey'n .hongh they purchased It. When ID
= Ely WIS released, he went With nj. Faulkns
10 the jul, and tic Two were granted the iavt
. Of I'D int. rvicw with the unfortunate o'llecr
Mr. Faulkner expressed his surprise at til
: rgnr, aid tie stated that such was not tt
tIealrnt nj TINT the priyatccrs received in NJ:
b folk and PHILADELPHIA; that though they wei
: hcld for capital crimes, they wcr1 allowed
i receive visitors and 10 hare all thc co11f1r
compatible With their saf: custoly. Mr. E
3 t.li'Es tlnt bastd upon this Last statement
a Mr taulkncs, the rebel authorities will lcssc
the severity Of their treatment.
8 " the reckless and cutras-ons conduct
n tic rebel guards a3r Ely states that the mi
on rs had not bcen in The tobacco wa.ehou
|, fft en- minutes before bullet was fired In
tlir window ct one OF our prison rs. who Il;
= yeptured to put his head outside, and tl;..t
b fhls Way seven men had been Tautonlv killc