Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-10-14
Life at Fort LAFAYETTE.
HOW THE IMPRISONED REBELS EN-
PLUY THEIR TINE.

PLOY THEIR TIME
We have been furnished with TIE fol-
lowing interesting account of matters at
Fort Lafayette by Mr.. NJ. e. Stanley, a
recent inmate thereof, who was dlschar-
ged upon an investigation of his case,
which established his eEtire innocence of
the charges brought against him, and ex-
hib'ted him as Il perfectly loyal Union
man:
Upon the arrival OF the prisoner at
Fort Hamilton he is at once delivered in
10 the-chargs OF Col. Burke and sthe doc
,unent for his commitment exhibited
This document comes from either the Sec
retary CT War or Secretary Of State, ac.
cording as the prisoner is one OF war or OF
State. Col. Burke thereupon has tie ac-
cused ferred across the little channel
which flows between Fort lIamiltor aud
Fort Lafayette, and upon his, arriva! in
the latter stronghold he is given into he
charge of the commanding officer, Lieut..
Wood, who writes out receipt for his
prisoner. After tins formula is over he is
shown TO his quarters, which of la.e have
been tie casemates or gun .oOmS around
the wall OF the fort. This economy has
been necessilated by the filing Up Of the
mo desirable officers quarters by the
first arrivals.
A'soon as the new conner il left tohim-
self he is at once surrounded 10y his new
fellow prisoners and piled with questions
rs TO bis nRme, where he came from and
what are the charges against him, which
usually wind up with an expression on
the part Of he !-terrogatols OF doing all
they can to render his stay rs agreeable as
possible. The conversation continues,
aud when friendly relations have been
established lie is very blmndly asked what
he will have for his dinner or supper, nc
cordiEg to the hour at which he arrives.
In the same breath they extol the deli
clUus character of beef steak, with mush-
Irooms, aud EroIed chicken OF other sa-
worry dshe., and urge him, some to have
tie former, others the latter. In a maze
OF astonishment al this good trea 'ment OF
Grimm as by the offended Government he
states his choice or perhaps expresses a
wish for little OF several of the dishes
mealiOned, and the character Of the vine
:hen comes up tor cytolment and the
wags get intO quite a dispute among
/ tbems Ives aS to the relative qualities OF
the Burgundy, Port, Madeira Claret, &c,
which Is giveu them at dinner. The still
, further astouisE ed prisoner drinks all this
in with considerable pleasure, and begin,
ming to got over the fright which his ar.
J rest and incarceration have produced con-
graduates himself that stay at Fort Las
tayette isa capital thing. But his fond
delLsion, at least the one produced by his
! fellow uiisUuers, soon vunlShes when the
conversation, which by this time has, OF
course, changed TO other subjects, is sud
denly interrupted by the signal fOr dinner
or suppes, and he is conducted to his seat
in the dining room, where, in place of a
mahogany tabie with lusIrous white dam~
ask cloth, silver service aud richly cut
| glass ware, all of which his imagination
had conjured up, he discovers plain
deal table, imprinted and without a cloth,
with tin plate containing piece OF par
italy cooked pork, tin cup Of coffee aud
u large chunk OF bread. As he contems
plates this in dismly, a loud laugh from
his fellow prisoners, who, from the door
have been watching his movements, throws
n little light on his disordered intellect,
and he perceives that lie has beeu The vic
tim OF u hoax. This constitutes his ini-
tiation into Fort Lafayette society, and he
in turn becomes as eager us the rest TO
sell" tnG neXtn nov conner
This is one Of the ways in which the in.
mates manage to while away the time,
and III fact, it has become SO popular A.
hong them that the announcement in
the duily papers (which, ly the way, they
receive every morning regularly before
eigIt o'clock ,)of any arrest at once creates
quite an eXcltemeY, aud everything Is
prepared to thoroughly initiate the ex-
pected individual.
Those of the prisoners who have means
and friends can lss time in comparative
comfort. mess has been established 10y
permission OF the commanding officer
which is under the control OF aL ortlna. ce
sergeant attached to the post. 1t num-
bers about thirty, and at cost of one
dollar head per diem, the table is sup7
piled, from market daily with good food
of every description, together with such
yiands and liquors rs they may choose to
purchase extra. The liable i, bettel, in
fact, than such as are provided in second
class hotels at fashionable watering places.
The sleeping arrangements are also very
coin Portable. The mattresses, bedding,
blankets and sheets are Of good quality,
and care is taken - keep them clean. The
bedsteads are small iron ones, which ave
folded up in the daytime making addi.
tonal room in the somewhat confined
quarters. rr. ...
Two hours day are Nllowed to prison
erS for exercise out OF doors in the open
space in the centre of the fort, viz be.
tween six and seven o'clock in the morn>
ing and between five and six o'clock in
4 the evening In the intervals they are
confined in the rather commodious quar-
ters which are appropriated TO officers
when tho fort is completely gagrisoned,
where they amuse themselves playing
chess, draughts, backgammon Whist and
the like, read the newspapers, or discuss
the events of the day as they reach them
through the last mentioned channel. At
nine O'clock every light is extinguished
and universal silence prevails until the
nex, dawn awakes them to re'enact the
same unvaried routine. 80 ........