Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-09-28
Life in Fort Laraysttsy

Life in Fort Lafayette may be described
as follows The place Is not so much pris-
on as IL Is a somewhat exclusive" boarding.
house, with sufficiently stringent rules and
regulations for eighty or less borders in
the establishment. These rules are consptcu'
ousy placed on the wnl Of each room, so
that he who runs may read and the facill'
ties for reading are somewhat in advance
of those for running They prescribe that
| Tho prisoners rooms must be ready Tor in
spectiou at Q o'clock in the morning that
washing must he done in the yard OF the
| fort prisoners must not talk with any
member Of the garrison, but can communl-
cate their wants to the sergeant OF the
pnnrd they must not leave their rooms M
less in company with guard they must
= obey implicitly the directions Of any mem.
her OF the guard aud they are no'lheu
e. that any transgression will be punished by
" solitary confinement, or such other restrlc'
e ,ious as may be necessary to strict enforce
} mCnt of the rules.
IL There is nothing specially stringent about
IL these rules The prisoners must ana must
not do certain things, but they are allowed
II. many privileges. Those who are toge'ner
of in one room can converse freely WIN eacn
on other, but they are notified that they must
On not talk about the political ehdirs OF the
mt country in the hearing Of any member O.
~ the garrison. They can have lights in thel
,rt rooms until fifteen minutes past nine o'clocl
No and after that hour, noise and loud talking
oh must cease for the night For an hour
is the morning and afternoon the prisoner
"a. cau promenade about the premises in con
49, Of cuah limos "A
os call on their friends and fellow.prisoners
,io the other rooms. The doors OF the roou
oro are opened mt A. NJ and closed at o'cloC
nle in The evening. 1t may be stated that Il
m. prisoners generally nppScciate their pri
oy. ileges, and that there have been no infrin!
ments Of tue rules sufficient to merit punis
ment.
nn, At Fort Lafayette, ns elsewhere, "mo
SSH ev," as Falsta(f says 'is good soldier
les Those who have the means for doing so ca
he live nearly as well at Fort Lnyfnyelte
ct ut any hotel. In one large room, which
lille about sixty by fifteen feet, there arc no lie
lin than 80 of the "better class" of prisoner
zen who have both friends and money. Th'
by have clubbed together, aud have mnde a
the raugrmcnts by which their meals are furni'
ng ed them to order. Their funds are depos
the ed with one Of the officers, who acts as bu
yer sar, and ihe wife Of one of the soldiers do
red their catering, cooking and washing.
meet outside bills for food. supplies, new
=. papers, tobacco and other comforts t
prisoners give an order on the burst
VS. The cluh-mcu get good breakfast n
dinner, (Wih a moderate allowance at d
rue ner Of some stiInuieht,) at n cost Of abo
ng, Ole doller per diem for ench. They II
his subject to uo extOrlion Of any kind, a
) to supplies are furnished at reasonal
ms rate.
also In the morning, when the Coney Iolh
l Of boat or first train from Brooklyn arrv
nth at Fort Hamilton. the prisoners who ha
) in made arrangements can get all the ci
cts. morning papers, aud are thus daily infor
ed of affairs in the outside world Tht
correspondence only is subject to censorsh
rv,, and as has already been stated, letters WI
-, ten to or by the prisoners are opened Il
o'i' read by the proper Officer, and the few p
hey sons who have been released from cuSto
Cot. have been forbidden TO carry aW
ase. any written communication.--N Y. Pr