The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-10

W. uuu III tuo N0W L YIN 4WeoO, o iuA~
Ter statement of Mr.. Ely, than has appear
ed before, and we copy the most interest
ing portion of it:
Hon. Alfred Ely arrived at Z o'clock this
evening, from Baltimore, and proceeded at
once to Wizards, where be was immediate.
~ recognized and warmly welcomed by
large number of friends. His robust ap
pearance would hardly indicated that he
had been five months q prisoner of war.
After half hour of hearty hand-shaking,
he retired ito bis own 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 imprisonment, Mr.. Ely has
never experienced responding moment |;
that he has been in the best of health, and
his buoyancy of spirits has 80 sustained
him that he now returns with his usual Wig
or, and ready to resume the active duties Of
his position. The particulars of Mr.. Elys
capture have never been fully known, and
he states them as follows:
He was captured by a South Carolina
company of infantry, about six O'Clock in
the afternoon of the day of battle. He had
stopped at blacksmith's shop to have bis
carriage mended, and after that waited
while for Senator Foster, of Cincinnati,
who had gone out with him. While wait-
ing he walked down towards ravine, in
which he saw company 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 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
this surprise, a company of soldiers, accom-
panied by two well-dressed officers, emerged
from the woods near by.
On perceiving Mr.. Ely, the two officers
advanced and demanded his name. He an.
swered, +" Mr.. Ely, of New York." The
question followed, "Do you hold any civil
Office in the Government 2" For the first
time Mr.. Ely felt he was in trouble. He
replied that be was member of Congress,
and thereupon one of the officers clapped his
hand upon him and declared him prisoner,
but assured him be should be treated with
every consideration. They took him to
their Colonel, and introduced him formally
as Hon. Mr.. Ely, Member of Congress
from New York. Instantly the Colonel
drew pistol, cooked it and leveled it at
Mr.. Ely's head, not two PAGES distant, and
said, "You id rascal, I'll blow your
brains out" The two officers who had ar.
rested Mr.. Ely instantly threw themselves
upon the Colonel, forced his pistol back,
and persuaded him away. They then apol-
ogized to Mr.. Ely, saying they were asham.
ed of their Colonel, who was excited by
drinking. This officer was Colonel Cash,
and the officer who arrested Mr.. Ely was
Captain Mullins.
Mr.. Ely was put with large herd of
prisoners, and all were started to Manas-
sas. It was march of seven weary miles,
and the prisoners suffered tortures 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 thick
ly 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 similar movement, an off,
Ger rode into the yard and called aloud to
know if Mr.. Ely, of New York, was
present" Mr.. Ely thought his time had
come now to be shot. Nevertheless he an.
swered the call, and was told that General
Beauregard required him to come to his
headquarters. He followed the officer and
reached the log house surrounded by vers
anda, on the porch of which, with single
candle burning Oh it, was table, and
around the table sat JEFF. Davis, Beaure.'
gard, Extra Billy Smith, Porcher, Miles,
and other rebel officers, apparently reckon.
ing up the result of the days battle.
Porcher Miles approached Mr.. Ely, and
expressed regret at bis situation, but in
moment changed his tone, remarking that
be had no opinion of Congress men who
would come to aid an army in invading q
State. Mr.. Ely was sent off to seep in
barn, where be found the captured Nation,
al officers.
The next day they we're all started to
Richmond. The morning after their arri-
val there, Messrs. 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 &C.
sure his release. They made an applica-
ton for this purpose to JEFF. Davis, who
called meeting OF bis cabinet, and the res
suit was consultation.of several hours. The
Cabinet generally favored Mr. Ely's release,
but Davis, Benjamin, and Hunter, were op
posed to it, 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 de.
ny the application.
Mr.. Ely's arrival was announced by the
Richmond papers and the whole press of
the South, by which be soon became noto~
rious. Visitors came to see him by hun.
dreds, and it was not unfrequently the case
that he had forty in his room at time.
Among them we're Breckenridge, Hum.
phrey Marshall, and Ex.Minister Preston,
who expressed the opinion that his being
held in custody was an outrage. The Gov
ernors and Episcopal Bishops of the 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 dailv and sometimes not lesa than q