The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-09-11
DAILY N EW S.
MONDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER ii, 1865.
II. STEPHENS IN PRISON.
[Fr0m the Boston JOurndl.l

Not for three long years has tho secure and SC
cludcd fortress in boston Harbor; known us Fort
Warren, been 30 barren of Confederate piisoners
in point of numbers, as ut tho present tlme Since
tho sudden and fatal explosion OF the ooutnern
Confcdcracy, and the manifest appearances OF 10y
atty to the Union OH the part of those Gagged with
in it's strong wallis tho number of prisoners at
Fort Warren has rapidly diminished. Through
tho uniform lenty of the Government which they
released from the Fort within few weeks, after
going through the formality of holding up the
right hand and swearing allegiance to tho country
which forgivcs them the crime OF treason. The
oath which they subscribe to is the ordinary oath
of allegiance.
The majority of the prisoners confined in the
fort ut the close of the war-scvcral hundred III
number-quickly availcd themselves OF the oppor,
tunity to subscribe to the oath OF LOYALTY and
thus exchange their prison life for one OF free
dom. This generous privilege was extended TO
all, with perhaps the exception Of Vico-President
lato Conicderacy. They were offered tho rltcrnn
tive of being released upon condition of leaving
tho country, never to return or remain III prison,
and take the chances of pardon by the Govern
oH 70 hfy Try mSS ] "f
bic to their tastes, and hence their detention until
their cases are acted upon.
From tho fact that Alexander II. Stephens was
the Vcc-Presidont Of tho Southern Cont racy,
and, Of course, one of the leading mon in the Sc
cesson government there is o superior interest
felt in the history Of his prison life. His incarce
has the imprisonment of his associate traitor jeff
Davis, in Fortress Monroe. This fact may, per-
haps, be attributed to two reasons, one OF which
is that the confinement of Stephens il not so close
rs Jcff.'s, and he docs not regard his crime 30
enormous or its punishment 80 certain or 80 &C.
vcrc. When Stephens first arrived at Fort War
ron, he was kept i'll close confinement, which Woro
greatly upon his physical constitution. Now he
has full liberty to 50 and como when and where
being kept within the inclosure. He spends much
Of his time in walking about, and finds gront con-
ISOLATION in smoking nm elegant and costly meer-
shaun pipe. One of the soldiers who had seen it
while Quty EXPRESSED
was worth about one hundred dollars, Stephens
also sports an elegant gold watch, which is tho
envy of oil who have seen it.
1t is well, perhaps, i'll speaking Of the valunbles
possessed by the prisoners when they ere commit
led to the Fort, to remark that they not taken
from them-a fact in very decided contrast to tue
cruel and shameless robberies Of the officers in
command of the rebel prisons in the South during
the war: Stephens, is inclined to be social and
communicative to all who come around him; and
in his conversation upon the late war and it's cause
he says he is good Union man, bnt also an earll-
est advocate of F'southcn rights He has made
application for pardon, and has many Southern
friends constantly besieging the President iii his
behalf. Some three or four of these have been
permitted to visit him within a few weeks. He
often Expresses the wish that he will soon either
have trial or receive pardon, hoping Of course,
for the latter. He cndcavors to keep well posted
on affairs going on outside, if the presence of the
Journal and other daily papers i'll his quarters IL
any evidence. Stephens is not unmndful OF uN-
Ipprcciative of any little favors or attentions
which arc shown him. even by the Juveniles; A
his lonely quarters, received his thanks and fine
gold dollar coin in return.
Postmastcr-G General Jas H. Reagan takes his
confinement i'll q manner equally as philosophical
as Stephens. He is awarded the same privileges
and kept under the same restraints. He is much
younger man, and probably not possessing the i'll
tecctual abilities of Stephens the fact OF his be
ing a,prisoner is not SO mortifying to him. Hc
spends great portion of his time in promenad-
ing the grounds inside the fort and like his tel-
low-prisoncr is inclined to be sociable md tallia
tive.
The quarters of the prisoners are below the level
of the ground, a distance perhaps Of about eight
feet. They are, of course provided with separate
apartments, and each is furnished comfortably.
Being below the surface of the earth, some damp
ness is inevitable and to counterGct it's effect
stoves are provided, i'll which fires built when
ever the prisoners desire it.
There are only three other prisoners confined in
Fort Warren besides Stephens and Reagan. Two
of thcm are blockade runners, who refused to take
the oGth of allegiance, and the other s Charles
Cheshire, formerly one of the Supervisors OF
Brooklyn, N. Y, who is in close confinement for
frauds porpetrated in recruiting.