The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1873-06-12
THE LAKE ERIE PIRATE.
An Interesting "Reminiscences OF
1904. Y. Beall, 1.-THE Lake
Erie Pirate"

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rate and spy on Governors Island,
New York Harbor, February "a, 1866.
The sentence was just, and its execu-
ton necessary part Of the discipline
of war. Yet now that years have
elapsesi, aud we can review the past
without that terrible personal interest
that made our hearts burn within us,
there is something worthy Of note In
the story Of this young man, who,
young. wealthy, and educated, threw
himself, IS 1t we're, into the jaws OF
death from sincere though mistaken
love for his native country.
John Yates Beall was . native OF
Jefferson county. Virginia. He grad
uated at the University OF Virginia,
Charlottesville, aud at the breaking
out Of the rebellion owned large
plantation In his native county his
property was estimated at $l,5OO, 900,
and in addition he was said to be the
heir Of an estate In England. In the
earliest days Of the war Beali organ
lied Company q, Second Virginia In
fantry, and his regiment afterward
formed part Of the original "Stonewall
Brigade" under Stonewall Jackson.
He took part In many battles. but it is
his piratical expedition among the
islands Of Lake Erie which brings him
within the range Of our subject-an
expedition which ended in disaster
and death. It is well remembered
along the lake shore; Buffalo, Detroit
and Cleveland were flied with excite
ment; the citizens patrolled the streets
by mig ht, aud visions of piratical craft
sailing boldly In and firing upon the
defenceless houses filled all eyes. Ex-
hausted OhiD had sent into the field
regiment after regiment beyond her
quota, but her northern frontier was
entirely exposed, md it seemed All
easy thing to sail across from Canada
and batter down her towns. Looking
back upon it now, it seems like All
easy thing; and yet it was never done,
although Canada swarmed with con-
spirators, under the leadership Of ia
cob Thompson, secret agent Of the
Confederate government. The United
States had but one war vessel on the
lakes, the Michigan. paddle-wheel
steamer, carrying eighteen guns. The
capture Of this boat would enable a
small body of men to carry destruction
from one end Of the lake to the other.
In September, 1864, the Michigan was
lying off Johnson's islam J, Sandusky
Bay, which had been used since 1862
as depot for prisoners Of war; here
were confined 24sO men. all. with
the exception of about one hundred,
officers Of the confederacy, enough to
command an army Of 80 600 men. The
little island was naturally uppermost
in the thoughts Of the rebel officers in
Canada. 1t was near at hand, d steam
er could run across in the night. and
in the winter land force could attack
it, for the ice was strong. and nowhere
was there more than five miles be-
tween island and island, stretching
like stepping stones across the lake
from Point Pelee to the Ohio main
land. No other prison was on an ex-
posed frontier like this, aud were it
not for the guns of the Michigan res
cue might be effected; the Michigan,
therefore, must be captured.
In the report Of Jacob Thompson,
secret agent Of the Confederacy in Can
ada, document belonging to the rebel
archives, the whole plot is related.
There were two parts, the first being
the expedition by water under Beall,
aud the second conspiracy on shore,
by means Of which the officers of the
Michigan were to be thrown off their
guard, SO that ul,on given signal
Beall could steam rapidly in, surprise
them, and capture the boat. A cannon
sent over Johnson Island was to tell
the prisoners that the hour of rescue
had come; Sandusky was next to be
attacked, aud after horses had been
secured the prisoners were to mount
and make for Cleveland, the boats CO.
operating. and from Cleveland strike
across Ohio for Wheeling and the Vir-
ginia border. The key to the whole
movement was the capture of the
Michigan.
The plot on the shore was headed by
a Confederate officer named Cole.
Beall performed his part with entire
success; and had the other head pos
sessed equal capacity. no doubt the
plan would have been successful, and
the whole north taken by surprise at
this daring raid and rescue upon Q
hitherto peaceful and unnoticed bor-
der. The two Thousand young officers
riding for their lives through the heart
of Ohio, where there was no organized
force to oppose them, would have
seemed like phantom band to the
astonished inhabitants. Even the
famous raid of John Morgan, well re-
membered 10 the great redbrick farm
houses Of the central counties, would
have been eclipsed by this flying
troupe, the flower of the Southern
army. On the lake Beall would have
held the whole coast at his mercy, and
the familiar old Michigan, turned into
. Piratical craft, would have carried
terror into every harbor.
But the plot on shore failed. Cole
spent his money freely in Sandusky,
and managed to procure sn introduce
ton to tho officers Of the Michigan,
inviting them to supper parties, and
playing the part of q genial host whose
wines are good and generously offered.
The tedium of the daily life upon the
steamer and in the small town was
enlivened by his hospitality, and for
some time all Went well; br.t gradually
he began to mar his owr, plot by 60
much incautiousness aud such want
Of dexterity in his movements that q
suspicion was aroused In Sandusky,
and his lnanouvres were watched, On
the evening Of the 10Th OF September
Cole had invited the officers Of the
Michigan toa supper party. Every
thing was prepared for them, the wine