The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-07-08
FORT LEAVENWORTH.
The Present Improyissd Military
Prison.
The New Bastile, the Erection of
Which viii be Begun Soon.
Items OF General Interest In and
Around the Post.

We visited Fort Leayenworth, yesterday,
and were agreeably surprised to see 50
many citizens employed on the Military
Prison. All the stone buildings heretofore
occupied by the Quarternaster and Com
missary departments with the exception OF
one, is now being transformed into one vast
building, to be occupied hereafter by those
who have committed crimes against the
Government, until the full term for which
they have been sentenced expires, unless
sooner pardoned by the President. Gen.
q. " Robertson, the Military Governor OF
the prison, is an old officer, and from
the discipline enforced among them,
4 prejndiced observer could not possibly
help saying that he is the right man in the
right place" Everything in the embryotic
''basti!e" looks clean. neat and orderly.
And, every man seems 10 understand his
duty from the most condemned and harden
ed prisoner TO the guard or civilian en-
ploye. Gen. Robertson, As We have said
before, is the right man in the right place.
He does not treat these with that harshness
and severity that outsiders are often led TO
believe. lie has a kind word for every
one, and does not try 10 make prison life a
burthen to them, a. we have frequently
witnessed in other places. They are not
prevented from speaking 10 each other
when al work, neither are they prevented
from reading newspapers or books OF know
ledge, in hours Of leisure. The General is
ably assisted by Lieut.. Pope, his efficient
adiutant, in the performance OF his duties.
We saw several shoemakers busily ut work
in making boots and shoes in one of the
ground floors, and we must confess that
they were one OF the most orderly lot OF men
We have ever seen, and their work will
compare favorably with our best city
mechanics. The tin shop also on the same
floor, Is paragon Of neatness and order.
The cells for prisoners are not as well vent
Hated as they might he, but We were in
formed that in the great hurry, TO provide
well ventilated cells was not at all
overlooked; but the large numbers
coming in daily from almost every State in
the Union was more than could possibly be
attended to AT present, from the limited ap-
preparation made by the last Congress. At
all events, everything is being done to make
the prisoners a. comfortable As possible. In
about ten days the cells up stairs viii all
be complete. There are now two hundred
and six prisoners accommodated there, and
when the buildings are completed, there
will be cells sufficient for the accommodate
ton OF five hundred. We omitted saving
that there is guard stationed at the en-
trance TO every room, and in case of mutt
ny 4 sergeant with sufficient number of
men is ready Of 4 moments warming 70 see
that order is restored.
The cells are Of oak, one and one-half
inches thick, and lined with heavy sheet
iron. Those buildings now occupied are
only temporary, and the impression is that
the prison proper will be located midway
between the city and the old arsenal build
ings. The number Of civilians now en-
ployed at the Fort, including all depart
ments will not exceed l25, but it is expect
ed that double that number will be al work
there in less than two weeks. There are
stationed no~ at the post five companies OF
the Fifth infantry, and finer, cleaner
or better disciplined body of men
can he rarely found in any part OF the
country. This regiment Use "Riceis trowel
bayonet," one of the best intrenching tools
now in Use. With this bayonet 4
soldier can intrench himself safely in less
than five minutes from the best telescope
sharpshooter that ever handlcd rifle. Ii
will take but little over five minutes to
intrench n full company OF infantry. We
have seen the experiments at the Fort, and
are willing TO confess that il SURPRISES our
most sangrIine expectations. We know of
nothing that can compete with ii in the
sheltering of troops from musketry firing.
Nineteen regiments $50 We are informed)
now Use this bayonet. We were
also informed by some OF the
officers Of the Fifth Infantry
that this Yankee invention is about being
introduced in the French, Pr,Issian and
italian armies. At all events, We believe
if once introduced with any army in times
OF war, the government introducing it would
never regret it. With such a bayonet dur
ing our own "onpleasantness," thousands OF
lives would have been spared.
4 grand dinner was served at the peni-
Tertiary yesterday, which was presided over
by the Warden, and at which were several
invited guests. J. W. English, of this city,
made the speech OF the occasion.