Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-09-28

/ 6tCNe --Of%~g
ly on them, treating them to wine, an6
giving pleasant suppers. Money appear
ed 10 be of little object to him. and he
frequently took a handful of gold from
his pockets and exhibited it ostentstious
ly. He bought freely Of varions article,
at the stores of coppsrhead radasmen
and managed TO get some of the officer;
of the Michigan well acquainted with
those trsdesmen i- 81 -HS.i Flis fL-
Matters went on swimmingly with him
for some time, some persons considering
him boasting fool. and Others a. jovial
and liberal 0ompanionb He was an ultra
Democrat. and took a deep interest in
the Chicago Convention. At party held
during its session he toasted "the Chicago
Convention, the hope of the country" -
When Mcclellan was nominated he was
overjoyed. snd.manifested his satisfaction
by boisterous rejoioings, ending by get
ting very drunk over the news. He said
he would bet that Lee would do his best
to help along NcCllelan's election.
About tive weeks since asouthern refa-
gee who was in Sandusky, met Cole. and
instantly. recognized him as Captain in
the rebel service, and who also had a
brother a Colonel in the rebel army. He
gave information to the proper parties,
and from that time Cole was plased un-
L.,
A close investigation into his proceed
ings showed that he was frequent visi-
tor to the house of John H. williams, a
noted Copperhead, who had living with
him the wives of two rebel officers who
were confined on Johnson's Island. A
sewing woman who worked for the female
rebels occasionally. was witness to much
talk of reasonable nature that took
place between Cole and the women
Dispatches were repeatedly received by
Cole in reference TO shares in stocks,
transactions in cattle. and other matters
which were sscertained to be mere blinds
to conceal the reports of movements of
men and the progress of a conspiracy be
tween the Copperhesds, having in view
the release of the rebel prisoners.
The evidence of the treason of Cole
accumulated rapidly, and it was deemed
best to bring matters to head. The op-
portunity was soon afforded by Cole him
self. He invited all the officers of the
Michigan to a grand supper to be given
on shore on Monday evening, at which
were to be present Capt" Abraham
Strain, John q. Williams, Doctor Stanley,
and other prominent Copperheads of San
dusky. Most Of the officers agreed to
come, but word was sent to him in the
afternoon of Monday that one of the num-
Der could not get away without permis-
sion of Commander Carter, who would
only grant leave on the direct application
of Cole himself 1t was represented that
the officer was very anxious to come, and
Cole WAS asked to come on board and in
tercede for him. Cole did 30, about sew
en- o'clock in the evening, and was imme
diateIy arrested. Finding himself in a
bad position, with his true character
known, he at length confessed part of
the plot in which he was engaged. He said
the officers were to be feasted high and
their wine dragged with drugs furnished
for the purpose by DR.. Stanley. They were
then be put out of the way Of doing any
thing by the Copperhead conspirators,
when the confederates of the chief con-
spirator were to make an attack on the
Michigan and capture her. -...-,, "a I
On these disclosures and other evil
dence5 six Sandusky Copperheads was
arrested and sent to Johnson's Island
Subsequently Cole disclosed more of the
plot ~ sn-aJ E-El ,sl-.-let 3 20 =
g He said that number of his eonfeder.
ates were to come down. that morning
from Detroit on the steamer Phile Par
sons capture her, take the Island Queen,
and then. on proper signals being made
from the Michigpa, steer in and attack
the troops on the Islsud. He said he
had no further need of concealment Of
that part Of the plot. as it was undoubt-
edly already affected. Cole was then
put ashore under guard on lJohnson's Is
land, and the Michigan got ready to give
chase to the Parsons.
An erroneous report has got into exis-
tence that the Michigan was delayed by
injuries to her machinery. This is de-
clsred not to be u fact. She could not
get over the bar for several hours, and
did not get away till near morning of
Tuesday. ..
Col. Hill, commanding the Post, yes
terday telegraphed down to Cleveladd
for the officials of the u 8. Court, and
this morning U. 8. Marshall Bill, U, 8.
District Attorney Paine, and U. s. Com
missioner White, will go over to the Is
land. '-'
The following are the statements Of
the officers of the steamers Philo Parsons
and Island Queen, in relation to the cap
ture of those boats.
sTATBXKNT OF W. o. ASHLEY, CLERK OF THE
PHILo PARSONS.
The steamer Philo Parsons left Detroit
on the morning of September 18th, A.
NJ, with about forty passengers. Imme-
diately after leaving Detroit, young
man, whom have frequently seen be-
fore, came to me, and, calling me by
name, said there were four passengers
who wanted to take the boat at Sand
wich, a small town on the Canada side OF
the river, some three miles below Detroit.
1 reported the same TO Captain Atwood,
and he stopped and took them on. They
said when they came on board that they
were taking little.pleasure trip, and in
tended to stop at Kelley's Island. All