Year: 1861

boarding house, with sufficiently strin-
gent rules and regulations for the eighty
or less boarders in the establishment.-
These rules are conspicuously placed Oh
tlIe wall of each room. SO that be who
runs may read, and the facilities for read
ing are somewhat in advance of those for
running. They prescribe that the pris>
oner's rooms must be ready for inspec-
ton at O'Clock in the morning; that
washing must be done in the yard of the
fort; prisoners must not talk with anv
member OF the guard; and they are noti-
fed that any transgression will be pun
ished by solitary confinement, or such
other restrictions as may be necessary TO
a strict enforcement of the rules.


There is nothing specially stringent a.
bout these rules. The prisoners must and
must not do certain things. but they are
allowed many privileges. Those who are
together in one room can converse freely
with each other, but they are notified
that they must rot talk about the polite
al affairs of the country in the hearing OF
any member Of the garrison.-They can
have lights in their rooms until fifteen
minutes past nine clock, and after that
hour noise and loud talking must cense
for the night. For an hour in The morn
ing and afternoon the prisoners can prom.
enade about the premises in company
with guard, and at such times can call
on their friends and feilow~prisoners in
the other rooms. The doors Of the rooms
are opened at a. M. and closed at six
O'Clock in the evening. 1t may be stated
that the prisoners generally appreciate
their privileges, and that there have been
no infringement on the rules sufficient to
merit punishment.


At Fort Lafayette, as elsewhere, s'mon-
ey," as Fals:aff says, sis good soldier.'
Those who have the means for doing so
can live nearly as well there as at any
hotel, in one large room. which is about
sixty by fifteen feet, there are no less
than thirty of the "better class of pris-
oners, who have both friends and money.
These have clubbed together, and have
made arrangements by which their meals
are furnished TO order. Their funds are
deposited with one of the officers, who
acts as bursar. and the wife of one of the
soldiers does their catering. cooking and
washing. To meet outside bills for food
supplies. newspapers, tobacco and other
comforts, the prisoners give an order on
the bursar. The club men get good
breakfast and dinner, with a moderate
allowance at dinner of some stimulant,)
at cost of about one dollar per day for
each. They are subject to no extortion of
any kind, and supplies are furnished at
reasonable rate.


In the morning, when t e Coney IS
land boat or first train from Brooklyn ar
rives at Fort Hamilton, the prisoners who
have made arrangements can get all the
city morning papers, and are thus daily
informed of affairs in the outside world
Their correspondence only is subject to
censorship. and as has already been sta
ted, letters written to or by the prisoners
are opened and read by the proper officer
and the few persons who have been re-
leased from custody have been forbidden
to carry away any written communica-
ton.


The club men live well. They pass
their time in reading, discussing (among
themselve) matters and things in general
and s'the situation" in particular, and
play cards, chess and checkers by the
hour. Tobacco is not tabooded, and the
club for the most part of the day is under
a cloud in more senses than one.


Similar but smaller clubs have been
organized in some of the other rooms
There are few prisoners, some of the
sailors and others who have no money,
and are consequently dependent upon
the authorities for their daily bread


These are furnished with good and whole
some but plain food, differing but little


from the rations Of the soldiers who are
their keepers.


There can be one opinion only Of the
conduct of Col Burke@and bis officers
and men toward the prisoners in charge.
: The prisoners are allowed every privilege
consistent with their safe keeping, and
have no reason rble cause for complaint.
The loss Of liberty is of course the main
f privaton, but those prisoners who have
, been discharged. testify that. SO lar from
f the imposition of any unnecessary re
, strictions. they were more favored during


their incarcera ton than they had any
reaso on to expect when they were sent te


Fort Lafayette.


"WoRKs MEET FOR REPENTANCE. brig
Gen. Pierce, lately commanding at Big
Rethel. Va. is now serving as private