Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-22
Congressman EIy,s Narrative.

congressman Ely,s Narrative.
Onthe goth of July last, Mr.. Ely left Wash
ington for Fairfax, that he might witness
the forthcoming battle. After variety of
little adventures, he leaves his carriage,
during the Bull Run battle, when the fol-
lowing events transpired, which are best
told in his own Language: ono
MS CAPTURE.
strolled down the road near to the
scene of battle, accompanied by Mr.. Bryan.
When we had gono some seventy-five rods,
he declined to go further, and, from fear or
prudential motives, turned back and LETT
me alone. A large number of persons
were standing in the road and in the fields,
and also company of troops near the
place where L halted, in the middle of the
road. The striking of rifle ball near
where was standing admonished me of
the danger of my position. Immediately
LEFT the road, and advanced into the Iot on
the right, about two rods, and took shell
ter behind the trunk of large tree, where 1
found other persons who had sought a
similar refuge l am unable to state the
length my stay under the tree, but re-
collect that cannon ball or shell cume
crashing through its branches, scattering
the leaves. aud adding much to my alarm.
Its certain, however, that must have re.
mained here much longer than l realized,
from fear of being shot it moved. wns
in the immediate vicinity of a clump of
woods, which was so dense that no one
could be distinguished in it beyond very
small distance.
1t was while under the tree above men.
TONED that company of infantry issued
from the woods, marching iu great haste,
"double quick, with military officer on
horseback leading in advance. On arriv.
ing within about ten rods ofthe spotwhere
was standing, the company halted Two
officers then came forward to the tree and
inquired who was. and told them my
name was 'Alfred Ely" tWhat State are
you from2i "Frem the State OF New
York." replied. "Are you connected In
any way with the Government ~ Eyes y
"In what way, sir?n "a Representative
in Congress" One of the officers, cap
tain, Immediately seized me by the arm,
and said that was their prisoner, and took
from me the pistol which had that morn
ing borrowed of Mr. Seth Green. He took
nothing else. The officer repeatedly as
sured me that should not be harmed, aud
behaved with kindness and courtesy. He
took me to the colonel, sitting on horse.
back, and introduced ne in these words !:
"COlonel, this is Mr.. Ely, Representative in
Congress from New York; TO which the
colonel, in a most angry tone, replied, draw
ing his pistol, and pointing it directly at
my head, "G-d d-n your white-liyered
soulI I'll blow your brains out on the
spot" The captain ard another officer
rushed before the Colonel, aud prevented
him from carrying out his threat, the form
er exclaiming: "Colonel, colonel, you
must NOT shoot that pistol, he is our pris-
ouer." The colonel Immediately rode of,
when the captain stated to me that he was
ashamed of his colonel; that he was very
much excited, and had been drinking.
The colonel alluded to above turned out
to be Colonel Z. B. G. Cash, of South Car
olina, in command Of regiment from. that
State; the name of the more humane Off
Ger was Adjutant W. s. Mullins.
was conducted, in company with about
six hundred officers and men, all prisoners
of war, on foot, that evening to Manassas,
distance ofabout seven miles from where
was arrssted-over the dustiest road that
it was ever my fortune to travel. The dust,
so dense that il might almost be cut with a
knife, the weather dry, and no water to be
had, my mouth became so parched that it
seemed impossible for me to move my
tongue. On the march, by the side of the
road, few of the soldiers canteens were
partly filed from dirty pools of water, and
from one took draught which relieved
me very considerably. IA
We arrived at Manassas about 9 o'clock
in the evening, aud were marched into an
open space of ground, where we halted
There were at least one thousand persons,
as near as / can judge by the lights SHIN
| ing from the Confederate camps. They
were lying upon the ground, surrounded
| by guards, thickly posted, and near by was
a house, said TO pc General Beauregard's
headquarters. About the time of our ar
rival it commenced raining, and in that
place, without shelter, We were to remain
the entire night, exposed Ito all appear
auce) to n peltIng storm. fortunately
however, tornle, as was about looking
fora place to lie down, on the bare ground,
as my only alternative, au officer came in
side. the gnards and called out for "Repre.
4 sentative Ely to which L at once re-
| spouded. He addressed meby saying tba'
nGeueral Beauregard requested me to pro
ceed TO the officers quarters and i imme'
diately followed the officer. On my WAY
to the place, / passed by the headquayteri
of General Beauregard, where were sever
al officers upon the piazza of the small
house, apparently busy in conversation
surrounding table, upon which, In tht
dim light, 1 perceived some papers.
lcould not, of course, distinguish any p
the faces, but, to my utter astonishmeuti
/ caught the voice of Hon. w Porche
Miles, late Representative IN tue Uhite'
States Congress from South Carolina.
approaching the house, spoke to Mr.
Miles in q respectable and courteous man
ner, and both extending our hands, say
that he did not recogniEe me; Whereppon
said to him, "Do you mot know. mei7R d
replied, 81 do not reeollect youA the