The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-26
THE STATE PRISONERS II FORT LAFAYETTE.
The Suspension Of Habeas Corpus a Stern
DISQUALIFICATION Of Fort Lafayette
Surrounding Scenery Strength OF
the Fort Treatment Of the
Prss0ners-Falsc Statements
OF the Secession News
papers,

The arrest Of Mayor Berret of Warrington refusing
to take the oath Of allegiance and alleged completely with
the Southern rebellion, and his conveyance this city
and subsequent imprisonment in Fort Lafayette give adj
donal interest to the State prisoners confined In that
fort-now amounting to eighteen persons. The admins
raton in ordering these arrests have evnccd the in
snc OF sepreservation in ordinary degree and ex-
hbtcd vsor and promptitude action worthy o. all
communication
AS the individuals confined in the fort the first State
prisoners under the United States government brief
description of the place of their Imprisonment the
surrounding scenery and succnc history Of the events
which led to their confinement may be Of some interest
TO our readers.
SCENERY ON THE ROAD AND SURROUNDING THE FORT.
The entrance TO the Bay Of New York, commonly called
the Narrows Is protected by forts either On the
staten Island side forts Tompkns aud Rcl m nd-the
latter above and commanding the former the front part
which washed by the ON the opposite or l. ng Island
side is Fort Hamilton, little inland, the public read
intervening between it and the sea. Fort Lafayette IS
erected on shoal about four hundred yards shore'
and nearly in line between it and Fort Tcmpkns with
other Of communication with the shore than by
boat.
To reach Fort Hamiltcn, which is necessary before
Fort Lafayette can be visited the bcs plan to go By land
There horse railroad track from the Brooklyn
lerrs past brcehWood cemetery ana Bay Ridge, to the
village adjacent to Fort Hamilton, and within couple
of hundred yards of the fort itself. From Fulton
ferry to Fort Hamilton by this route is about seven miles
If the vsiter prefer it, lie may hire carriage from
livery stable keeper and thus be enabled travel quick
er and with greater Independence, The road is
rather dusty on hot day but Is well sheltered
from the heat of the nearly the whole way
by the outrageous shade Of the trees on either SIDE In
some localities the willows grow very luxurantly and
form complete arch the road tempering the heat
Of the SUM- to the intense qualification Of the traveller
After quitting tho suburbs Of Brooklyn, which
may be said to terminate somewhere the turning
Greenwood Cemetery the scenery agrecably diversified
by succession of hill and dale, and the roadside is al
tcrnated by fields Of vegetables of all apple pear
and peach orchards with neat cottages villas and hand
residences at intervals while here and there may
be the inevitable lager beer saloon, and the equally
Indispensable grocery, where In addition to the
substantial comforts, tue thirsty soul may find
bibalous means of clearing the dust that has ac-
cumulatcd in his bronchial passage during his Journey.
Beyond this gently undulag country in the back ground,
may be hills Of greater elevation the noly alter
rntng with patches Of cultivated fields and woodland,
with comfortable cottages scattered all over and adding
the pcturesqucncss Of the landscape. As you approa
the village of Fort Hamilton the railroad track makes
sudden bend TO the right Following you find yourself
suddenly facing Fort lafayette Advancing you leave
behind you and to your left, the white tents Of The
soiuiory which in front Of you before you maze
the turn They pitched in regular order in
field and the scntrcs are seen pacing to and fro, while
the soldiers OF duty before their tents in groups
smoking their pipes and engaged in conversation.
Leaving the railroad track which turns to the left
and rmnacs you proceed short distnrco towards the
sea- with Fort Lafayette in front beyond which, the
Staten Island shore Forts Tompns and Richmond with
the verdlnt and picturesque heights tho baclg ound
are seemingly within three hundred yards distant
Your way is through bower Of aanhus trees in full
blossom, which grow luXurianty either side and nearly
meet overhead. A number OF little dwellings, trim and
neat deserted amidst the luxuran summer foliage,
with here and there n mansion Of greater prcension
Here too are found tn, never failing temples where
the devotcs Of Bacch1s may pay their alteration at the
shrine of the jolly god. On nearing the sea- which Ia
reached by rather prccpitae descent, another sharp
turn the left brings You directly in front of Fort ni
ton perched gentle, but commanding height, with
its large guns grnning from their embrasurcs and the
sentinels facing and fro in front Of the sayport OPP
posite the fort to the right and tho main
road winding road both sides leads down TO the
and nntes III road leading to the pier where boat
be taken to Fort lafayette provided you autlorz ID
to go there either State prisoner custodian Of that
interesting individual, comnandant other member
Of the garrison for other permitted TO visit the
republican "Bas,ic" the Fort has been dubbed by the
rebel newspapers. Not only visitors strictly inter
diced from entering the portals of Fort Lafayette; but
acting under orders from the government, neither Lieu
tenan:-Colonel Burke the commandant of the garri.
son. nor any of his officers men will vouchsae the
slightest information respecting the of the State
prisoners oolerod therein the charges against them,
though they w bc polite in their refusal In respect
the nulaer Of p.s the strength Of the garrison and
other kindred matters, the utmost silence is Of
] maintained.
FORT LAFAYETTE.
Fort Lafayette, mentioned before, is built In an
isolated position, shoa about four hundred yards
from the shore The shape of the fort quad ang lar,
with the anecs pointing TO the and bay and either
shore diamond wise. Facing Fort Hamilton are two
tiers Of heavy. cannon, in bomb proof casemates'
On this side which is less protected than the Others ap
pear the barracks for the oops and other
buildings the roofs Of which rising above the
walls Of the fort There arc consequently no barbete
guns here This part Of the fort, however is completely
conmandcd by Fort Hamilton opposite which is the sally
port in OF the angles.
On the other sides guns mounted en- J,ele, In ad-
don the heavy casemate guns below In fact, the
entire structure whatever may be said Of its capacity
| as defence against foreign invasion, seems to
be more than sufficiently strong TO keep in security as
STATE 10 NC
hosptabIc of Colonel Burke. 1t would sorey puzzle
Jaci; Sheppard Baron Trcnc themselves were these
worthless alive and confined in Fort Lafayette, 10 make
their way Of that stronghold, surrounded they
| world be by granite walls with Che washing their
base every side; and yet there were wseacres who
! could seriously advise the Sheriff Of Kings county 10
| call out The militia Of the county to ro-
| due, tho FORT in order that the Sheriff might
| 5e enabled to arrest Lieutenant Colonel Burke
Oil warrant of attachment for refusing TO obey Judge
Garysons writ Of habes corpus in favor Of the Baltimore
Police Commissioners, obedience to his superior, Gen
Scott The law may be exactly san ass" to employ
the elegant phyascology Of Mr. Bmbe the bcadle Of the
parish requiring Mr. Sheriff Campbell to make formal
application for the militia to aid him in serving and
cutting the writ, but the individuals who imagine that