Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-08-09
TILE rnorrn1rs OLE TRAITORS.

Inc IOllOWtu, us IL Munt W
divers disclosures and arrests Of persons who
were prominent members, totally demoral-
lied the "Sons of Liberty" The feeling with
the masses is as strong as ever. They are
true and brave, and believe are willing and
ready, but they have no leaders. The vigil
lance of the Administration, its large detec-
tive force, the large bounty paid for treach-
cry. and the respectable men who have
yielded to the temptation, added to the large
military force stationedin these States, make
organization and preparation almost an i'm
possibility. A large sum of money has been
expended in fostering and furthering these
operations, and now seems to have been to.
little profit; but in reviewing the past, do
not see how 1t could have been avoided, nor
has IL been spent altogether in vain. The
apprehensions of the enemy have caused him
to bring back and keep from the field in
front at least 60,000 men to watch and brow
beat the people at home. In this view of
the subject the same amount of money has
effected so much in no other quarter since
the commencement of the war.
In July last, Captain Charles II. Cole, of
General Forests command, made his escape
from prison. He represented to me that he
had been appointed lieutenant In our navy.
l sent him around the lakes with instructions
TO go as a lower deck passenger, to familiar
ize himself with all the channels and differ
ent approaches TO the several harbors, the
strength of each place, the repositories OF
coal, and especially to learn all that he could
about the war steamer Michigan, and devise
some plan for her capture or destruction.
This duty he performed very satisfactorily.
THE PLOT TO CAPTURE THE MICHIGAN.
He was then instructed to return and put
himself in communication with the officers
of the Michigan, and feeling his way, to en-
deavor to purchase the boat from its officers.
For a time he thought he would succeed in
this il he could give the guarantees of pay
ment of the sums stipulated, but by degrees
the question was dropped. be asked per-
mission to organize a force to board and take
her. This was given, and Acting Master
John Y. Beall was sent to him to aid in the
organization 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 Island that an or
ganization existed among the prisoners on
the island for the purpose of surprising the
guard and capturing the island. The pres
ence of the steamer Michigan, which carried
fourteen guns, was the only obstacle.
Secret communications were had, by which
they were advised that on the night of the
10Th of September an attempt to seize the
Michigan would be made. On that night
Capt. Cole, who had previously established
the friendliest relations with the officers of
the ateamer, was to have 'wine drinking "
with them on board, and at a given hour
Acting Master Beall was to appear on boat,
to be obtained for the purpose, with a suth.
cient body of Confederate soldiers to board
and take the steamer. Should they capture
the steamer, a cannon shot sent through the
officers quarters, on Johnson's island, was
to signify to the prisoners. that the hour for
their release 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 fol-
Cleveland, the boats cooperating, and from
nd tlta rNri nnrGv IN IN
ing, and thence to Virginia. The key to the
whole movement was the capture of the
Michigan. On the evening of the 18th, by
some treachery, Cole was arrested, and the
messenger, who was to meet Acting Master
Beall at Kelly's island, did not reach him.
SEIZURE OF TUE ISLAND QUEEN.
Disappointed, but nothing daunted, Act
ing Master Beall, having possession OF the
Philo Parsons, a passenger steamer running
from Detroit to Sandusky, he went on his
way toward Johnson's Island. Having land
ed at Middle Bar Island to secure supply
of wood, the steamer Island Queen, with 9
Iarge number Of passengers and thirty-two
soldiers, came up alongside and lashed her
self TO the Parsons. An attack was at once
resolved upon. The passengers and soldier;
were soon made prisoners and the boat de
livered up to our men. The soldiers were
regularly psroled. The passengers were left
on the island, having given their promise
boat was towed out into the lake and sunk
The Parsons then started directly for the
Bay of Sandusky. Here the men, for Ger
tain reasons not altogether satisfactory, but
possibly fortunately, refused to make the
attack on the Michigan. Beall returned ano
landed Mt Sandwich, G. W., and the mer
scattered through the country. Most Of
but few days since Acting Master Bennett
S. Burley was arrested, and the trial is now
going on for his delivery under the extradi
tion treaty. If we had Coles's, BealPs, ol
his own commission, / should not fear the
result. AS it is, they win have to prove thai
they acted under my order, and that will il
all probability secure his release, but 1t may
lead to my expulsion from the provinces
| At least l have it from a reliable source thai
| this last proposition has been pressed upor
| the Canadian authorities, and they have con
sidered it. Should the course of events TAXI
this direction, unadvised by you, shall con
| slider it my duty to remain where | am, anC
abide the issue. | should prefer, if it b.
possible, to have your views on the subject
Captain Cole is still prisoner on Johnson
| Island.
| FINANCIAL SCHEME.
In obedience to your suggestion, as far a
| it was practicable, soon after my arriva
here, urged the people in the North to con
vert their paper money into gold and with
draw it from the market. / am satisfied thi
! policy was adopted and carried into effect Il
| some extent, but how extensively am un
able to state. What effect it had on the golt
market, it is impossible to estimate, but Ger
tain it is that gold continued to appreciat
until it went to 300. The high price ma
have tempted many to change their policy
because afterward gold fell in the market t.
| $50. When it was about $50, and eXporta
tion Of gold was so small that there ap
peared to be little or no demand for it, MI
John Potterfeld, formerly banker of Nash
| vile, but now q resident Of Montreal, wa
furnished with 100000, and instructed t
proceed to New York and carry out tinan
cial policy of his own conception, which cor
| sisted in the purchase of gold and eXportin
the same, selling it for sterling bills of eN
change, and then again converting his e>
change into gold This process involved
certain loss-the cost of transhipment. II
was instructed by Mr.. Clay and myself to g
on with his policy until he had eXpende
S25, 900, with which he supposed he woul
ship directly $5,000,000, and induce other
to ship much more, and then, If the effect VI
on the gold market was not very perceptibl,
he has to desist and return to Canada an
return the money uneXpended. BY the las
report he had caused the shipment of moi
than $2,000,000, at an expense of less tina
$4,000; but it seems that n Mr.. Lyon, VIII
had been q former partner Of M
Potterheld, WAS arrested by General Blu
Ter on Ine ground lndJ ne was eApOrInl
gold,hhd although Mr.. Lyon had no col
nection with Mr.. Pottertield in his transa
ton, yet he thought it prudent to return
Canada, and, while he retains the uneXpen
ed balance of the $25, 900 to carry out his i
structions, he has restored $4,000. l mu
confess that the first shipment had marke
effect on the market. l am inclined to IL
opinion that this theory will work grei
damage and distrust in the Federal tinanc,
if vigorously followed up, andif no untowal
circumstances should interfere with Il
operation.
STEAMBOAT INCENDIARIsM.
Soon after reached Canada, Mr.. Min,
Major visited me- and represented himself
an accredited agent from the Confedera
States to destroy steamboats, on the Missi
sippi River, and that his operations were su
pended for want of means. / advanced
him 81 900 In Federal Currency, and soon aft
several hoats were burned at st. Louis, i
volvlng an immense loss of property to Il
enemy. He became suspected, as he repr
sented to me, of being the author of tn
burning, and from that time both he and
men have been in hiding, and consequent