Page 133 - 86-Book2

His sons, Oscar, Eugene, and Robert, also worked
for Smith & Wesson and used similar styles. On this revolver, Young’s fine exhibition quality scrollwork on a punch dot background covers 90% of the surface. Even the hammer is scroll engraved. Amongst the scrollwork on both sides of the barrel and frame are dog heads (barrel), a grotesque head (left side of frame), and
an eagle head (right side of frame). The back strap is inscribed in script, “Alfred Ely, Rochester/NY.” Alfred Ely (1815-1892) was a U.S. Representative from New York. Elected as a Republican, Ely served in the 36th and 37th Congresses for the New York’s 29th Congressional district. During the Civil War he was taken prisoner by the Confederates while witnessing the First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861) and served nearly six months in Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia. His interest in
military preparedness as well as his active participation in raising companies for the Union army drove him to the battlefield to observe the fighting himself. Eley was joined by a number of politicians and local citizens to watch the battle unfold. Early in the battle Union troops appeared to be winning, but a late rally by Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson doomed a Union victory. Union soldiers and civilian onlookers like Ely were captured. Among his fellow prisoners was future Governor of Wisconsin William H. Upham who was
then serving with the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His time in prison took an ominous turn after Union forces captured the crew of the Savannah, a Confederate privateer. The crew was accused of being pirates and were put on trial in New York. If found guilty, the crew faced the death penalty.
131