Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-08-30
Fort Lafayette,


Since Fort Lafayette has become the mill
tary prison Of thu Government in which are
confined all State prisoners, Information in
regard to it will be of interest to the public.
We copy from the New York Herald:
The entrance to the Bay Of New York
commonly called the narrows, is protected
by forts on either side On the Staten Island
side are forts TOmpkins and Richmond-the
latter above and commanding the former,
the front part of which is washed by the sea.
On the opposite, or Long Island side is Fort
Hamilton, on liltleisland, the public road in
terTening between it and The sea. Fort La.
iayette Is erected on a shoal, about four hun
dred yards from shore, and nearly in line
between it and Fort Fompkins, with no
other means Of computation with the
shore than by boat.
The shape Ofthe fort Is quadrangular. with
the angles pointing TO the sea and bay and
either shore, diamond wise. Facing Fort
Hamilton are two tiers of heavy cannon, in
bomb proof classmates On this side, which
IS less protected than the Others, appear to he
barracks for the troops, and other necessary
buildings the roofs of which are seen rising
above the walls Of thefort There are conse-|
quently no barbetGe guns here. This part of
The tort, however, IS completely command /
sallyport in one OF the angfess!. Hhieh is the
On the other sides guns are mounted en-
barbette, in addition to the heavy casemate
guns below In fact the entire structure,
whatever may be said of its. capacity as a de-.
fence against foreign invasion, seems TO be
more than sufficiently strong to keep in Sc :
curity as many State prisoners as are likely.
70 be entrusted to the hospitable care Of Gel.
Burke 1t would sorely puzzle Jack Shep-
pard OF Baron Trenck themselves, were these
Worthies alive, and confined in Fort Lafay
ette, TO make thsir way out of thst strong
bold, surrounded as they would be by gran
ite walls, with the sea washing their base rn
every side; and yet there were Wiseacres who
could seriously advise the Sheriff of Kings
county to call out the militia of the c0unty
to reduce the fort, in order that the Sheriff
might be enabled to arrest lieutenant Col,
Burke on warrant of attachment for refu-
sing to obey Judge Garrison's writ of habeas
corpus in favor Of the Baltimore Police COM
missioners, inobedience to his superior, Gen.
Scott. The law may not be exactly" an
ass, to employ the elegant phraseology Of
Mr.. Bundle, the beadle OF the parish in re-
ouiring Mr. Sheriff Cambell TO make formal
application for the militia to aid him 10
serving and executing the writ, but the indi-
viduals who imagine that Fort Lafayette can
be reduced BY ten times the force TINT King'
county can bring to bear against it mnsi
have very long ears. Indeed, isolated al
Fort Lafayette Is, and commanded so com
DlefeIv bv Fort Hamilton. with the sea open
TO the Federal forces, the officer of the day
on Saturday at Fort Hamilton seems justi
fed in The remark he made to our reporter
thafthe entire force Of New York city, severa
times over, would not suffice to get posses
sion of Fort Lafayette and theprisoners con
fined therein. E0Jl TITh2ED