Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-23


The following is correct statement of the
part taken by the United States. steamer
Michigan, in the plot to seize her and re-
lease the prisoners on Johnson's Island:
Commander John C. Carter, of the United
States steamer Michigan, has been for some
time past In communication with certain
parties in Detroit and elsewhere, relating
70 the conspiracy. He kept his own plans
secret until the proper time would arrive
TO frustrate theplot. On Sunday, the 18th
inst, he sent Ensine c. G. Eddy, to Sandus-
ky, TO sleep at the West House, where ono
of the principal conspirators has been stop
ping for some time past. This conspirator's /
movements have been very closely watched /
by the officers of the Michigan. On Sunday /
night, twelve o'clock, Capt. Carter received |
dispatch from Lieut.. Gel. Hill, command !
ing the military post at Detroit, as follows |
= 1t IS reported to me that some of the Off |
GERS and men of your steamer have been |
tampered with, and that party of rebel |
refugees leave Windsor tomorrow with ex-
pectations of getting possession of your
steamer" Captain Carter's reply was al
am ready; hope they will come; it is not
true as regards officers and men," On
Monday preparatiOn5 were made to send
Ensign Hunter to Detroit TO fully investi-
gate the matter. just as Mr.. Hunter was
about leaving, another dispatch was receiv.
ed from Lieut.. Col. Hill at Detroit, as fol-
lows:
at is said the parties will embark to-day
at Maiden, on board the steamer Philo Par
sons, and Sc ze that and another boat run
ming from Kelley's leland. Since nv last
dispatch, l am again informed that man
nalned Cole is to be introduced on board in
thegulse OF friend of the officers. con-
| slider the matter as serious"
On receipt of this and other information,
Captain Carter immediately disp stehed the
barge in charge of Ensign James Hunter to
arrest and bring on board this man Cole
in the quietest possible manner, so as not
to create suspicion or alarm. Mr.. Hunter
| then proceeded to the West House, where
he found Mr.. Cole, and brought him on
board the ship. On arriving on board
Captain Carter informed him sfYou are nv
prisoner, SIR
c2In the meantime Executive Officer E.
q. Martin, was sent in the first cutter to
seize his papers, baggage &e. Mr.. Martin
made strict search, bringing all his eff
teets on board. On searching his papers
1t was discovered that he had been cap
tain IN the Rebel army, that he had taken
the oath OF allegiance, and had been pa
rolled by General Hurlburt, at Memphis,
that he had cOrresponded with Rebel Ret
ugees and known secessionests at Windsor
Niagara Falls, Toronto and other places in
Canada.
On first being asked if he had any know
ledge of certain Rebel conspirators eominp 2
to seize this ship, and with her to release
the prisoners confined on Johnson's Island
he answered No. On Captain Carter's read
ing to him the following dispatch found on
his person, Il send you to-day by messen-
ger-the thirty (SO) shares of Mount Hope
Oil Wells purchased as you previously ad.
vised, y and asking him the meaning oi
this, he said it was private dispatch, that
he was in the coal-oil business. On being
told that the 80 shares ment thirty con
spirators coming on the steamer Philo Par
sons, and that we knew all about theplot,
he then confessed that was the true mean.
ing; he was asked the names of his accom-.
plices in 6andusky, hementioned seven q
persons, he likewise said the conspirators
might come by the Toledo railroad.
Capt.Carter then sent Mr. Hunter for Col
Hill, on Johnson's Island, with his eompli.
ments, to come on board as he wanted tc
see him on business of Importance after
consultation being held, it was decided tc
send detachment of soldiers from tbe
Island, to await the arrival ofthe trains and
arrest all suspicious characters that might
arrive, and to have the Provost Marshal ar.
rest the aforementioned seven persons, Col
Hill then went on shore to carry out hi.
part of the programme. Steam Yves theI
ordered, as we expected the steamer PhilC
Parsons to arrive between FIVE and siz
o'clock. About seven O'Clock small sloor
was seen going out of the Bay, and as the
arrest of Cole and others had become
. known, it was thought advisable to detain
her for the present, as she might give in.
formation of the arrests that had been
) made, and thereby Illustrate our plan.
: Accordingly the barge with executive of.
6cer E. &. Martin was sent to bring her
alongside. At 1880 the Ferry steamer
Princess arrived with the party arrested
: in sandusky as aecomplices with Cole
, Col. Hill while in Sandusky received dis
patch from Detroit, saying the PhiIo Par
sons had left on her usual time. Il then
became evident that something was wrono
with her, and it was suggested she was
either captured or had met with an acci-
dent to her machinery.
The men were all anxious to see her
come, as they would have given her warm
reception. Capt Carter then gave orders 10
start at daylight, which order was obeyed;
and at sunrise the Michigan approached tn .
dock at Kelley's Island. The islanders.
not knowing whether she was in possession
of the rebels or her old crew, hesitated
whether to approach the dock or take to the
woods. We are told that some did the lat
ter, but their fears were dispelIed on seeing
the familiar face of Pilot VIM. Clinton on
the pilot stand and Capt. Carter and his Of
hcers ct their stations. It was then we
first Learned the fate of the Parsons and
Island Queen ; how they had been taken
possession OF by some passengers who were
coming on the Parsons, who styled them
selves Confederate officers that they had
shot at and wounded several of the passen-
gers, and the Engineer of the Queen wss
not expected to live, and that they had
landed passengers on Middle Bass Islam d .
Four of the captives, including George Ne
gle, the mate of the Island Queen, Yolun-
teered to go on board and point out where
the Parsons was last seen. The Michigan
then proceeded on her cruise in the direc-
tion Of Bass Island. When about half wav
between the two islands, she met a sail
boat having on board Mr.. Ashley, the
clerk OF the Parsons, and number of other
captives, who informed Captain Carter that
the Parsons had been seen about O'Clock
in the morning steaming in the direction
of Maiden. AS the Michigan passed Mid
die Bass Island, she was heartily eheered
by the remaining captives on shore. She
then steered for the mouth af Detroit River,
which she made at 10 A. n. Asked the
Captain Of the schooner J. W. Holt, of Buff
falo (shs having inst come out of the river)
if she saw the steamer Parsons or the Island
Queen in the river or at Maiden. He an
| swered, no, he had not seen either of them,
We then shaped our course for Point-au-
Pelee; at 1910 asked the Captain of the
tug W. B. Castle, (he having left the river
only short time previously the same ques-
tions. He answered, "No." Then steered
for Putin Bay Island; at I2;4O stopped at
Bass Island and took seven more of the
captives on board, including four ladies
and one child; at I;2O saw the steamer
Island Queen ashore on Chich-a-noIe Reef,
but the water being too shoal could not get