North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-06-08

CoFL Lafayette AZ specimen OF tne dead
beat" style, it will excite the risibles and
furnish food for reflection to all who may be
preparing for a trip to the sand stone fort in
the harbor:
CELL 5,3ll SECOND TIER, D
FoRr LyFArErrE, May "a 1868.
DEAR EAGLE:-In the language Of the
magnificent" Vestvali " AIN here" |
think shall stay here, at least till get out.
Perhaps you were surprised at my sudden
de, arture. So was I. But received press.
ing invitation from Gen. Dix to come down
here, which didn't feel at liberty to decline
so didn't. Bob Murray brought the in
vitation. Bob Murray is United States Mar.
shal, and he marshaled me the way chould
go, so | thought it best to 60 it, Bob ia q
nice man Ills has a very taking way with
him, but wouldn't recomend you to culti-
va'e his acquaintance. You may have hea rd
/ OF Fort Lafayette it is great resort Of the
! friends Of the adminnistration-overt the
left.
| The location Of Fort Lafayette is in the
water between the Atlantic Ocean and Wesi
/ Point. IT is good site for a marine resi-
dence, but havn't seen any marines here
1t Is inaccessible on all siies, except the in
side. It's out-accessl blIty is what | mos,
object 10. ......
The way you get in is curious, and may
interest your readers who haven't been here
! You can't 90 by railroad OF steamboat, ,or
horse and buggy. The entrances ia effected
III highly military manner, invented be
ere by Gen. DIX, or some other man "
The way Of getting our have't discovered
yet. When 10, I'll let you know. The
! people who keep the fort are of the military
persuasion Il is their frte Taey mostly
@ear guns "r swords, and do everything in :
military way, which is not civil way, tho
. they have been very civil to me. The fort il
a substantial building; there is no appre.
( henSioa Of burgiars.- Sensible people wOud
rather break out than break istp l.. As a
hotel it is not equal to the Mansion House
though the terms, are more reaso1able-
They don't charge any board. The only
charge military people are given, is to chargt
bayonets.
The bill of fare is wholesome, but lacks va
riety There is to much pork. The bill o.
fare however, is varied We have pork and
crackers for breakfast, crackers and pprk
f,r dinner, and pork riM crackers for tea
| I think We shall have change next week a.
! the commandant has sent an order to New
York for barrel Of Pork. When you write
to me, enclose n bunch Of radiehes in the
| letter.
Somebody may inquire why I came here
III tell you confident tally. The Government
IS making extentions to its mansion at Fort
| Hamilton, likewise at Fort Richmond, or
! Staten Island. They wanted reliable per-
son to look after the architects to see tha
! they didn't pocket the bricks. Fort Lafay-
cite is half way between, and 80 situated
that you can see both forts at once, and il
just the place to see what is going on. A
meeting OF the cabinet was called al tho
White House. Secretary Stanton introduced
the subject, The cabinet saw the point al
once, and laughed so loud that they woke "
Secretary Welles. Secretary Seward rane
his little bell, and sent for general Dix -
& General" said William IT., How is For
lafayette p Our flag is there" said the
General, with military promptness. Is there
a reliable man to be found in the Depart
ment Of the East 2 said VIM II. "If ther,
isn't, Numbered the General, I'll shoot hin
on the spot. Who is he ?" asked the Sec
retary. His name is Dead Beat" said the
General. Send him 10 Fort Lafayette."- =
! So came. am still here. Yours in re.
| tirement,
DEAD BEAT