Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-01-03
RETURN or CoNGREssMAN Ely.

MEL OhN VI CONOhbooMhN EIh'
Hon. Alfred Ely, Member Of Congress
from New York, who was taken prisoner at
the battle Of Bull Run, has been released by
the rebels in exchange for Mr.. Faulkner, late
ly released by federal government. Mr.. Ely
arrived at Washington on Friday last, and
was warmly welcomed by large number of
friends. During the whole of mis- imprison-
ment, he has never experienced a responding
moment, but has enjoyed the best of health,
and now returns with his usual yigor to re-
sumo the active duties of his position. The
following are the particulars Of Mr.. Ely's
capture, as furnished by the Washington cor
respondent Of the New York Times
He was captured BY South Carolina company Of in
Antry about o'clock y. " the day Of battle. He
had stopped backsmiihs shop to have his carriage
mended, and after that, waited awhile for Senator Fnst
er, Of Connecticut who had gone out with him While
waiting he walked down towards ravnc, in which he
company of National troops skulkng or in am
bush but a. he approached them they receded and just
as Mr. Ely paused 10 return IN his carriage, a spent
musket ball struck the earth near him. He stepped be-
hind large tree by to be out Of danger, and
hnued his observations. In amoment cannon ball vent
crashing through the branches N the tree, and seemed
10 be Telling the whole top upon him. BY the time he
recovered from his surprise, company Of soldiers
compauied by two weldfessed officers emerged from the
woods near by
On petceiying Mr. Ely the two officers advanced and
demanded his name. HI answered, " Mr. Ely Of New
York" The question followed DO you hold any civil
office in the Government z" For the first time Mr. Ely
said he felt he in trouble. lie replied that he
Member Of Congress, aud thereupon Of the officers
clapped his hand up1n him and declared him prisoner,
but assured him he should be treated with every con
sideratiou. They took him to their Colonel and in
troduced him formally " Hon. Mr.. Ely, Member Of
Congress from New York" Instantly the Colonel drew
pistol, cooked and leveed it at Mr. Elys head. not
two PAGES distant. and said, " You DID rascal III blow
your brains OUT The officers who had arrested Mr. Ely
instantly threw themselves upon the Colonel forced his
pistol back and persuaded him away. They then apol-
opized Mr.. Ely, saying they were ashamed u their
Colonel, who va escited hy drinking The officer was
Col Cash, and the officer who arrested Mr. BY oaP,
Mr. Ely WAS put with large herd Of prisoners and all
started 10 Manassas Il a march Of seven
weary miles and the prisoners suffered fortunes from
the dust. heat and thirst. Al Manassas which they
reached nine O'Clock r. NJ, they driven an
open space surrounded thickly by guards and all began
TO fall on the ground then wet with fast falling rain, TO
seek res; and sleep While Mr. Ely was preparing Tor
similar officer rode into the yard AID called
aloud 10 know II MIR. Els, Of New York present
Mr.. Ely thought his time had come now 10 be shot.
Nevertheless he answered the call and was told that
General Beauregard required him to to his head
quarters lie followed the officer and reached the log
house surrounded by yerandah the porch Of which,
with single candle burning il, a table and
around the table sat JEFF Davis Beauregard Extra Billy
Smith Porcher Miles, and other rebel officers, apparent
ly reckoning mp the result OF the days battle.
Porcher Miles approached Mr. Ely, and expressed
greet his situation, but in moment changed his
remlrking that he had opinion Of Congressman who
would come On aid an army in invading State Mr.
Ely sent of to sleep in barn, where he found the
captured National officers
The next day they all started to Richmond The
morning after their arrival there Messrs Boccck and
Pryor, Of Virginia and eitt aud Boyce Of South Caro-
lima, called upon Mr.. Ely, and stated that they should
use Their influence 70 secure his release They made an
application for this purpose 90 Jef Davis. who called
meeting of his Cabinet, and the result a consuta
ton 81 scvcfal hours The Cabinet generally favored afr.
Elys release but Davis Benjamin, and Hunter, we're
opposed 20 IL on the grounds of public policy, and Walker
the Secretary " War an elaborate Communication
stating that The Cabinet had come 90 the conclusion TO
DENY the application.
Nj Elys arrival was announced by the Richmond pa
pers and the whole Of the South by which he soon
became Visitors him by hundreds,
and il not unfequenty the that he had forty in
Humphrey Marshall and Ex-Minister Preston, who
pressed the opinion hat his being held in custody
outrage The Governors and Episcopal Bishops Of most
Of the rebel States also visitors In fact they
20 him from al parts Of Jeff Davis domnous. Boquets
sent him almost daily, and sometimes less iha
a dozen day. His meals too. nicely prepared, we're
sent him by tho families N citizens In his
politics we're rarely alluded to, except he himself
dueed the subject, when there free interchange OF
opinion.
The position Of hostages at Richmond is painful
Seven Of them confined in room about twelve by
fifteen feet, in the Richmond jail having two small
windows, which admit but little light They permit
ted person hut the jaior and the negro ~ho waits
upon them, and only permitted 70 leave their cells
thirty minutes IN the morning and the same time In the
afternoon 20 Walk Ia the promenade between the
jail building and the interval Their food consists OF
jail fair .ohhy bread and boiled beef and they are
not permitted to have any thing better though they
purchased il When Mr.. Ely was released he went in
company Siih Mr. Faulkner the jail and the two were
g5sned Nc aver o. an interview With the unfortunate
rgo and he stated III AZ such was not the treatment
pryateers received Ia New York and Philadelphia that
though they held FOR capital crimes, they al
lowed To receive visitors and 10 have all the comforts
compatible with their safe custody Mr Ely thinks that
based upon this Last statement by Mr. Faulkner the
bel authorities will lessen the severity of their treatment
or the reckless and outrageous conduct Of the rebel
guards MI ty speaks IN terms OF the utmost
lie states that the prisoners had been the tobacco
warehouse tfcen minutes beorea bullet vas fired into the
window u If prisoners who had veutured 10 nut
his head outside, and that in this way had
been wantony killed. This conduct met with severe
censure from an who aware Of the facts, but he
not apprsed bat any action had been taken TO punish
the offenders by ihe rebel authorities
few days before his release. Mr. BY was again visit
ed by Messrs Bocock and Boyce who stated that they
intended to use their efs o. get him exchanged flr Mr.
Faulkner. The following day he saw announced ia a
Richmond paper that Mr. Faulkner had been released on
his parole t thirty day condition that he should pro-
coed 70 Richmond and procure in exchange FOR himself
Mr. Ely, or In the OF failing to return 10 Fort
Warren He could hardly credit his a. he tbouobt Nd
it been the fact Bocock and Boyce would have been
aware Of Dc hut each additional day integ an
nouncfd the progress Of Mr. Faulkuer he became con
WINGED that his release hand
Mr. Faulkner was received in Richmond with aperfeet
ovation thirty thousand people being out The follow
ing day Mr.. Faulkner called upon Mr. Ely aud they had
pleasant Interview, ana having both prisoners
they could well appreciate their mutual position in the
past He announced that he had interview with Jeh
Davis and his Cabinet and he happy state that
they had decided upon his release The following day
Gen Winder came 20 the prison, and with formal
~ and dignity entered the aud in the presence Of
Nj, klis fellow prisoners presented him with his
Sc and announced - % him that he free and
he should be happy 10 him at his own house - -
ef the interchange Of aew pleasant words Gen Win "a
\ meeting Of the Prison Association, Of which Mr.
was The President. at once convened. and Mr.
made farewell address Of nearly hour ia length
TgnNaTgnd If ne aufa n tb.
winch they had borne part and that. notwithstand-
their confinement, they had succeeded Ia making %
n houis pass cheerfully by, aud he gratfed to
iounce that though there much in the separa-
from their families and friends in the want Of com