Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-02-27
FROM BULL RUNTO LIBBY
A Renaissance OF the Noted
Confederate Prison
What it Cost Congressman to See the
First Fight Of the War.

at was happy morning for Alfred
Ely when Charles J. Faulkner walke,,
into our Office at Libby" said Captain
warner. the former Quartermaster al
Libby Prison, to Chicago Herald
correspondent at Centralia. Ill Ely
had exhausted the vast resources of m
inventive mind to have his govern
ment get him out of the predlcament
which had befallen him by reason of
his venturesome trip to see the first
battle of Bull Run. The Lincoln Ad-
minstration. while anxious and willing
to return him to his people, could not
make a general exchange OF, prisoners
"a consummation repeatedly sought
for by Ely without recognizing the
seeding states q belllgerent power,
and. along with other men who had
met a similar fate, he was forced to
remain our prisoner II we'll remem
Der the morning Faulkner arrived at
Richmond. lie, as you know, had
been Minister to the Court OF st.
James's. and when the war broke out
he came home and was arrested and
cast into Northern prison. He was
afterward allowed to proceed on his
parole to the south for the purpose of
bringing about his exchange with Ely.
The people in Richmond received him
with open arms. He was exceedingly
popular and when he made known tie
terms of his exchange the authorities
said they would give a half dozen Elys
for him. He came to the prison Of
flee and in the absence of General
Winder | received him, and he at once
male known his business. | WAS
much pleased not only because of
Fauikner's return, but because | was
glad to see Ely return to his home |
at once went to hunt Ely, and finding
him, said Ely, your redeemer has
come took him into the office and
there introduced them. OF cDu1se the
meeting was mutually agreeable Some
Northern people had intrusted to
Faulkner a sum of money (S2O0) in
! gold dollars to be distributed among
the most needy prisoners. The money
Captain Gibbs, the prison commander
turned over to Ely, who in company
with Lieutenant Booker, officer of the
day, went among the men and faith
fully discharged their duty. 1t SO
happened that a certain Carpenter
thought Ely had not dealt fairly with
him in the distribution of the money.
and he got even with him in manner
which | shall now relate Ely had
done great deal of writing while a
prisoner, and he wanted to take all Of
his papers along with him should he
ever be released. He therefore asked
me to allow the carpenter TO make
him a trunk in which to pack his
effects. | did so, but Ely imagined
that we would not allow him TO take
all, so he prevailed on the carpenter 10
construct a secret receptacle in the
bottom Of the box. Afterward he
found out that there would be no
trouble in his taking anything ne
wanted, and, for fear We would dis
cover his trick, he tore out the fi&ture
without telling the carpenter what he
had done. After Faulkner came AMI
Ely was exchanged the carpenter
blowed the whole business - an officer,
and man was sent on IN hot haste
to capture both Ely and his trun.
He went aboard The truce boat aud
bored a big hole IN the bottom # tiIs
box. bnt Of course IT Vas a false a.arm
AMI the distinguished ex- prisoner wa:
allowed 10 proceed on his way re5o,c-
ing" Captain Warner. who related
favorably mentioned in Ely's BOOK OF
Libby Prison as Icing kind to Union
prisoners. Ely. as all remember. VA.
the Congressman from the Rochester
y. Y. district. who went down 70 50.
the sights a, Boil Run nght. AMI IA.
taken prisoner and taken to Libby
He is now residing a Rochester
Y Y.
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