The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-10-03
Life in Fort Lafayette.

\ i
the Narrows, known to military authori-
| ties as Felt Diamond, and to the rest of
mankind as Fort Lafayette, has within
the last two months become one of the
most noteworthy places in the country
On the 20th day of July, Mr.. f. S. Rug
| giles, of Fredericksburg, Va, entered its
| portals as a political prisoner, and since
then it has became regular retreat for
persons who are laboring, as Daniel S.
| Dickinson said at the Cooper Institute the
| other evening, under constitutional diff
culties Since that time a good business
has been done by carrying visitors down
to sec the fort, but they have been litni-
| ted to an outside view. Those gentlemen
| who have been admitted to look upon the
inner sanctuary have, with very few ex-
ceptions, found the entertainment of such
character that they have not returned
to the pro.ane life of the world at large.
For.the benefit of those who have looked
on the pile of browu-stone and sighed in
vain for the little ticket, issued only by
the Secretary Of State, which gives ad-
mission, we are permitted to lay before
our readers some account OF the actual
conditions of life in the fort.
The prisoner, en- his arrival at Fort
Hamilton, finds that the charge against
him is registered ttere by the Colonel
commanding, and transcript is sent with
him to Fort Layafette, where a receipt is
given for him on delivery. He is then
conducted to some one of the apartments
originally intended for the officers of the
garrison, which are situated on the ground
floor of the Fort, fronting on the esplan
ade, handsome weil graded parade ground
of about three acres. These rooms aver
age about nine occupants each; and late
ly the number Of guests has become so
large that some of them have been obli-
ged to accept accommodations in the case
mates. About thirty prisoners, who have
friends and money, have formed mess
and fare better than the rest; but the ma
iority live just as well as and no better
than the soldiers. About the rooms are
| censpicuously placed the rules of the es-
tablishment, which prescribe that the pris-
oners' rooms must be ready for inspection
at o'clock in the morning that washing
must be done in the yard OF the Fort !;
that prisoners must not talk with any
| member of the garrison, but can commu-
nicate their wants to the Sergeant OF the
Guard that they must not leave their
| rooms except in company with a guard !;
that they must obey implicitly the direc-
| tions of any officer or soldier of the guard !;
| and they are informed that any transgres-
sion viii be punished with solitary con-
fnement, or such other restriction as may
be necessary to strict enforcement OF the
/ rules
| Those who belong to the mess arc fur
nished with an excellent breakfast at 8
| o'clock, aud dinner at 3, at which liquors
are allowed in moderate quantity, and for
which the charge is ST per day. These
meals are quite as good as are furnished
at second rate hotels. Liquors can also be
had at other times, at the discretion of the
Sergeant, and without extra charge. This
mess is composed principally of Southern
men, but not exclusively, as all have the
privilege Of entering it who are able to
pay The prisoners are now organizing
themselves into smaller messes, which Will
render their situation still more comforta-
bic. The majority of the prisoners who
live upon the fare which is furnished
them, do not find it quite so comfortable
They are supplied with the ordinary army
rations, which are said to belong rather tc
the necessities than to the luxuries of life
The facilities for cooking these rations are
poor. The stove on which it is done is
not large enough, and it is set up without
any chimney in casemate- The pork
and other meat is consequently often very
badly cooked At 5 o'clock In the morn
ing the doors of the rooms are opened
| Between 6 and 7 o'clock the prisoners are
allowed the full liberty Of the esplanade
after which they are confined to thei
quarters and to the walks on the borders
of the esplanade until o'clock in the at
ternoon, when they have full range Owe
the interior area Whenever ii is neces
sary that they should go outside OF th'
fort they are attended by sentinel, ant
every comfort consistent with their safe
keeping is furnished to them with the ut
most care and humanity. No complain
is made to the commanding officer which
is not promptly attended to. AS a genera
thing, the prisoners conduct themselve
with perfect propriety, and wear an air a
nonehalaut as possible, though the.e ar
few unruly spirits who still talk as lou
about the American Bastile as they dl
previous to their arrest.
pay- In cleaning a gun, cold water loos