The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-19

distress among the operatives Of both countries.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM COLONEL CROKER
Ar rival or Captain Parrish and Lieu
tenant Dempscy-Relcase or Federal
Omcers from imprisonment.
Captain j. A. Parrish, of tho Seventy ninth regiment,
and Lieutenant j. W Dempsey OF the Second New York
Volunteers, who taken prisoners at Bull and
have been imprisoned IN half dozen different
jas castles and forts Of the South arrived in this city
Saturday evening last having been released from
nnement, have already announced tss.
graphic dispatches from Washington.
We indebted to Lieutenant Dempsey for the fol
lowing interesting letter from Colonel j. s. Croker Of
the Ninety third New York, who after his capture
front Of Yorktown company with Major Cassidy Of
tho regiment, became fellow prisoner Of Lisu-
tenant Dempsey The letter OF Colonel Croker spcak
for ITSELF and all doubt concerning the mode of
the capture OF tese gentlemen Placing Colonel croor
and Major Cassidy rectss IN cs1Ia:
70 TIE EDIToR or THE NEW YORK HERALD.
psyor UNION PxsoxsRs
RICHMOND, VA, May I 1852. !
I,asw Major Cassidy, was very much panied 70
learn that several Richmond papers contain extracts
the New York Tribune stating that capture and
Gnomont in loathsome prison at Richmond had boon
UNANIMOUSLY represented desertion to tho enemy Ia il
sufficient to suffer here, without being magned by
SO called friends at homer Allow give you, as
brief possible the facts. II difficult to furnish
munications from hero. or our friends should have
learned the particulars Of capture this On the
22d Of April, regiment (ths Ninety third moved
from Warwick Court House 70 position the
enemys lines before Yorktown which reached late
afternoon The tents baggage and portions Of the
regiment did not arrive until tho 23d Tho grand guards
detailed from tho regiment for duty on the Esd
OF without their rations, but with promise from
that would send them their ratons es they
arrived which did about r. NJ. Tho location OF the
regiment slightly Changed again on the 23d, and
Major Cassidy and self with the Adjutsnt Of the rcg
ment, had been constantly employed performing the
executive business and arranging tho camp OF the rsg
until about Eve six P. NJ. Being unacquained
with the nature tho country and OF the ground in the
immediate vicinity OF location, we'll as Of the
location, name number character Of tho troops
US and also the line of pickets and Major Cas-
sdy having been Informed that he would be detained
Field officer Of the day for the following day and beev
ng il TO be duty TO inform ourselves in regard TO
those particulars before night to be able select
favorable ground TO form regmsntal limo otherwise
the regiment undersandngy should circum.
render necessary during the night. and 70
the rations sent 70 regiment had reached
them and also TO enable the Major TO post himself
the line Of his duties the following day-for this
purpose started from quarters ~ between five
six p NJ for the first time since late arrival
and soon after Captain Norton. or the Seventy.
seventh New York of whom inquired the direction
distance 70 our pckets That ocsr pointed out TO US
the direction, and gave tho distance nearly halt mile
The Major and myself proceeded in the direction indi
catod by Captain Norton few hundred yards, without
coming up with seeing any Of pckets guards In
any direction, but suddenly found ourselves within
ambush Of scouting party OF the snemy's Mississippi
rinemon, numbering from twenty to thirty, who had
been scouting in front Of lines and who, have
been info rmsd had just before captured Of
picksts at the point whore takon.
when first them We took them for
pickets. They were mostly concealed behind trees,
bushes and other objects, exhibiting only much Of
their persons necessary enable them to aim
us We soon discovered them to be enemies, and that
from twenty thirty Of them in front and zach side
OF US had their rifles at deadly aim at our own per
sons distances varying from ten to forty yards To
escape impossible. An attempt at escape have
been attended with instant death. We we're tAus cap
tured and taken to the quarters OF Generals Griffith
NcClaw and Magruder successfully. and during tho
night started on for this place, where we arrived on
the gath, and were Immediately after consigned by Gen
eral windcr to this prison prisoners OF Since
officers among whom Colonies Corooron and Wilcox
Captain Parrish. Of New York. Lieutenant Dempsey, Of
New York, and some forty-h others. Such military
papers had in my possession whom taken prisoner
Immediately ate up, chat when they called for
by General Mgarudsr had deliver Neither OF
answered question that put to Of a military
character Yours, &C., JOHN s. CROKER.
Colonel Ninety third regiment N. Wv
We learn # ON Messrs Parrish and Dempsey that tbs
eight hundred privates Of the sixty ninth and seventy
ninth regiments, the First Fire Zouaves, tho First Mch
gan aud two other regiments who have arrived at
Washington will be paid of to-day and return homo i'm
nsdiately.
Those who may have friends and relatives among the
prisoners in the South who have been confined with
these ocsrs, will nnd Captain Parrish Ut ne Parrish
House. No. 10 East Houston street, and Lieutenant
Dempsey at his resdsuee 1se Bovsry, where they viii
aford oil the Information In their power
Captain Parrish still pretty stout though he has lost
considerable flesh from his sng imprisonment and harsh
treatment in the Southern dungeons. Lieutenant Demp
ssy looks WE'LL but bears the marks Of the wound
on his head which he received in the battle Of Bull run
STEAMER FIRE CRAcKxR.-Tbs splendid steamer, built
for and under the superintendent OF Captain II. w.
Johnson is the balance dock receiving FIRST