Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-29

~, and the respectable men who have yielded
to the temptation, added TO the large military
force stationed in these States, make organi-
cation and preparation almost an impossi-
bility. large sum of money has been ex-
! dended in fostering and furthering these Cd.
erations, and II now seems 10 have been 10
little profit But, in reviewing the past, do
! not see how 1t could be avoided, nor has il
/ been spent altogether in vain. The appre-
| tensions OF the enemy have caused him to
| bring back and keep from the field in front at
least 1000 to watch and browbeat the peo-
| pie 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. lie represented to me that he
had been appointed Lieutenant in our navy
l sent him around the lakes, with instruc-
tions to go as a lower-deck passenger, to
famliarize himself with all the channels and
| different approaches to the several harbors,
the strength of each place, the depositaries 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.
| 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 time he thought he would succeed in
| this, if he could give TIE guarantees of pay
ment of the sum stipulated, but by degrees
the question was dropped, and he asked per-
| mission to organize a force, board and take
| her. This was given, and Acting Master
| John Y. Beall was sent him to aid in the Or
ganization and in carrying out the enterprise.
| Their plan was we'll conceived, and held
| out the promise Of success. 1t had been pre-
vlously ascertained from escaped prisoners
| from Johnson's Island that an organization
existed among the prisoners on the island for
the purpose of surprising the guard and cap
turing the island the presence of the steam
er Michigan, which carried fourteen guns,
was the only obstacle. Secret communica-
tons 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 preyi-
ously established the friendliest relations with
the officers of the steamer, was to have a
wine drinking with them on board, and at the
given hour Acting Master Beall was to appear
on boat obtained for that purpose, with a
sufficient body Of Confederate soldiers to
board and take the steamer. Should they
capture the steamer, cannon shot sent
through the officers quarters on johnson $
|
hour for their release had come. Should
they take the island, boats were to be impro-
vised and Sandusky was to be attacked. If
| taken, the prisoners were to be mounted and
make for Cleveland, the boats cooperating,
and from Cleveland the prisoners were to
make Wheeling, and thence to Virginia. The
| key TO the whole movement was the capture
of the Michigan. On the evening the 18th,
| by some treachery Cole was arrested and the
| messenger who went to meet Acting Master
| Beall at kelley's Island did not reach him.
Disappointed, but nothing daunted. Acting
! Master Beall. having possession of the Philo
| Parsons, passenger steamer from Detroit TO
Sandusky, went on his way toward Johnsons
Island. Having landed at Middle Bas Island
to secure supply of wood, the steamer Island
| Queen, with large number of passengers
and thirtytwo soldiers, came up alongside
| and dashed 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 sol
diers were regularly paroled the passengers
were left on the island, having given their
promise not to leave for twenty-four hours,
and the boat was lowed out into the Lake and
sunk.
The Parsons was then steered directly for
the Bay of Sandusky; here the men from
| certain reasons not altogether satisfactory,
bnt possibly, fortunately, refused to make the
attack on he Michigan. Beall returned,
landed at Sandwich, c. W, and the men
scattered through the country. Most of them
| have returned TO the Confederate States, but
few days since Acting Master Bennett G.
Burnley was arrested and the trial is now 60
ing on for his delivery under the extradition
treaty. If we had Goals, Bealls or his own
commission l should not fear the result. As
it is, they will, in all probability, secure his
release, but it may lead to an expulsion from
the Provinces; at least, have it from relia-
Bile sources that this last proposition has been
pressed upon the Canadian authorities, and
they have considered it. Should the course
of events take this direction, unadvised by
you, l shall consider 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. Capt Cole is still prisoner |
on Johnsons Island. In obedience TO your
suggestion, as far as it was practicable, soon
after my arrival here l urged the people in
the North to convert their paper money into |
gold and withdraw it from the market. l am
satisfied this policy was adopted and carried
into effect to some extent, but how extensively |
l 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 appre-
ciate until it went up to So 80, and exporta-
ton of gold was small that there appeared
to be but little or no demand for it, Mr.. John
Porterfeld, formerly banker in Nashville,
but now a resident of Montreal, was furnished
with 500, 900 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 exchange, and
then again converting his exchange into gold.
This process involved a certain loss, the cost
of transhpment. He was instructed by Mr..
Clay and myself to go on with his policy until
he had expended So, 000 with which he sup
posed he would ship directly $1,000, 900, aRd
induce others to ship much more, and then if
the effect upon the gold market was not very
perceptible he was to desist and return to
Canada, and restore the money unexpended.
BY his last report he had caused the ship
ment of more than two millions of gold at an
expense of less than ten thousand dollars,
but 1t seems that Mr.. Lyons, who had been
former partner of Porterteld, was arrested
by General Butler, on the ground that he was
exporting gold; and although Mr.. Lyons had
a., 81. -,