St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-10-17
Fort Lafayette.


Fort Lafayette. -.
t:'
The place is not so much prison as it
is somewhat exclusive" boarding house,
with sufficiently stringent rules and rcgu-
lations to' the eighty or less boardcrs in
the establishment. These rules are con-
spiciously placed on the wall Of each rooin,
So that he who runs may read aud the IA:
cilitles for reading are somewhat in: ad-
vance of those for running They pre-
scribe that the prisoners rooms must be
ready for inspection at nine clock in the
morning; that washing must lie done in
the yard Of the fort; prisoners u.ust not
talk with any member Vt the garrison, but
can communicate their wants to the ser.
gcant OF the guard; they must not leave
their rooms unless in company with a
guard !; they must obey implicitly tho d.
rections Ut any member Of the guard and
they are notified that any transsression
viii be punished by solitary confinement,
W such other restrictions as may be ncces.
sary to strict enforcement Of the rules. .
lhere is nothing specially stringent
about these rules. the prisoners must and
must not do certain things, but they are
allowed many privileges. Those who are
together III one room can converse freely
with each other, but they are notified that
they mus. not talk about the political at:
fairs Of the country in the hearing Of any
member Of the garrison. Iney can have
lights III their rooms antil fifteen minutes
past nine o'clock, and after that hour noise
anl loud talking must cease for the night.
tor All hour III the morning and afternoon
the PRISONERS can promenade about the
premises On company with guard, and
ut such times cai' Gail on their friends and
fellow prisoners III the other rooms. The
doors ot the rooms are opened at S \. II.
and closed at six e'cl9ck in the evening.
1t may be stated that the prisoners geucr.
ally appreciate their privileges. and that
thcre have been 10 intr,ngements of the
rules sufficient to merit punishment; T.:
~. A. Fort Lafayette, as elsewhere; "mou,
ey," as Falst.f says, sis good soldier
Those who have the means for doing 50.
can live neall y as we'll ut Fort Lafayette as
at any hotel. 81 In one large room, which is
about sixty by fifteen feet, there are no less
than ;l.i,ty Ut the "bctter class" Of prison
ers, who have both friends and MONEY
These have dubbed together, aad have
made arrangements by which their meals
are furnished to order. Their funds arr
deposited with one Of the officers, who acts
~ bursar, aud the wife of one Of the sol:
diers docs their catering, cooking. and
Washing, Toheet outside bills for food,
supplies, newspapers, tobacco and other
comforts, the prisoners give au order on
the bursar. Tue club-meu get. = good
breakfast an9 diuner with a moderate al
lowance at dinner OF some stimulant), at i
cost of about one dollar per diem for each
They are subject to no extortion Of any
kind, aud supplies IRE furnished at 4 res-
sonable rate. -. ...
In the morning when the Coney Island
boat, or first train from Brooklyn arrives
at Fort Hamilton, the prisoners who have,
made arrangements can get all the city
morning papers, and are. thus daily inform-
81 Vt affairs in tho outside world. Their
correspon dence only is subject to censor
ship, and as has already been stated, let.
ters written to Or by the prisoners are
opened and lead by The proper officers, and
the few persons who have been released
from custody have been forbidden to carry
away any written communication.
The club-men live we'll They PASS
their time. in reading, discussing (amonc
themselves matters and things in general,
and the situation" il particular, and play
cards, chess and checkers by the: hour
Tobacco is not tabooed, and the club, for !
large part q the day, is under cloud ID
moro senses than one. ''''''>''' ..'s:".
:; Similar bu: smaller clubs had been or.
ganised in some Of the other rooms
l here are ? few prisoners, some Of The sail
ors and Others, who have no money, and
are consequently dependent upon the su-
thcrities tor their daily bread. These are !
furnished with good aud wholesome but
plain food, differing but little from the ra-
tions Of the soldiers who are their keepers.
All have an unlimitsd lookout view Of
shv by aud Staten Island shore. The
passing ships and steamers break the mo-
netony q an otherwise weary day. The
thrss daily trips Of tho Coney lsl1ndl
bsAts are looked.fot events. =