The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-26

Order began to reislx. About this time q
large lot Of arms were pnretlased and sent TO
indianapolis, which was discovered. ana
some OF the leading men were charged with
the design to arm the members OF the ORDER
for reasonable purposes. Treachery showed
itself at Louisville. Judge BulliH and Dr.
Kalfus were arrested and sent, Ito Melnpnis.
The day on which he great movement was
TO be made became known to Dir. Mcdonald,
candidate for Governor of Indiana, and be-
Iieying that it would mar bis prospects ior
election unless prevented, ne threatened W
expose all the parties engaged unless the pro,
ject was abandoned. Thus the day passed
Nv and nothing was done. The Chicago
| Convention came: the crowd was Immense !;
the feeling was unanimous for peace; gen.
ernl impression prevailed that reconstrrc-
tiou could he had, and that 1t was necessary
| to so far rander to the military feeling as to
| take General; NIcClelland, to SECURE certain
success. This nomination, followed as 1t was
bv divers disclosures and arrests of persons.
prominent members, totally demoralized the
..Sons of Liberty The feeling with the
masses is as strong as ever; they are
| true, brave. and l believe willing and
| ready. but they have no leaders. The
vigilance of the Administration, its large
detective force, the large bounties paid lor
| treachery. and the respectable men VINO nave
Welded to the temptation, added to the large
military force stationed in these States, make
organization and preparation almost an I'M
possibility. \ large sum of money has been
expended in fostering and flutherlng these
operations. and it now seems to have been 10
little profit. But, in reviewing the past, do
not see how it could have been avoided, nor
has it been spent altogether in vain. The ap'
prchcnsions Of the enemy have caused him
! to bring back and keep from the field i'll front
at least $4,000 to watch and broWbeat the
nroplr at home. In this view of the subject
the same amount OF money has effected 80
much i'm no other quarter since the com
mcncemcnt of the war.
In JULY last Captain Charles II. Cole, OF
| General FORESTS command. made his escape
from prison, lie represented to me that he
had been appointed lieutenant in Our navy
| sent him around the lakes with instructions
| to 20 rs Il lower-dcck passenger. to famlilar'
| izc himself with all the channels ana dItlcr'
cnt approaches to the several hirbors, the
strength OF each place. the dcrosltarles OF
coal, and especially to learn all he collld
about the war steamer Michigan, and dcyISt
some plan for her capture or dcstructlon
This duty lie performed very satisfactorily
He WAS then instructed to return and put
himself in communication with the officers
| Of the Michigan, and. feeling his way, to en-
dcayor to purchase the boat from It's officers
For a time he thought he would succeed
i'm this if he could give the guarantees OF pay
mrnt of the sums stipulated. but by degrees
the question was dropped. and he asked per-
mission to organize Il force. board, and Ekt
nj = al
John Y. Bcall was sent him to aid in the
organization, and i'll carrying out the enter
prise. ;,
Their plan was well conceived, and held
ont thp promise of success. 1t had been pre-
yollslv aSccrtained from escaped prisoners
from Iohnson's Island that IN organization
| existed among the prisoner: on the island lol
the p,lrEu-c of surprising the guard and cap
turing the island the prt S"ncc of the steamer
Michigan. which carried fourteen guns, was
the only obstacle. Secret communications
were had by which they were advised thu
on the night of the 18th Of September an at
tcmpt To seize the Michigan would lie made
/ ON that night Captain Cole. who had pre-
youSv established the friendlicSt relations
with the officers of the steamer, was to have
wnc-drinking with them on board, and al
miycu hour Acting Master Hrall was to ap
pear on Il boat. To be obtained for that pur
posi-. with Il sufficient body Of Confederate
soldiers is board and take the steamer
Should they capture the steamer, cannon
shot sent through the officers quarters or
Jonsun'S Island was TO signify to the prison
rrS that the hour for their release had come
Should they take the island, boats were to b,
impruvi,cd and Sandliaky was to be attacked
| # taken the prisoners were to he mounted
and make for Cleveland, the bouts conpc
rating, and from cleveland the prisoner:
were To make Wheeling; and thence 10 Nir
ginia. The KEY to the whole movement was
the capture of the Michigan.
On the evening of the 18th. Ivy some
trcachrrv cole was arrested, and the mes
scngcr who WAS to meet Acting Master Bca
at kclrys island did not reach him. Dis
appointed, but nothing dallnted, Acting
Master BclI having possession OF the Phll(
Parsons. passenger steamer from Detroit tt
Sllndli>ky. went on his way towardSJohn>on
island. Having landed atsMiddc Bus Island
to secure Il supply Of wood, the steamer
Island Queen, with large number OF pas
Scn"crs and thirty-two soldiers, came uI
alongside and dashed herself to the Parsons
| An attack WAS ut once resolved upon. INT
passengers and soldiers were soon madt
prisoners. and the boat delivered up to OH
men. The soldiers were regularly mrolcd
the passengers were left on the Island. hay
ing given their promise not to leave lol
twcntv-four hours, and the boat was towct
out into the lake and sunk.
| The Parsons was then StccrCd directly fol
the BAY Of S;ndIlsky. Here the men, from
certain rclSonS not altogether satisfactory
bat possibly fortunately, refused TO make tilt
attack on the Michigan. Bcall returned
landed at Sandwich, c. W., and the mel
scattered through the country. Most OF
them have returned TO tie Confederate
States but IL few days since Acting Master
Bennett e.. Burley was arrested, and the trla
is now going on for his delivery under tho
cNlradition treaty. If we had Coles, Beall's
or h,' own commission should not fear tn,
result. As it is. they will have to prove
that they acted under my order, and thai
will, in alI probability. secure his release, bu
il may l. ad To my expulsion from the Pro
yinccs: at least | have it from reliable
source that this lust proposition has been
pressed upon the Canadian authorities, anC
they have considered it.
Should the course of events take this di
rcction. unatlyiscd by you, [ shall consider II
my duty to remain where am and abide tine
issue. should prefer it, if it be possible, &c
have your views on the subject. Captain
Cole is still prisoner on Johnson's Island
In obedience to your suggestion, As far rs II
was practicable, soon after my arrival here
urged the people in the North to convert
their paper money into gold and withdraw il
from the market. | am satisfied this policy
was adopted and carried into effect to some
extent, but how extensively am unable tc
state. What effect it had OH the gold market
it is impossible to estimate, but certain it is
that gold continued to appreciate until il
Ii, l,,,. tom