The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-11-19
From the Detroit Advertiser.
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to the North-,oest.-A Rebel Fleet to
be Fitted out on the Lakes-Ercite-
ment at Sand,tsky. - -
We have for some days been in pos
session of information that rebel raid
of a peculiar character was meditated
upon Lake Erie, but we have been I'M
der such injanctions of secrecy that
we could not mention it. The Free
Press, which probably derived its in
formation from some Of its Copperhead
allies who are i'm communication with
the Canada rebels, having made an ex-
aggerated statement of the various ru-
mors afloat, we place before our read
ers such facts as are proper TO COM
municate. o-
The scheme, as we understand it, is
to pass several gunboats, which have
been prepared in the Lower St. Law
renee, through the Welland Canal, and
with these ravage the commerce and
put the citizens of the Lakes under
contribution, ifnot to burn them as an
act of savage retaliation. We have
heard Buffalo named as the first point
of attack, and are not prepared to say
that the city is free from danger. The
merchants marine of the lakes is really
at the mercy of armed cruisers. Our
only protection is the steamer Michi-
gan, which has small armament, and
which it is contemplated in the plot we
refer TO surprise and overpower.
An armed vessel in front of any lake
city could, with but little molestaiion,
inf1ict the most serious damage. The
city of New York experimenting such
a possibility there from the presence of
some of the armed rebel ocean pirates,
has put the harbor in a most perfect
state of defense.
1t is further understood that a part
this plot included the release of the
prisoners on Johnson's Island, who
were to form, in conjunction with such
rebel refugees in Canada as are ripe
for desperate enterprise of this kind,
the land supports of the rebel cruisers.
1t will be remembered that this alarm
in relation to the prisoners on Johnson's
Island was raised some months ago,
and now is repeated contemporaneously
with the discovery of the Ohio conspir-
acy, the details of which add confirma-
ton to the statements we have made.
Those facts, which obtain credence
among our military authorities, have
been In their possession some days.
They have been carefully preparing for
any emergency that may arise, and
ample steps have been taken to proven,
the consummation of the ingenious and
daring plot.
From the Cleveland Herald of last Evening
We have noticed in another place
the departure of 500 troops from Camp
Cleveland for the purpose of meeting
anticipated trouble among the rebel
prisoners on Johnson's Island. The
arrival of the Sandusky train puts us
in possession of additional Information
in relation to the causes which led to
this movement.
There are now about 1000 rebels on
the Island, guarded by less than four
hundred u. S. troops. Among the reb.
els are the notorious JEFF. Thompson
and Maj. Gen. Trimble, both celebra
ted for their daredevil exploits and ad
venturous schemes. Since they have
been placed among the prisoners the
guards have bad considerable trouble
in keeping order, and have to be con.
tinually on the alert TO detect and frus.
trate plans of escape. The attempt to
"dig out" a few days since we noticed
at the time.
For some days it has been evident
that some mischief was brewing among
the rebels, and close watch was kept
on their movements. Yesterday (Tues
day. Information was received BY Ma
jor Pierson. in command of the lslant
that fully armed and equipped gun
boat had left the Canadian shore fol
the Island, with the intention of assis
ting in the release of the prisoners. /,
is reported that other information led
to the belief that simultaneously with
the appearance of the pirate, a gen
eral attack was to be made by the rebe
prisoners, the guards were to be over
powered, the arsenel seized, Sandusk,
to be pillaged and burned, and the reb
els either to escape to Canada or I,
strike in the interior of the State will
other designs.
How far these reports are reliable
we do not know, but they were deeme,
of sufficient Importance by Major Pier
son to communicate with Gov. Tod
and to place the Island in the best stat,
of defense in his power.
The q. S. gunboat Michigan took u,
position in front of the prison, and go
ready to receive the piratical craft,
such should make its appearance, an,
the guards were pat in fighting trim.
On receiving the news, Gov. To
stopped a train with 400 prisoners
which was on the way from Columbu
to Sandusky, and telegraphed to Co
Senter to Immediately dispatch troop
from Camp Cleveland to the scene O
trouble. The result of the affair W
have not yet learned.
LATER AND IMPORTANT.
We are informed by the military an
thorities that there is no occasion fo
alarm, and that all necessary precar
tons are being taken. The Cover