Year: 1861

This heretofore unimportant point in the
harbor Of New York, once place Of volun-
taIy resort, is now pleasure ground on COM
pulsion-or rather on exclusive boarding
house"-of political prisoners.


The rules prescribe that the occupanps
rooms must be ready for inspection at nine
o'clock in the morning. that washing must
be done in the yard of the fort; prisoners
must not talk with any member of the garri-
son, but can communicate their wants to the
sergeant of the guard; they must not leave
their rooms unless in company with guard;
they must obey implicitly the directions of
any member Of the guard; and they are noti-
fed that any transgression will be punished
by solitary confinement, or such other re-
strictions as may be necessary to strict en-
foIcement Of the rules.


The prisoners must and must not do GER
tain things but they are allowed many privi-
leges. Those who are together in one room
can converse freely with each other, but they
are notified that they must not talk about
the political 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 o'clock, and after
that hour noise and loud talking must cease
for the night. For an hour in the morning
and afternoon the prisoners can promenade
about the premises - in company with a
guard-and at such times can call on their
friends and tellow-prisoners in the other
rooms. The doors Of the rooms are opened
at 3 A. NJ. and closed at six o'clock in the
evening. 1t may be stated that the prisoners
generally appreciate their privileges, aud
that there have been no infringements of the
rules sufficient to merit punishment.


AT Fort Lafayette, as elsewhere, money"
as Falstaff says, "isa good soldier" Those
who have the means for doing SO can live
nearly as well at Fort Lafayette 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 prisoners, who
have both friends and money. These have
clubbed together, and have made arrange
mentS 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 cater
ing, cooking and washing. To meet outside
Bills for food, supplies, newspapers, tobacco
and other comforts, the prisoners give an or
der on the bursar. The club-men get good
breakfast and dinner, with a moderate al
lowance at dinner of some stimulant,) at a
cost of about one dollar per diem for each :
They are subject to no extortion of any kind,
and supplies are furnished at reasonable
rate.


In the morning, when the Coney Island
boat or first train from Brooklyn arrives at
Fort Hamilton, the prisoners who have made
arrangements can get all the city morning
papers, and are thus daily informed of af'
fairs in the outside world. Their corre-
spondence only is subject to censorship, and
as has already been stated, letters written to
or by the prisoners are opened and read by
the proper officer, and the persons who have
been released from custody have been for
hidden to carry away any written commune
cation.


The club-men live well. They pass their
time in reading, discussing (among them
selves) matters and things in general and
the situation" in particular and play cards,
chess and checkers by the hour. Tobacco is
not tabooed, and the club, for large part
of the day, is under cloud in more sense
than one.


Similar but smaller clubs have been Or
ganized in some of the other rooms. There
are few prisoners, some of the sailors and
Others, who have no money, and are conse.
quently dependent upon the authorities for
their daily bread. These are furnished with
good and wholesome but plain food, differ
ing but little from the rations of the soldiers
who are their keepers. All have an un-
limited lookout view of the bay and Staten
Island shore. The passing ships and steam
ers break the monotony of an otherwise
weary day. The three daily trips of the
Coney Island boats are looked for events.