Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-01-03
Arrival OF NAr, Ely i'm Wash.
imgtOm.
Interesting Statement Of Ills captriy.
peelal Dispatch to the N. Y; Tribnnc


her OF personal and political friends. lie 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 toward the Stone
bridge to learn the particulars of the fight,
When he was surrounded ny II company of
rebel infantry under Capt. Mullins. That oill-
Ger treated him with much respect, and con-
reyed him at once to Colonel Cash, who WAS
much excited. aud threatened to shoot him.
lie was, however, marched on To Manassas
seven miles fromSwhrre he was captured,
through road dark with dust. lie suffered
greatly for water, of which he obtained none
until he reached Msnassas, at o n. m.
There he was placed in II large field with
hundreds OF prisoners, many OF whom were
wounded and ,iJ ing. lie describes the scene
as sckenng in the extreme. When about to
lie down on the grass (Which was wet, for it
was raining heavily he was summoned 10
Gen. Benniegard's headquarters. There he
lOnnd that officer in company with Jefferson
Davis, W forc-er Miles, Extra Billy Smith,
and some twenty officers of the Confederate
army.
Miles spoke 10 him in cool manner He
sali he was sorry In find member of the Fed
eral Congress nrging on the soldiers in their
efforts To snbdne the South, and directed him
10 quarters in an old barn, where he found so
many of the Vnon officers that il was dinlvult
to secure place to lie down. Fresh water
was given him. and despite the cemiOrtless
shed, he slent sOundly
The rain poured in torrents all night and
| the camps about Manassas were almost nun-
dated In the morning the prisoners were ems
lertalned by Beauregard's negro servant, who
had much 10 say of the bravery of his master
and the incidents OF the battle.
| NJ : o'clock, Mr.. McClnskv, formerly post-
master Of the House Of Representatives. with
whom Mr.. Ely WAS acquainted waited upon
Him with Col. Bate aud the Rev .losrph Cross
OF The Confederate army, who subsequently
wrote ridiculous account OF the interview
for Tennessee paper which was reprinted in
New York
At O'Clock, with the other prisoners, MIR.
Ely was marched from the barn 10 the ears
Tor Richmond. At noon, whih, in the cars
they were supplied with bread and ham. Ii
was O'CLOCK before the train started.
All day the ambnlances had heen bringing
in wounded Rebels and Union soldiers. some
$50 prisoners were on the train and with the
wounded of both armies, brought the number
OF passengers np TO l,j0o So heavy was the
train and so frequent the delays that Il days
were occupied in reaching Richmond.
Jefferson Davis accompanied the train n part
OF the day, when he was sent forward by OK
ifit97t ~ = ~ INV Sldllhus Tue people turned
ont IN great numbers to see the Yankee pri-
soners, and were often iusolent. and only Kent
from violence By the officers in charge.
The prisoners were in great apprehension OF
rough handling at Richmond hut hy good
management the citizens of that place were
mised AS to the hour of the arrival of the
train which was at 9s in the evening.
The privntes were sent on in advance, TO
the tobacco factory, miles distant Forty
four officers and MIR. Ely followed, and were
thrown into the same room, all huldlrd 10.
gcther in roniusion, and slept upon The moor.
No beds or bedding were provided All the
furniture now in that prison has been pnrcha
sed by the prisoners.
For some days the food was served in canld
rons placed in the centre OF the room, and
dishes, knives and forks were nat to hc had.
Tine first day one Of the sentinels outside tho
building sent a ball from his muskct thronnL
window and into nfier of the main room
II was aimed at Il prisoner who clnnced tu
look ONT. seven were at various times shot
for taking such liberty This rrncl prarticr
was objected to By leading citizens. ana snb- |
seqgently stopped.
Mr. Ely speaks in terms Of highest praise of
the treatment extended him by the ncople Of
richmond. Thousands Hooked to see him. aud
ne received many presents, one of which-n
wniing-desk from n Young udy-hr hrings |
with him Scarcely a day passed that bo,l |
q'leis were not sent to him One dny h, wns
given three good dinners The bouts given
h,ni fion tint tinr, hul winch he was Oh.
liged to leave behind would make a yrr, rr-
spectacle library,
t'i the drawing ballots for hostage7 to offset
the pirates in Philadelphia and New York AIR
Fly STATES ihai II Waa only hy consent of his
fellow prisoners That he agreed 10 perforn
that painful task, aud with much trepidation
inr he thought il likely that his name was in
the hal.
The day before he left Richmond he yisitca
co.'s wood, Cogswell and Lee, MAJOR Revere
ana ChplS. Boosmany, keiter and lockwood.
VINO are IN close confinement in the common
jail
lie found them crowded into Il room about
Y feet enHre with no furniture saving. one or
two benches and II small table. Cots arn
brought in at night and all sleep in the snoll
apartment The walls are lilapidatcd nn,l ,hc
floor is rirh in rat holes.
unc OF the Captains remarked that il WAS n
question with him as TO who had possession Of
the room as the rats claimed many privileges
and had, IN one occasion, carried lis nonto
loonS eal Of the door Various kinds OF ver
min reyel "A the miserable cell, which il li,bt.
ed by Two small windows heavily barred Min
iron.
Col. Wood has quite recovered from his
severe wound, and the other officers are "pi'o
well Mr. Ely is of opinion thai ihey viii
certainly he hung as well as Col. Corcoran
who Is in close confinement at Charleston j
inc pirates IN our possession are put the deatl
ol Col Gdc9ran' demean0r while in Rio
h0nd Mr. ELY speaks in terms of hca,
praise. That brave officer never cnwa,I
most disheariening circlnstapfs.
The association organized by the prisors
in the iohcce factory AT Richmond Jtin
Kept NJ. No President has been toIn 70
succeed Mr.. Ely. The Vice Presdh. j.
w. Hart OF Ohio, will officiate 70 flf pre.
sent, The seal of the Association, ineestpd
by the condition Of the factory hen Onr
prisoners first went there, consists circle,
lnclosng wreath Of lice, and thimphatr
legend, bite, and lie damned ~
Mr. Hart lately composed the blowing
song, which, with others Of Il sillar char
Acler, the prisoners sing with nut effect,
THE PRISONERS SONG.
W'len expressly orthr hclmnni Pri4ontt ssociatin
by Isaac W. HART, Wabash %.
Cumr, hrothet prisoners. join in the son,
Our stNy in the prison viii not Le long
CH0Rus-Ro on roll ON, sweet numta rull On
Anu let The poor priauneri home 10
nnT friends al home makc dem,niI
To havs released their patriot blnli,
CHohls-Rol ON, eiu
Our uoyernmeni is bouni 10 obey,
lpf from the people they take Their nav Il
CHoRus-I,ul un &c
They ule hound tu respect the public pr
And return lis humr ON friends to l,rs,
CuoBUs-lill on &C.
Ill
CO0gtessman Ely il first thr list
Aud he'll snnn e home 0r friends to a.t
CHoRusRoll on, Sc.
And give 10 his mind tlle widest taDep ,
And speed hms.tiu place far e4than,
CHORUS Roll On, Ac.
Aud when We arrive in the land Of the fl,
They will smile aud eltnne us io,hlly
CHoRUs-Roll On, 4c
Aud when before them wen shortly stan I