The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-06-28
A RambIe Through the Peniten-
tInrY---EIOXV King Ishsm Man
aged his workshops.

A RambIe Through the Peniten-
tInrY---EIOVV King Ishsm Man
aged his workshops.
By invitation Of Mr.. JAMES CAvEBT, |
keeper of the Penitentiary, we visited !
that great gallery Of rogues on Thursday !
evening. Mr.. CAvERT was appointed
Keeper of the Penitentiary on the 2nd
inst, succeeding R. II CAMPBELL. He is
kind, humane and polite, and seems to
be very energetic and attentive to his
duties. As the institution was the great
workshop of the Confederates for army
purposes, from the time Of the treaty Of
King IsHAM up to the precipitate skedad-
die Of the same illustrious parsonage, a
sketch Of it may be of interest TO our
readers abroad. The Penitentiary was
of immense advantage to the warlike pre-
parations of the rebels in Tennessee, from
the number Of workmen whose labor they
could control in a body more electually
than if they had been slaves. Perhaps
there was a peculiar fitness in this fact,
that as the rebellion was started by
rogues outside Of the Penitentiary, it
should be helped on by the labor Of
rogucs inside Of it.
The building fronts 1858 feet, and is
nearly square, the front or south side be-
ing three stories, and the wings and rear
two stories. The front, rear, and wings
enclose a large open square. The cells
are in the front of the building, being
encircIed by a gallery of twelve feet
paved with stone between them and the
outer wall of the building. The remain
der Of the building is occupied by work
shops. On the left of the entrance the
political prisoners, some twenty-five in
number, are confined, consisting of dis
loyal persons charged with various Of
fences against the Government; some for
serving in the rebel army, and refusing
TO take the oath on their return; some
for inccndiary conduct and language
and some for dealing in contraband goods.
They are kept apart from ordinary con-
victs-a little fact which we mention for
the consolation of number of gentlemen
hereabouts who will take up their LODI
gings in Mr.. CAvEBT's hotel in a very
short time. Loyalty is indulgent, but it
can't stand everything.
But what have we here A large ce-
dar cooperage working twenty hands. 1t
is really a pleasant place to stroll
through, for our nostrils are gratiGed
with the perfume of the fragrant cedar,
which like the bruised chamomile
breathes out sweet incense, as we walk
upon the clean thin shayings which
strew the floor like delicately varigated
ribbons. And then the water cans, ex-
quisitely striped and notified by inter
lacing slips of red and white cedar, beau
tiful toy churns, tools, and buckets for
children, and every size of pals, tubs,
buckets, &c, handsomely finished in
style that would throw housewife into
ectasies. Next we enter the cabinet and
carving shop employing twenty-five
hands. Excellent and substantial work
is done here, and the ceiling and walls
were lined with every description of
work in the finishing and store room
All these shops are in the second story
We now cross over by gangway into
the rear now bishops, entering the large
furniture room, which employs ten hands.
The wood used is walnut and is skillfui-
ly worked up. The work looked very
serviceable as we'll as handsome. The
department for coaches adjoins this, and
here are made all sorts Of light vehicles
from family coaches and buggies to
beautiful toy wagons and whoelbarrows
for the dear little youngsters, who are so
fond Of playing horse with one of these
stylish outfits. Now we enter the right
wing of the building and find ourselves
in what was the great shoe manuiactury
of the rebels for the army. The shop is
1856 feet long, and in it were put one hgn-
d,td ant siriy-Seua hands, who tugged
and toiled from morning till night and
later, to make cap and cartridge boxes,
shoes, harness, and every other leather
article needed bv King lsHAM's valiant
chiyalry. Some of the hands were raw,
and their boots would look like churns,
and their shoes like Austrian clogs.
"Lincoln' leather, also, not being Access
siblc, rough material had TO answer the
purpose in many instances. No citizen
was allowed TO get any accommodation
at all, and the oldest customers were
turned of with the information that
King lsuAMs orders must be oLeyed.
Mr. CARR superintends this department
now, aud docs some very elegant work
lie works some sevcnty-Gve hands. In
the next room four hands were employed
in making shuck, hair and cotton mat
trasscs. Here we descend into the kitch-
en- and pass thence to the dining hall, 100
feet long with seats for $50 PERSONS
Thence we enter the cooperage next The
first things that struck our eye were
several enormous cisterns, which looked
as if they could hold as much liquor as