Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-04
GEN. srAGER,s CURIOSITY.
Alright He Passed in tho Old Cap1toI
Prison at Washington.

AFpff tftc LlttpAsD AFtF1fers
WASHINGTON, March 29.-William P.
Wood, who had charge of the old capitol
prison during the war, publishes over his
own signature in the Washington Gazette
to-day the following incident, which IS
recalled by the death of Gen. Stager:
''The death of Gen. Ansen Stager dur
ing the last week brings to mind an cpl
sode which occurred at the old Capltol
Prison in the early part of our iratrlcldaI
strife. Mr.. Stager had been appointed
Chief of the United States Military fele-
graph, and was asst ned TO duty at the
War Department, with the rank OF colo
mel and Aide-de-Camp. He called upon
me semi-ofhcially, and requested to be
shown around among the prisoners then
in the old Capitol Prison. ! asked his
purpose. He stated that it was merely
curiosity, as he desired tOsee how 1--we Con
tederates took their imprisonment. lrather
bluntly informed HIM that the prison was
not menageEie whose occupants were
on exhibition to inQuisltlYe curiosity
seekers. He did not relish my refusal,
and said he would obtain Secretary STAN
toms order to visit the prisoners. l as
sured him that an order from that Score
tary would be 0beyed to the letter. at
once took the precautiOn to forward note
cious 10 allow the old Capitol Prison to
be opened as a menagerie, and that II any
Of the officials of the department should
request the privilege to visit the estab-
ushment tor That purpose only one a0lnlS-
sion in my judgment should be granted.
''In two or three days alter the apDlica-
ton OF Stager to see live COniederates he
again presented himself at the old Capt.
tol Prison with a pass from Secretary
fs,s 70, t,rr
in the prison he should select. | required
Col. Stager to choose room, and aided
him in selecting a large front apartment
on the secOna floor in the northwest cor
ner of the prison, occupied by GeOrgians
and Marylanders, who were a lively set
OF rOllickng fellows. Into this room Mr..
Stager was introduced as an official Of the
War Department, who was deslrOUs Of
observing how live Contederates con-
Quoted themselves as prisoners. | told
them ! hoped that during his stay they
would do their best to entertain him.
"COl. Stager was ushered into No. 4,
but soon got tired OF the novelty of seeing
| live Coniederates and wanted to leave.
The guard would not allow aim to pass
out OF the room, except MS prisoner and
under the same restrictions. Col. Stager
sent for me, and after much delay called
on hun, desiring to know what he wanted.
I lie asked why he was detained m the
| prison. / assured hin that that was none
Of my business, L only knew that he
| would require an order from the same
4 source that brought him IN to take him
out. He became furious. The prisoners
/ took in the situation and made it lively
/ for Col. Sta2er. They assured him tnat
/ his only way out was to secure Secretary
/ Stanton's order for his release. Col. sta
! ger spent that night in tEe Old Capitol
/ Prison, and Jared and slept precisely as
! other prisoners.
"rhe next day an order came from Sec.
Rotary stanton for the release of Col. sta.
/ ger. 1t is unnecessary to state that nc
/ official of the War Department ever again
/ desired to visit the prison while | had
! charge of it. Gen. StageT's experience
/ enabled him in after years to entertain
his friends with his interesting recollec
tions of one night in the custody of the
! superintendent the Old Capitol Prison.