The National tribune., 1885-12-17

! Il
Noting the fact of his arrival in his diary, he
says with exceeding ndivete: 81 cannot say
that the appearance Of Tortugas is very invit-
ing," Probably not. Fort Jefferson is sai generls
among the military posts of the United States.
1t was begun in 1916, and, like nearly all the
larger forts of that Nation, has never been
completed. What it had cost the country dur
ing those 10 years is hidden in the mysterious
archives of the Engineer Department Every
article entering into its construction, even to
the scanty soil which covers its interior surface
and the sickly sods which feebly decorate that
SOIL was by necessity transported from the
mainland. The voyager approaching the fort
from any possible direction sees its lofty walls
rising apparently from the very depths of the
Gulf of Mexico, and riding like vessel on its
waters. Save a few small coral reefs, scantily
covered with a scrub growth of mango trees,
no land is visible in any direction. No sound
is heard except
THE sPLAsHING OF THE WAVES.
Nothing relieves the broad expanse Of green
sea on every side but the varying shades of
brighter and lighter hue which. ripping and
sparkling in the glowing sunshine, denote
the nearer approach 40 the surface of the
gigantic coral beds beneath. The spirit
of solitude hovers perpetually over the scene.
The great improvements made during the
last 16 years in naval ordnance have ma
terially weakened Fort Jeflcrsons proud claim
unfinished shape, military commissions having
gone out of fashion, it is principally useful as an
adjunct of the yellow fever for facilitating pro-
motion in the artillery service. After the close
of the war it continued TO be military prison
until 1869, its garrison consisting of four bat
teries Of foot artillery. Being located at about
an even distance from Cuba, Key West and the
Florida mainland it was found to be capital
place in which to administer the punishment
Of solitary confinement i'll undilutcd strength.
The whole surroundings are conducive to medi
tation and if ything would bring repentance
to a sin. scared soul, that salutary effect would
certainly be effected by the contemplation of a
protracted residence within its sun baked walls.
Never was Jail more solitary nor Imprisonment
more hopeless. 1t is not surprising, therefore,
that Grenfelfs first impressions were unfavor-
able or that he did not consider the appearance
of the ocean fort as inviting. He was there,
however, on an invitation which could not be
declined.
Thus began an Imprisonment which. surely
enough as the sentence announced was to ter
inmate only with his life. Grenfell's diary,
carried down irregularly to August 1866,
affords a touching Illustration of the varied
emotions which agtate the breast of man who,
after being accustomed to the greatest freedom
of thought and action, finds himself suddenly
cut off from association with the world and
subjected to the depressing surveillance Of mill
tary confinement. Grenfell's condition, how
ever, was far from being utterly miserable. He
was as kindly treated by the officers of the
garrison as his behavior justified, and after the
first few months of his captivity he was given
the
FREE RANGE OF THE FORT.
Among his fellow-prisoners were Mudd, Ar
mold, and Spangler, the Lincoln assassination
conspirators, who also were undergoing life
sentences. Some time after Grenfell's arrival
a system of less rigid treatment was inaugu-
rated, and the entire quartet being of higher
intellectual grade than the rest of the prison.
ers, were relieved from the duress of fetters
and assigned to permanent duty as portions of
the domestic economy of the post. As proper
regard was paid to the fitness of the men for
the positions to which they were assigned,
their condition as prisoners was made very
tolerable. Arnold was designated as Chief
Clerk at Headquarters under Gen. Bennett ii.
Hill, situation in which he gave great salts
faction both by bis capacity and the natural
dignity and composure of his department. Dr.
Mudd and Spangler were assigned to duty
under the Post Quartermaster, and became in
time very tolerable second-rate carpenters. So
Grenfell was allotted the position of post gar
dener, which position he occupied when / be-
came acquainted with him in the Winter of
1867. He was then a tall, large framed, long
boned man, with a well-shaped head, betoken-
ing more than averageSntelligSe,a and heavy
beard, fast changing from gray to silver. He
was dressed in Confederate gray, and wore a
high, ribbonless straw hat squeezed at the
crown to conical point, imparting to him the
general appearance of responsibility peculiar to
the average native Southern planter of the
early reconstruction days To all appearances
he performed the duties of his position with
zeal and earnestness. "The garden" was the
somewhat pretentious designation given by
courtesy and military tradition to small
picketed inclosure of the parade, in which sus-
picion of soil partially concealed the coral sand
of the island, in imitation of the disheartened
sods which in sickly fashion elsewhere pre-
vailed. Excepting in a
CLIMATE OF EVERLASTING SUMMER
such patch would scarcely suffice for supply
ing the table Of the commanding officer alone.
1t never proved productive, but for a long time
it afforded its captive superintendent agreeable
and healthful recreation.
With Grenfells increased freedom of action
came, of course, greater privileges of society,
the officers of the garrison treating him usually
with courteous consideration. On April g. after
detailing infinitely the progress of the plants
under his charge he writes:
/ am fast becoming gardener in thought-and
nothing else. My whole attention is devoted to
my garden, and have idea beyond tomato
or lettuce. Perhaps it is better so. If can
forget that ever mixed with gentlemen, j shall
be happier. Perhaps in time may become almost
American, and delight in lies, thieving, and
lar better than friends and relations.
Not very fattering opinion of American
character did our mettlesome and misguided
soldier Of fortune entertain; but if the language
of his diary does not precisely breathe spirit
of contentment, it evinces considerably less
of fretful impatience than any previous entry
in which he refers to his condition. He was
gradually learning resignation, though the old
hope of regaining his liberty ranked in his
bosom to the last. He expressed great disgust
at the advice of his sister in England, who
counselled him to be patient in his adversely,
and he upraids her as well as others of his rela-
tives with not exerting themselves sufficiently
| in his behalf. AS regarded his sister, these
reproaches were in the last degree unmerited.
| She wrote to him constantly and affectionately,
and under cover to Gen. Hill, she kept him
| supplied with money.
| The last few months of Grenfells confine-
ment were thus passed in comparative comfort,
and his journal bears eloquent testimony to his
| greater cOntentment. Amid the cares attend
ant upon his duties as gardener he found leis-
| ure to write in his diary and also to espOuse
warmly the cause of such of his fellow-prison-
ers as in his opinion were the victims Of Unjust
| ice, and who by reason of defective scholarship
were unable to seek for their own redress Nor
were his efforts always fruitless. On one page
of his diary, opposite copy of letter addressed
to high official in Washington, are written
letter obtained this mans release" If mere
letter writing could have accomplished it he
would certainly have achieved his own restora-