SPECIAL ORDER No. 157.

HEADQUARTERS, FORT DELAWARE,

June 1, 1864.

            The officer of the Guard must read and explain these orders to each relief of his Guard regularly before having it posted.

            I. No sentinel must communicate with nor allow any person to communicate with any of the prisoners, nor permit any of the prisoners to go outside of the limits of their barracks, without the permission of the Commanding General or the officers in charge of the prisoners.

            II. It is the duty of the sentinel to prevent the prisoners from escaping, or cutting, defacing, or in any way damaging any of the Government property, or from committing any “Nuisance” in or about their barracks, or from using any abusive or insolent LANGUAGE towards them, and from any violation of good order.

            Should the sentinel detect any prisoner in violating these instructions, he must order him three distinct times to halt! and if the prisoner obeys the order, the sentinel must call for the Corporal of the Guard, and have the prisoner placed in arrest — but should the prisoner fail to halt, when so ordered, the sentinel must enforce his order by bayonet or ball.

            III.  The sentinels are required to exercise the utmost vigilance, and to exact from prisoners a strict compliance with these instructions, and must always be duly impressed with the nature and extent of their responsibility.

            By command of BRIG. GEN’L SCHOEPF.

            (Signed)           GEO. W. AUL,

                          Captain and A. A. A. G.