STATEMENT OF THE ARREST OF JOSEPH C. WRIGHT, OF MILFORD, N. J.

The following statement has been made by Joseph C. Wright, of Milford, N. J., of his arrest and transportation to the Old Capitol:

MILFORD, N. J., March 2d, 1863.

My Dear Sir,-You are aware that, on the 19th of August, I was arrested in the peaceful town of Milford by a military force in the hands of Deputy United States Marshal A. R. Harris and G. Dean, and after five minutes' notice was placed in a wagon and driven off to Frenchtown, four miles distant, thrust in one of the upper rooms of the hotel of the place, and there guarded by these armed men until the hour of arrival of the train for Trenton. I was then put on board (not knowing yet where I was to be taken). On my way down I asked to be shown the authority for so arresting peaceful citizens. I was told when I got to Trenton, I would be told why I was arrested and be shown the warrant. I arrived in Trenton in the evening, and I demanded again to be shown the process by which I was dragged from my home, my family and friends. I was still denied, with the promise when we reached Mount Holly Jail (County Seat of Burlington County of this State), that it would be read to me; but

after getting there nothing more was said, for I saw I was only to be put off, and no time was allowed me further to insist upon my right to know by whose authority I was so arrested.

I may be getting before my statement.

After my arrival at Trenton (I was kept from all public places, or hotels), was taken to a place where private meals were served up, and given my supper; and after waiting there two and a half hours for the cars for Burlington, I was for the first time told that I was to go to Jail. We left Trenton and arrived at Burlington was then placed in a hack and carried to Mount Holly, reaching the place at eleven P. M. I was then placed in the care of the turnkey, who showed me to a cell where I was locked up for the night. You may well imagine no sleep came near me that night. Such a place to put white men I never believed existed in any land. Nothing but a straw tick-no covering the whole cell filled with vermin. At six A. M. was unlocked, and turned out in the yard with negroes, horsethieves, robbers and Jackaloo the murderer. My condition was improved the next night by being given a better cell and bed. After being in Mount Holly Jail some ten days, an order came to take me to the Old Capitol Prison, Washington City, where I arrived and was shown quarters; and after remaining there eight days, through the interposition of active friends, headed by Colonel William Murphy, of the 10th N. J. Regiment, I was on the morning of the ninth day approached by the corporal of the guard and notified to pack up my baggage and report myself to Lieut. Miller, and after being conducted by the guard to his office, he notified me that my brother was in waiting for me outside, and I was at liberty to pass out, which I did after getting permission to return to my room for the purpose of bidding good-bye to my fellow-pris

oners, with the injunction not to bring out any letters, as they, the letters, were considered contraband matter. This I had known for some time, as no letter of mine ever reached my family, nor did I receive any myself. I am as ignorant to-day as I was on the 19th day of August last, of what offense I was accused. I have only to refer to the fact that I was honorably discharged. I might refer to the fact that after I left the Capitol Prison, I at once called upon Mr. L. C. Turner, Judge Advocate, and demanded of him who my accusers were, and of what offense I was charged with, all of which he declined to give me. I then asked to be returned home free of expense, which he also refused. This my brother witnessed. I might write you more, perhaps, as much again, concerning myself. The message I delivered to Governor Olden, (after I reached Trenton,) at the instance of Mr. Thos. F. Knox, of Fredericksburg, Va., a gentleman of that place, then held as a hostage, (same floor with myself, Old Capitol Prison,) and who is the intimate friend of Governor Olden. But what I have already given you will fully serve to show you how loyal Democrats are treated by Mr. Lincoln and the present party in power, simply because I defended truth and principle when at stake.

Yours truly,

JOSEPH C. WRIGHT.

STATEMENT OF THE KIDNAPPING OF JOHN APPLE, OF PHILADELPHIA.

I was arrested on the 15th of August, 1862, by Deputy Marshal Schuyler. I was taken from the Jefferson House, kept by James Weston on the corner of Fifth and Poplar Streets, to the Marshal's office. I asked the Marshal what the charge was against me He told me it was for discouraging enlistments. I then asked him who made this charge against me, and he told me a man by the name of Burns. The Marshal told him to go to the Mayor and make an affidavit to that effect and bring it to him (the Marshal) and he would send it to the Secretary of War-which he did. The Secretary of War then sent a warrant on for my arrest. I employed two lawyers to get a writ of habeas corpus for me. They applied for it. The Marshal told them that my arrest was ordered from Washington, and I was to be tried there, and there couldn't be a writ granted for me. I was taken to Washington, and arrived there on the 16th of August, about 7 o'clock in the morning. I requested the Deputy Marshal to go with me to see Mr. Florence before he locked me up, which he did. The Marshal, Mr. Florence, and myself then went to the Judge Advocate's. Mr. Florence stated my case, and the Judge said that he had nothing at all to do with it, and

said to the Marshal, you have been ordered to take this man to the Old Capitol Prison, have you not? The Marshal said that he was so ordered. The Judge then told him that he would have to take me there, for he had nothing to do with the case. I was then taken to the Old Capitol Prison, and placed in the bands of the Superintendent (Mr. Wood). I said to Mr. Wood that the Marshal had no warrant for my arrest, or no charge against me. He (Mr. Wood) said we will find a charge against you. He then sent the Marshal to the Provost-Marshal's office in the District of Columbia for a commitment for me, and kept me waiting all that time without any authority at all. He (Mr. Wood) then put me in the Hospital, where there were sixty to seventy sick men. They had all kinds of diseases. I was the only one among the lot of them that was not sick. I had to

eat, sleep and everything in the same room with these people. There were sick soldiers with different kinds of diseases, brought in there every day, and most of them were lousy, and the beds full of bed-bugs. The room was lined with rats and mice, so that when you laid down they would crawl over you. The victuals that were furnished for the prisoners wasn't fit for a dog to eat. They allowed those who had money to buy their own victuals. Which I for one did.

I was kept in this hospital for about three weeks, and then was removed from there into a room with some state prisoners. The room was somewhat better than the hospital, although it was full of lice, bed-bugs, rats and mice, but it was more healthy than the other place. When we would go from our room down into the yard, we would have to examine our clothes when we came back, so as to keep us from getting lousy. I never saw a friend of mine while I was there but one person. The officers wouldn't allow any one else to see me, and when I