REPORTS OF THE OPERATIONS, ETC., OF THE MILITARY PRISON, FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. UNITED STATES MILITARY PRISON, Fort Leavenworth, Kans., July 15, 1878. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith annual reports of the uartermaster, medical officer, and chaplain connected with this prison or the year ending June 30, 1878. A tabular statement of prisoners received, transferred, &c., and labor erformed during the year, is also inclosed. Special attention is invited to the medical officer's report as showing n unusual healthy condition of the prisoners. This is in a great measure ue to the skill and scrupulous personal attention which that officer has iven to his duties. He has also had to exercise a rigid scrutiny to preent malingering, the tendency to which being much greater than in an rdinary garrison. The many conveniences afforded by the new hospital ave also removed embarrassments heretofore existing in the care and eatment of the sick at this place. I regret to have to call attention to that part of the chaplain's report herein he complains of the want of suitable chapel and school room. s there is no doubt that any extension to his field of usefulness will ave a marked influence on the discipline of this place, as well as a oral and religious improvement, the construction of the prison chapel most desirable; but that work is contingent on having the building ow occupied as a store-house by the chief commissary of subsistence,. Department of the Missouri, transferred to the prison, which has long een contemplated. I am pleased to state that, during the year, I have seldom had to reort to severe disciplinary measures, for, with few exceptions, the tendney of the prisoners has been to comply with the prison rules without Dercion. On January 19, of this year, a party of 11 prisoners were eceived here from Alcatraz Island. Immediately upon their arrival hey were refractory, and acted like a party flushed with some recent access. For a time (since their advent) a mania seemed to possess the ther prisoners to write directly to people in authority for clemency. his offense has been met with punishment, such as loss of good time, ss of class, &c. It is now mostly abated, but is undoubtedly traceable > the bad influence of that party. During the year 15 prisoners escaped, but 8 were recaptured, making loss by escape of 7 against 21 last year. The warm encouragement and hearty approval of the department ›mmander, in all my administration of affairs calls for my sincerest anks. Work has been continued on the prison wall, the commencement of which was noted in my report for last year. There is now completed 911 feet, varying from 14 to 22 feet high, owing to the conformation of the ground. All the industries carried on in the workshops have been successful, the prisoners, as a rule, evincing much interest and skill in the work assigned them. Out of the 10,900 chairs ordered made for the use of enlisted men 2,500 are completed, and about 40 per day are now being made, in connection with a great deal of other work done in the carpen ter-shop. During the year 39,880 pairs of shoes were manufactured here for the Army, and very gratifying reports concerning them have been received from officers whose companies they have been issued to. We have this year under cultivation, as a prison farm, about 40 acres; 25 acres are planted with potatoes, 4 with corn, and the re mainder with cabbage, tomatoes, onions, &c. With the exception of a small part of this ground, which has been overflowed, the crops look well and promise a large yield, and, except something unforeseen occurs, we hope to raise from 3,500 to 4,000 bushels of potatoes alone. In conclusion, I take pleasure in again bringing to the favorable notice of the War Department the exemplary conduct of the following-named officers, whose hearty co-operation and strict attention to their duties have very materially aided me in my administration of affairs, and call for my warmest commendation, viz: Granville Lewis, first lieutenant, Fifth Infantry, A. A. Q. M.; W. H. H. Crowell, first lieutenant, Sixth Infantry, provost marshal, and John J. Clague, first lieutenant, Twelfth Infantry, adjutant. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. P. BLUNT, Brevet Colonel, U. S. A., Governor. To the ADJUTANT GENERAL U. S. ARMY, (Through Headquarters Department of the Missouri.) |