The New York herald., 1869-05-24
FORT MONROE IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.
Ihe Quarsers sf jefferson Davis-Relic Hunt
ers-ine In Garrison-The Freedmen's VII
iagc nj Hampton-Spicy Details.


fage at Hampton-Spicy Details.
| FORT MONROE, May 10. 1861
In commenting on q few OF the changes that hav,
occurred at TINS important post let correct IN tn
outset very common error that writer's and prn
tes TOO frequently fall into when they use the wore
that deslgnates the military character OF thi
work. The whole system OF permanent for
tifcation at this point is fort an'
not fortress. fortress is a forrine,
city or town, while Fort Monroe is q detached per
manent work for the defence OF harbors and rivers
In the newspapers and in the writings Of person.
who have never included military engineering among
ther studies this post Is almost invariably denomi
mated fortress while in the correspondence ant
orders OF the military authorities 1t is always termed
| fort.
| Since the time General Butler established his hug,
negro boarding house here this post has undergone
many remarkable changes, All, in the MAN, for the
better. When Butler was ''monarch OF all he sur
veyed" the fort was combination OF ali that was
offensive and unsighty with but very few redeemin9
features indeed. stranger on landing at the dock
might well have been pardoned for mistaking 1t for
TmbuctoO, some other metropolitan niggeropolis
On every hand were hudded together nests OF filthy
pens, constructed in the peculiar style Of architecture
known only to the ebony sons Of Ham. Each OF
these domicies was Jointly occupied by pdter et
WuteT JdUuttus, all tne p1ccanlnnleS land the WORD
"all" must be taken here in its most comprehensive
sense the family dog, an indispensable adjunct to
contraband, and, in the case OF the more wealthy
the mule pigs, ducks, geese and chickens, not for
getting the more diminutve members of the family
properly classed with the insect tribe
AS the system OF inspections then in vogue at the
fort was not as perfect or as rigidy executed IL
should have been 1t may readily be inferred that the
gentle zephyrs which were waited from these
hamlets were not as sweet rs those coming from
magnolia grove or vineyard. Soap seemed to have
been regarded by these contrabands OF war as a
luxury only ut to be INDUCED In by the rich water
was considered very good article for making
coffee; scrubbing brushes and mops were among the
new tangled inventions unknown TO them, and old
brooms were kept by those who had them, more for
ornament than use. When the dirt accumulated so
thickly as to take up too much space in the shanty
or to obstruct free ingress and egress at the door
way few minutes exercise with shovel or a hoe
was the sovereign remedy applied.
Add TO these aggregationS OF squad misery the
immense piles OF rubbish and trash created by COL
lectlons OF damaged ordnance, quartermasters' aud
commssary stores, laid aside for future condemna-
tion and the thousand and one unattract1ve objects
that accumulate about busy military post IN time
OF war. and very correct idea OF Fort Monroe may
be imagined as It was under the administrations of
Generals Butler and WOOL Now, however, the post
has not only resumed the appearance OF neatness
and order It possessed before the late 'litle I'm.
pleasantness. but 1t has been considerably altered
and vastly improved. The "culiud fox" have been
persuaded to abandon their comfortable homesteads
On the government reservation and emlgrate to
Hampton, some few being permitted TO remain on
the western side OF Mill creek Perhaps 1t would be
more correctly expressed by saying that they aban
doned the sites of their homes for they moved houses
as well as furniture, stock and family. On the
ground formerly occupied by the negro huts now
may be seen fine etore houses, neatly painted
and kept clean and orderly by thorough
daily policing. The long row OF frame shantes on
the road to the sally port, which were crowded with
suffers and crafty spectators during the war, have
been swept away; all the heaps OF Old Junk and |
broken traps OF various kinds have been condemned
sold TO SPECTATORS and removed and the ground |
they covered s now verdant with resn green grass.
The spirit OF Improvement even extended 10 the Old
Hyglea Hotel, which in those DAYS stood short dis
tance outside the sally port and carried 1t of with
the wilderness OF Old rcKety frames that surrounded
II. The hotel was rebuilt close TO the dock, ana
now presents quite an attractive appearance. 1t still
nourshes under its hygienc tite and furnishes much
more solid comfort to Its guests under the manage
ment OF is present proprietor Captain Clark, than
1t did In days gone by.
d Point Comfort, or, more briefly still, Old Point,
is an attractive spot Here all the beauties OF ma
ture 10 be found IN noble Old trees, and fra
grant flowers, leafy bowers and well kept lawns
abound in great pr0fusion The invgOrating sea
breeze is always fresh and pure, and begin
ming TO be perfumed with the delicious odors from
the numerous gardens that beautify the post The |
pure atmosphere the lovely gardens, the warbling
OF the birds, the soothing murmur of the waves |
breaking on the pebby beach, the rich glow Of sun.
shine, the fragrance OF the flowers and the air of
peaceful tranquility that rests over ALL combine to
That IL exceedingly refreshing after coming from the
turmoil and strife OF business pursuits In crowded
cities.
Your correspondent visited the casemate rendered
famous by the occupation OF the arch rebel Jefferson
Davis. Much was said OF the barbarity OF our gov
ernment officials In consigning that refined and deli
cate frame to so grim and cheerless prison CELL
OF masculine tongues IN the South were
Dused In recounting the numberless ndignities and
insults TO which their beloved chief was daily sub
ected, and thousands OF gushing female hearts
,verfowed with tender compassion when they
ais vatIt
nouldy and chilly from the dampness that oozed
rom the stony walls. IL makes one melancholy to
renty passed around and OF the floods OF tears and
oceans OF sympathy that were uselessly expended
,ver the supposed suerings OF their idoized Jener
ION. found the rooms pleasant, comfortable. well
lentiated and not at all damp. In warm weather
hese classmates are quite cool, from the fact that
hey are built OF heavy granite and banked over |
with earth. Al such times q small fire Is needed to
raise the temperature near TO that outside. These
'ooms are now occupied by Captain Albion Howe, |
ordnance oflcer to the Artillery school, The captain
Tho has the appearance OF having been accustomed |
Q az refined style q life as Mr. DAVIS has nothing
lealth on his cheeks ID an uBquestlonabe denial ~
he stories told concerning the dampness aud un.
Enthusiastic middie-aged ladies' and romantic
misses IN their teens continue 10 make pilgrlmages
q the fort to worship at the shrine Of their unforu
ial IN these celebrated rooms is quite gallant and
politely conducts the fair pilgrims through his apart
n the brorniscu5us Arrangement ol his (urni
Gfa aid t!sPs; but there ara times when |
MS galantry Is controlled by ms loyalty |
% the government; then the enthusiastic aud |
romantic visitors hear a few unYecome truths. |
IN one occasion, not long since, elderly lady and
dove-eyed maiden OF some twenty summers drove |
~ TO the door in Virginia bsrouche, which is |
usually composed OF a rough wagon body, contain
ny chairs 70 accommodate the occupants, aud
irawn by shaggy mule, wearing harness made
" maze OF ropes ana strips OF raw hide. The |
aides dismounted ana were met At the door BY
captain Howe. They desired 10 look at the rooms |
which were formerly used by President Davis. The |
captain courteousy informed them that no such |
parsonage had been In that fort within the limits
II his recollection, but that man named Jefferson
Davis had once occupied tho rooms he then had. |
they accepted the correction with an air which |
showed that they had entered u silent protest against
ais view OF the matter, and asked II they could
hem Certainly they couldn and they were |
lshered In, when they looked around. speechess |
with awe After long survey the elder lady found
ler voice and exclaimed 'This, then. is the cell |
n which they tortured that great and good mnnii |
md proceeded 20 give vent 10 her feelings In terms
not by any means consistent with the respect due TO
ler entertainer. Finally captain Howe interrupted |