The Shasta courier., 1864-07-02
Bogus Proclamation Howard

iikeiy to remain. at least for some time to
come. Howard's non de plume is ;. Dead
Beat, the same that he used while writing
| from the army:
CELL 5,3ll. SECOND TIER.
foRr LAYFAYErTE, May 9th.
DEAR EAGLE: In the language of tie
" magnificent" YestyaIi Il am here"
think shall stay here at least till get
out.
Perhaps you are surprised at my sudden
departure. So was l.
But received a pressing invitation from
Gen. 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
marshaled me the way | should go; so |
thought it best to GO 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 Layfayette: it
Is great resort of friends of the Administra-
ton over the left.
THE LOCATION
Of Fort Layfayette is in the water between
the Atlantic Ocean and West Point.
1t is "A good site fora marine residence but
| haven't seen any marines here 1t is mae
cessble 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 90 bv
railroad or steamboat, or horse and buggy.
The entrance is effected in highly military
manner, invented. believe, by General Dix,
or some other man.
You go to Fort Hamilton,
w hich Is just over the WAY.
l.250 pound shell with the inside out is
pro, ided for the purpose You get in the
she'll. 1t is then put in a 2:40-inch mortar,
and rammed down on barrel of powder.
The mortar is touched off. and up YOU 20.
You keep going up about fifty miles You
then come down and land right IN the middle
OF Fort Layfayette.
The artillery artist has attained great pre-
cison in the range and you light exactly in
the center of a hollow square of military peo-
pie drawn up to receive you.
THE SENSATION
As the she'll goes up is peculiar
When you baye reached an altitude of fif.
ty-nine miles, eight furlongs. the view is mag
niicent.
You have a bird 's-eye view of Bath, Conev
Island and New Jersey.
| made sketch Of it.
III send it to YOU
Perhaps YOU think this is strange way of
getting into the fort, but it isn't IA circum-
stance to
THE WAY OF GETTING OUT.
Which haven't discovered yet. When do
III let you know.
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 i'll military way, which is not a civil
way. though they have been very civil to me-
The fort is a substantial building, there is
no apprehension of burglars. Sensible peo-
pie would rather break out than break into
it.
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 givex to is to
charge hayonets.
The bill OF fare is wholesome, but lacks va.
riety. There is
TOO MUCH PORK.
The bill of fare. however, is varied
We haye pork and crackers for breakfast.
Crackers and pork for dinner, and
Pork with crackers for tea.
think we shall have a change next week
as the commandant has sent an order 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 arc mostly people
OF Southern complexion, who have been re-
commended here for the benefit of their health.
They don't generally see it.
There is no female society here.
Nor no Union Leagues.
Nor no Philharmonic concerts.
Otherwise it's pleasant
The view is enchanting. Low " water
scapes spread before the vision on every side.
As said before, the situation is maj iine-
ultra marihe. and gives me the blues as |
gaze upon it.
There is no Post Office in the fort. and cor
respondence is limited Perhaps you'd like
to know how sent this letter \ pigeon
| few iuto the fort to day and | attached the
letter TO his tail If you get it, it will tell the
tale of its delivery.
| The pigeon is a carrier pigeon, and you
may get him situation as letter carrier un-
/ der Postmaster Lincoln.
Somebody may inquire
HOW CANE HERE.
I'll tell you confidentally.
| The Government is making extentions TO
its mansion at Fort Hamilton likewise at
/ Fort Richmond. on Staten Island. They wan
ted a reliable person 10 look after the archi
tects. to see that they didn't pocket he bricks.
Fort Lafayette is half way between. and so
situated that YOU can see both f1rts at once,
and is just the place to see what is gIing on.
4 meeting of the Cabinet was called at
the White Hnuse. Secretary Stanton intro
duced the subject.
The President said it reminded him of a
story he once heard in Illinois. A man who
lived in Sangamon connty, in conversation
with medical student. said he didn't believe
in vaccination Says he: 1t don't do q
child a bit of good. | had a child raccinated
once. and in tnree days after it fell out of ths
windew and broke its neck"
The Cabinet saw the point a: once. and
laughed SO loud that they woke up Secretary
Welles.
Secretary Seward rang his little bell. anC
sent for General DIX.
i TT