Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-06-25
NUMBER ~.
GENERAL ANSoN sTAGER.
A War "Reminiscences in the shape of n
Huge Practical Joke.


William P. Wood, who had charge
of the old Capital 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 General Stager.
The death of General Arson Stager
during the past week brings to mind
an episode which occurred at the old
Capitol Prison in the early part of our
fratricidal strife. Mr.. Stager had been
appointed Chief of the United States
Military Telegraph, and was assigned
to duty at the War Department, with
the rank of Colonel and aid-de-camp.
lie called upon me semi-officially and
requested to be shown around among
the rebel prisoners then in the old Cap
itol Prison. ! asked his purpose. He
stated that it was merely curiosity, as
he desired to see how live rebels took
their Imprisonment / rather bluntly
informed him that the prison was not
menagerie whose occupants were on
exhibition to inquisitive curiosity seek
ers. He did not relish my refusal, and
said he would obtain Secretary STAN
tons order to visit the prisoners. |
assured him that an order from that
Secretary would be obeyed to the let
ter. at once took the precaution TO
forward note to Mr.. Stanton stating
that it was injudicious to allow the old
Capitol Prison to be opened as
menagerie, and that if any of the off
Gals of the department should request
the privilege to visit the establishment
for that purpose only one admission in
my Judgment should be granted
In two or three days after the APP
plication Of Stager to see live rebels he
again presented himself at the Capitol
Prison with pass from Secretary
Stanton to admit the bearer to any
room in the prison he should select. |
required Colonel Stager to choose
room, aud aided him in selecting a
large front apartment on the second
floor in the northwest corner of the
prison, occupied by Georgians and
Marylanders, who were a lively set of
rollicking fellows. Into this room Mr..
Stager was introduced as an official of
the War Department, who was DESTROYS
of seeing how live rebels conducted
themselves as prisoners. | told them /
hoped that during his stay they would
do their best to entertain him.
Colonel Stager was ushered into
No. 4, but soon got tired of the novelty
of seeing live prisoners aud wanted to
leave. The guard would not allow him
to pass out of the room except as
prisoner and under the same restric-
tons. Colonel Stager sent for me, and
after much delay called on him, de-
string to know what he wanted. He
asked why he was detained in the
prison. L assured him that that was
none of my business. ! only knew
that he would require an order from
the same source that brought him in to
take him out. He became furious.
The 'rebs' took in the situation and
made it lively for Colonel Stager. They
assured him that his only way out was
to secure Secretary Stanton's order for
his release. Colonel Stager spent that
night in the old Capitol Prison, and
Jared and slept precisely as other pris-
oners.
1.-The next day an order came from
Secretary Stanton for the release of
Colonel Stager. 1t is unnecessary 10
state that no official of the War De-
partment ever again desired to visit
the prison while | had charge of it.
General Stager's experience enabled
him In after years to entertain his
friends with his interesting recollec-
tons of one night in the custody of the
superintendent of the old Capitol
Prison