Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-05-28
A MILITARY PRISON.
The Mild Punishments Visited JTpon
Deserters i'll 'These Piping
Times of Peace"
The System Of Discipline i'm the Prison at Fort
Leavenworth-Types Among the
Culprts.
A Spendthrift's Career.

deserterS from the army were sUm-
marily punished and drummed out of
camp. Ordinarily they were marked
in some way SO that they were unable
to re-enlist and SO passed out of sipht.
After the close of the civil war the
question as to how deserters should be
punished became serious one, and
after great deal of discussion it was
determined to build military peniten-
tiary where they could be sent, and
there have time to reflect upon what
they had done. Desertion is purely a
military crime, and, though looked
upon as tlagrant oflense by soldiers,
is easily condoned by citizens, who
care very little about it. In fact, de-
sertion is sometimes considered by the
backwoods people as commendable.
DESERTERS ARE SHIELDED
in every way from their pulsuers, and
the property they have taken from the
government is easily bought up or
taken by the settlers. Valuable horses
belonging to the United States have in
many instances been appropriated by
frontier men, who would scorn doing
dishonorable action toward a neigh
Dor, or taking a cents worth of what
did not belong to them.
On the Sd of March, 1873, congress
passed law that there should be es-
tablished at Rock Island, H., a prison
for the confinement and reformation of
offenders against the rules, regulations,
and laws for the government of the
army. Subsequently the location was
changed to Fort Leavenworth, Kan,
where n fine military prison was built
and placed in good order. Many
prisoners sent from regiments were
engaged in working on the building
which, when completed, presented /
fine appearance.
Many military offenders were sen
to this prison, and continue to be sen
there. and it is considered a good place
to live in by many of the soldiers, whC
prefer to serve there rather than OF
the frontier against the Indians. AS
heard an officer of prominence declare
"It is premium for desertion.
have known of soldiers who were con
fined there writing to men in Arizon
to desert and get sent up to LeaVen
worth for time, rs it was far bette
than trudging round in the wilds Q
Arizona. There is no question abou
its being much easier to live in tn
prison, where there is good shelter
plenty to eat. cleanliness, and regl
iarity in everything, than it is doing
soldiers duty in the far-off wilds
where there is no shelter, no good food
and the heat is overpowering.
1t is on the same principle that TN
man in Nevada enunciated that "h
would rather be a lamp-post in Sa
Francisco than be governor of NevS
da." OF course. there is no account
inc for tastes, and what might suit on
man would be exceedingly distastefl
to another. The system in the LeaN
enworth military prison is as pelfet
as possible, and the treatment accorC
ed the convicts as lenient rs could b
desired, but it by no means reduce
the number of desertiOns--it may hay
a contrary effect. The intentions {
those who established this prison Wel
the best that can be imagined, but
has not had the effect upon the dl'
cipline of the army which it was SUI
pcsed it would have. Advantage ha
been taken of the kindness and goo
intentions of those having control
the institution, and few, if any, IT
formed men can be pointed out anon
the convicts. The prison has not prove
as beneficial as it was supposed 1t WouI
be, and instead of being looked uPo
as place of punishment it is ratnc
considered as pleasant asylum lo
those men who do not wish to 90
soldiers duty, but would rather 10
round in the shade with the noble arm
Of EEonf1na-noolprS ~