Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-08-01

dropped and he asked PERMISSION 10 Or
ganize force, board and take her. This
was given, and Acting Master John Y.
Beall was sent him to aid in the organ-
ization and in carrying out the enter
prise.
Their plan was well conceived, and
held out the promise Of success. 1t
had been previously ascertained from
escaped prisoners from Johnson's Is
land that an organization existed among
the prisoners on the island for the pur-
pose of surprising the guard and cap
turing the island; the presence of the
steamer Michigan, which carried IA guns
was the only obstacle. Secret commu-
nications were had by which they were
advised that ON the night of the 10Th of
Sept. an attempt to sieZe the Michigan
would be made.
On that night Capt. Cole, who had
previously established the friendliest
relations with the officers of the steam
er, was to have wine-drinking with
them on board ,and at given hour Act
ing Master Beall was to appear Oh a
boat, to be obtained for that purpose,
with a sufficient body of Confed-
crate soldiers to board and take the
steamer. Should they capture the
steamer, cannon shot sent through
the officers quarters was to signify to
the prisoners that the hour for their re-
lease had come. Should they take the
island boats were to be imprOvised and
Sandusky was to be attacked. If taken
the prisoners were to be mounted and
make for Cleveland, the boats cooper
ating, and from Cleveland the prison.
ers were to make Wheeling, and thence
to Virginia. The key TO the whole
movement was the capture of the Mich
igan. On the evening of the 10Th, by
some treachery, Cole was arrested, and
the messenger who was to meet Acting
Master Beall at Kelly's Island did not
reach him. Disappointed, but nothing
daunted, Acting Master Beall, having
possession of tile Philo Parsons, pass
enger steamer from Detroit to Sandusky
went on his way to JOhnson's Island.
Having landed at Middle Bas Island to
secure a supply of wood, the steam
er Island Queen, with large
number of passengers and thirty-twO
soldiers, came up alongside and lashed
herself to the Parsons. An attack was
at once resolved upon. The passengers
and soldiers were soon made prisoners,
and the boat delivered up to our men.
The soldiers were regularly paroled,the
passengers were left on the island, hav-
ing given their promise not to leave for
twenty-four hours, and the boat was
towed out into the lake and sunk.
The Parsons was then steered direct
ly for the Bay of Sandusky; here the
men, from certain reasons not altOgeth-
er satisfactory, but possibly fortunately,
refused to make the attack Oh the Mich
igan. Beall returned, landed at Sand
wich, c. w., and the men scattered
through the country. Most of them
haye returned to the Confederate States,
but few days since Acting Master
Bennett G. Burley was arrested, and the
trial is now going on for his delivery
under the extradition treaty. II we
had Coles, Beall's, or his own commits
sion l should not fear the result. As it
is they will have to prove that they act
ed under my order, and that will, III all
probability, secure his release, but it
may lead to my expulsion from the
provinces; at least, have it from a re-
liable source that this last proposition
has been pressed upon the Canadian au-
thorities, and they have considered it.
Should the course of events take this
direction, unadvised by you,I shall con-
slider it my duty to remain where l am,
and abide the issue. l should prefer, if
it be possible to have your views on the
subject. Captain Cole is still a prisoner
on JohnsOn's island. In obedience to
your suggestion, as far as it was prac-
tical, soon after my arrival here / urged
the people in the North to convert their
paper money into gold and withdraw it
from the market. / am satisfied this
policy was adopted and carried into eff
feet to some extent, but how extensive
ly am unable to state. What effect it
had on the gold market it is impossible
to estimate, but certain it is that gold
continued to appreciate until it went to
go. The high price may have tempted
many to change their policy, because
afterward gold fell in the market to $50,
when it was about $50, and expectation
of gold was so small that there appear
ed to be but little or no demand for it.
Mr.. John Porterfield formerly banker
in Nashville, but now resident of
Montreal, was furnished with 100000
and instructed to proceed to New York
to carry out financial policy of his
own conception, which consisted in the
purchase of gold and exporting the
same, selling it for sterling bills Of ex-
change, and then again converting his
exchange into gold. This process in
yolved a certain loss, the cost of tran
shipment. He was instructed by Mr..
Clay and myself to go on with his poll
cy until he had expended $4,000, with
which he supposed he would ship di-
rectly 5000, 600, and induce others to
ship much more, and then if the effect
upon the gold market was not very per-
ceptible he was to desist and return to
Canada, and restore the money uneX-
pended. By his last report he had
caused the shipment of more than two
millions of gold at an expense of less
than ten thousand dollars, but it seems
that Mr.. Lyons, who had been former
partner of Portertield, was arrested by
Gen. Butler, on the ground that he was
exporting gold; and although Mr.. Ly-
Ons had no connection with Mr.. Porter
field in this transaction, yet he thought
it prudent to return to Canada, and,
while he returns the unexpended bal
ance of the $4,000 to carry out his in
structiOns, he has restored $4,000. l
must confess that the first shipment had
a marked effect on the market. l am
inclined to the opinion that this theory
will work great damage and distrust in
the Federal finances if vigorously fol-
lowed up, and if no outward circum-
stances should interfere with the opera
ton.
Soon after reached Canada a Mr..
Minor Major visited me and represent
ed himself as an accredited agent from
fl,af - N<,,f fNI L.
boats on the Mississippi river, and that
his operations were suspended for want
of means. advanced to him 1000 in
Federal currency and soon after several
boats were burned at st. Louis, invOlv-
ing an immense loss of property to the
enemy. He became suspected, as he
represented to me, of being the author
Of this burning, and from that time
both he and his men have been hiding,
and consequently have done nothing.
Money has been advanced to Mr..
Churchill, of Cincinnati, to organize a
corps for the purpose of incendiarism
] in that city. l consider him a true man
and although as yet he has effected but
little, am in constant expectation of
hearing of effective work in that quar-
ter.
Previous to the arrival of Lieutenant
Colonel Martin and Lieutenant Headly,
with an unsigned note from you, all the
different places where our prisoners are
contined-Camp Douglas, Rock Island,
Camp Morton, Camp Chase, Elmira-
had been thoroughly examined, and the
conclusion was forced upon us that all
efforts to release them without an out
side cooperation would bring disaster
upon the prisoners and result in no
good. All projects of that sort were