Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-27

have been written by Howard. ''of the
Times" from Fort Lafayette. The letter is
an excellent imitation of the style in which
the great "Dead Beat" his fanciful nom de
glerre, was won't to tickle the literary palates
of the readers of the Eagle:
CELL 5, 81, SECOND TIER, 4
Fort LAFAYETTE, May "a. 4
DEAR EAGLE: In the language Of the
smagnificent" VestYali, 81 am here"
think shall stay here, at least till get
out.
Perhaps you are surprised at my sudden
departure. So was /. ....... IL.
But received pressing invitation from
General Dix to come down here, which l
didn't feel at liberty to decline, so didn't.
Bob Murray brought the invitation. Bob
Murray is United States Marshal, and he
marshalled me the way should go: SO
thought it best to 60 it.
Bob is nice man; he has very taking
way with him; but wouldn't recommend
YOU to cultivate his acquaintance.
You may have heard of Fort Lafayette;
it is a great resort of friends of the Admin
istration-over the left.
THE LOCATION
of Fort Lafayette is in the water between
the Atlantic ocean and West Point.
1t is good site for a marine residence;
but haven't seen any marines here. 1t is
inaccessible on all sides, except the inside.
Its out-accessibility is what most object to.
THE WAY YOU GET IN
is curious, and may interest your readers
who haven't been here. You can't go by
railroad, or steamboat, or horse and buggy.
The entrance is effected in highly mill
tary manner, invented believe, by Cen
eral Dix, or some other man.
You 90 to Fort Hamilton,
Which is Just over the way.
A 1850 pound shell with the inside out is
provided for the purpose. You get in the
shell. It is then put in 2:40 inch mortar
and rammed down on barrel of powder.
The mortar is touched off and up you go.
You keep going up about fifty miles. You
then come down and land right in the mid
die of Fort Lafayette. .f
The artillery artist has attained great
precision in the range, and you light right
in the centre of hollow square of military
people drawn up to receive you.
THE SENSATION
as the shell goes up is peculiar.
When you have reached an altitude offor-
ty-nine miles, eight furlongs, the view is
magnificent.
You have birds eye view of Bath, Co
ney island and New Jersey. W
made sketch of it. .' g
I'll send it to you.
Perhaps you think this is a strange way
of getting into the fort, but it isn't a cir
cumstance to
THE WAY OF GETTING OUT,
which haven't discovered yet. When I
do I'll let you know. Luz as-.t
The people who keep the fort are of the
military persuasion, it is their forte. They
mostly wear guns or swords, and do every
thing In military way, which is not civil
way, though they have been very civil to
me. .-.-...
The fort is substantial building, thereis
no apprehension of burglars. Sensible peo-
pie would rather break out than break in
to it. r. ....
AS hotel it Is not equal to the Mansion
House, though the terms are more reasona-
BILE. They don't charge any board. The
only charge military people are given to is
to charge bayonets.
The bill of fare is wholesome, but lacks
variety. There is rt
/ l TOO MUCH PORK.
The bill of fare, however, is varied.
We have pork and crackers for breakfast.
Crackers and pork for dinner, and
Pork soith crackers for tea. -i7--'g
| | think we shall have change next
week, as the commandant has sent to New
York for a barrel of pork.
When you write to me, .inclose bunch
of radishes in the letter.
THE SOCIETY
of the Fort is select. They are mostly
people of Southern complexion, who have
| been recommended here for the benefit Of
their health. They don't generally see it.
There is no female society here.
Nor no Union Leagues. e.5..
Nor no Philharmonic concerts.
Otherwise it's pleasant Lgal. ..s.g
The view is enchanting. Lovely water
scapes spread before the vision on every
side. AS l said before, the situation is ma
rine--ultra-marine, and gives me the blues
as gaze upon it. tNh
There is no post-office in the fort, and
correspondence is limited. Perhaps you'd
like to know how l sent this letter. A
| pigeon flew into the fort to-day and at
tached the letter to his tail. If you get
it, il will tell the tale of its delivery.
The pigeonis carrier-pigeon, and you
may get him situation as letter-carrier
under Postmaster Lincoln. .
Somebody may inquire
WHY CAME HERE.
I'll tell you confidentially. gs6.
i The government is making extensions to
! its mansion at Fort Hamilton; likewise at
i Fort Richmond, on Staten Island. They
wanted a reliable person to look after the
architects, to see that they didn't pocket the
bricks. Fort Lafayette is halfway between,
and so situated that you can see both forts
at once, and is just the place to see what is
going on. - SINS. s.gl1 lji., Ds..a.,
/ A meeting of the cabinet was called at
i the White House. Secretary Stanton intro
duced the subject. oi .I .5ul,.Cg,f "a
4 The President said it reminded him of a
story he once heard in Illinois. A man
who lived in Sangamon county, in conyer-
satioil witha medical student, said be didn't
i believe in vaccination. Says he, 1T don't
1 do a child a bit of good. had child vac
cinated once, and In three days after it fell out
of window and broke its next"
q The Cabinet saw the point at once, and
laughed SO loud that they woke up Secre-
!, Secretary Seward rang his little bell, and
sent for Gen. Dix. 1f4at9y "a i,.,.ss st,I4o,
4 General" "said William H. "how Is Fort
!, sour flag is there Z said the general with
military pr0mptness. oi 1uoIe ulqiflg
'ln AIsthere reliable, man TO be found In
y the, Department of the East said William
II. .ssssi