The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-08-02

issue Lincoln could be beaten at the
ballot-box. At all events they ar
gued that the trial of the ballot-box
should be made before q resort to
force-always a deTTieT resort The
Springfield meeting came of, but it
was apparent that the fire exhibited
at Peoria had already diminished
the whole tone of the speakers was
that the people must rely on the bal
lot box for redress Of grievances.
The nerves of the leaders of the or
der began to relax. About this time
a large lot of arms were purchased
and sent to indianapolis, which was
discovered, and some of the leading
men were charged with the design to
arm the members Of the order for
reasonable purposes. TreacheEy
showed itself at Louisville. Judge
Built and DR.. Kalfus were arrested
and sent to Memphis.
The day on which the great move
ment was to be made became known
to Mr.. Mcdonald, candidate for Gov
ernor of Indiana, and believing that
it would mar his prospects for cleo
ton unless prevented he threatened
to expose all the parties engaged un-
less the project was abandoned.
Thus the day passed by and nothing
was done. The Chicago Convention
came; the crowd was immense; the
feeling was unanimous for peace; a
genera impression prevailed that a
reconstruction could be had, and
that it was necessary to so far pander
to the military feeling as to take
General Mcclellan to secure a certain
success. This nomination, followed
as it was by divers disclosures and
arrests of prominent members, to-
tally demoralized the"Sons of Liber-
| ty." 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 boun.
ties paid for treachery, and the re-
spectacle men who have yielded to
the temptation, added to the large
military force stationed in these
States, make organization and prep
aration almost an impossibility. A
large sum of money has been ex
pended in fostering and furthering
these operations, and it now seems
to have been to little profit. But il
reviewing the past, 1 do not see how
itcould have been avoided, nor has
il been spent altogether in vain. ThC
apprehensions of the enemy have
caused him to bring back and keeI
from the field in front at least $4,000
to watch and browbeat the people a
home. In this view of the subjec'
the same amount of money has ef
fected so much in no other quarter
since the commencement of thu
war.
In July last Captain Charles H
Cole, of General Forests command
made his escape from prison. H,
represented to me that he had beer
appointed lieutenant in our navy
l sent him around the lakes, will
instructions to go as loWer-decE
passenger to familiarize himself witt
all the channels and different ap
proaches to the several harbors, tht
strength of each place, the deposi
taries of coal, and especially to lear
all he could about the war steame
Michigan, and devise some plan 70
her capture or destruction. Thi
duty he performed very satisfactori
ly. He was then instructed to re
turn and put himself in communica
ton with the officers of the Mich
gan, and feeling his way, to endeavO
to purchase the boat from Its off
GERS.
For time he thought he woul,
succeed in this, if he could give tn
guarantees ofthe sums stipulated, ,bu
by degrees the question was dropped
and he asked permission to crganiz
force, board and take her. Thi
was given, and Acting Master job
| Y. Beal was sent him to aid in tn
organization and in carrying out tn
enterprise.
Their plan was well conceived, an
held out the promise. Of success
1t had been previously ascertaine
from from escaped prisoners fro1
Johnson's Island that an organizs
ton existed among the prisoners o.
the island for the purpose Of SUI
prising the guard and capturing tn
island; the presence of the steame
Michigan, which carried fourtee
guns, was the only obstacle. Secre
communications were had by whic
they were advised that on the nigh
of the 18th of September an attemI
to seize the Michigan would be made
On that night, Captain Cole, VIII
had previously established tn
friendliest relations with the officer
OF the steamer, was to have a wine
drinking with them on board, and 8
a given hour, Acting Master Bea
was to appear on a boat, to be OF
tanned for that purpose, with a sutf
cient body of Confederate soldier
to board and take the steamer
, Should they capture the steamer,
cannon shot sent through tn
officers quarters on Johnson
Island was to signify to the prise
ners that the hour Of their releas
had come. Should they take th
/ island, boats were to be improvise
: and Sandusky was to be attacked
If taken, the prisoners were to b
/ mounted and make for CLEVELAND
| the boats cooperating, and frpl
) Cleveland the prisoners were to max
, Wheeling, and thence to Virgins
The key to the whole movement wa
the capture of the Michigan. o
the evening of the 18th, by som
} treaehery, Cole was arrested, and th
l messenger who was to meet Actin
e Master Beall at Kelly's Island di
q not reach him. Disappointed, BIT
+ nothing daunted, Acting Master Bea
having possession Of the Philo Pa
5 sons, passenger steamer from d.
e troit to Sandusky, went on his wa
: toward Johnson's island. Havin
= landed at Middle Bass Island to 81
curea supply of wood, the steamt
e Island Queen, with q large numbC