The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-04-11
CASTLE WILLIAMS A PRISON
Most of the Inmates Are Deserters from
the United States Army.

inc Uniteu states army.
INeto York Tribune
Old Castle Williams, that iorbidding-look-
ing fort on the end of Governors Island, has
been put to many uses. 1t is round and sol
idly built of heavy stone. Castle Williams
is no longer kept to defend the great port of
New York, but as a prison in which to con-
fine military offenders.
Castle Williams is now, however, nearly
full of prisoners, and if some other provision
is not made by Uncle Sam within the next
few months the military authorities will be
at their wits ends. The cause of the large
number of prisoners there is the abandon
ment by the Government of the military
prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. The last
session of Congress transferred this prison to
the Department of Justice, and it will be
turned into United States prison on July 1.
1t was the custom until lately to send all
the military prisoners of the Department of
the East to Castle Williams, and after Is or
90 were gathered there they were sent in
batch under military escort to the prison at
Fort Leavenworth. But this can no longer
be done, and there are already between 40
and 50 prisoners in Castle Williams.
The majority of the military prisoners at
Castle Williams are deserters, and are serv-
the minimum punishment for the Offense, to
two-and-a-half years, the maximum. de-
serter from the United States Army cannot
be sent to any but military prison. Should
he commit felony, however, such as steal
ing horse, while deserting, he can be sent
10 a regular Federal prison.
The present commander of Castle Williams
is Capt B. H. Gilman, of Co. b, 18th regi-
ment. Capt. Gilman was graduated from
West Point 23 years ago. He is young
looking man still, with pleasant features,
and handsome soldierly bearing. He has
the reputation Of being a strict tdisciplinarian,
but kind-hearted man.
The life of military prisoner is much the
same as that of men in other prisons, with
the exception that the soldier is perhaps
better fed than the others are. He receives
the same daily rations as the rest of the
army-three meals Of solid, wholesome food
every "a hours. The deserter from one of
the military posts in the East IS tried, when
captured or when he gives himself up, by
general court-martial, and when convicted
is sent to serve out his sentence at Castle
Williams. The punishment to be inflicted
is fixed by law, and varies according to the
length of time the offender has been in
the service A soldier who has been in
the service only 80 days, and is captured
or gives himself up within 80 days of his
deserti0n, cannot be confined over three
months. If he stays away not more than 90
days he can he punished by six months i'm
prisonment and if he remains at liberty over
80 days, he can be punished by Is months
confinement, and is then dishonorably dis
charged from the Army. If soldier de-
serts after he has been six months or more
in the service, he can be confined two and
half years, and is dishonorably discharged.
Military prisoners get an abatement of five
days off each month of their sentence for
good behavior. If prisoner escapes while
undergoing his sentence, and is recaptured,
his original sentence cannot be increased.
He loses his time for good behavior, however
A prisoner recently escaped while being
taken to Bedloe's Island to do some work
there. The Government tug touched at the
Battery pier i'll this city, and the prisoner
jumped off when the guard was not look
ing, and was soon lost in the crowd. lie
has not yet been recaptured.
The sentences of the military prisoners is
confinement with hard labor. The labor of
the prisoners at Castle Williams consists in
keeping the grounds in order on Governors
Island carting coal and wood, repairing the
road and such work. They are also sent
over to Bedloe's Island to do the same there.
They wear large letter on their backs so
the guard can tell they are prisoners. At
night they are confined in cells in Castle
Williams. The cells used are on the first
tier OF the easements. The men sleep on
straw ticks on iron bedsteads. There is
stove in every cell, so that they do not
suffer from cold. In fact, they generally
l. tba oallc 70 health
While they receive the Regular Army
ratons Of meat, potatoes, bread, rice, coffee
and sugar, they have not the privilege of
selling the surplus, as do the other soldiers,
and of purchasing butter and other delica-
cies with the money. The prisoners are let
out of their cells at 6 a. M, and are marched
into the mess cell for breakfast. After this
meal they are put to work and kept at it
until noon when they get an hour for din
ner. They then work until dusk in Winter
ard p. M. in Summer. Immediately after
supper they are locked in their cells for the
night They have no hours for recreation,
in which to play baseball or other games.
Neither do they get furloughs to visit this
city. If there is one thing the long-term
prisoner gl9ries In 1T IS war
cloud like that which has recently stirred
up some people in this country. He thinks
that if a war should begin he would have
chance to regsin his fTeedom-his freedom,
at least from irSsome confinement.
T. T. Townsend writes that in Clay Town
ship, Iowa, at the breaking out of the war
there were 615 people, and before the war
Chased 81 of them, or One-sixth, went into
the Union army; pretty coed record for
patriotism from one section. At present
there are but seven old soldiers living there
George w. Mccain, Co. l., 14th Pa. Cav,
Chicora, Pa, wants TO hear from his old COM
iKie..