Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-06-21
JOHN YATES BEALL.
A BRAVE CONFEDERATE.


says -
This young Virginian, an officer of
the Confederate army, was hung as
pirate and spy OH Governors lslanh
New York harbor, February p, 1865.
Without that terrible personal interest
that made our hearts burn Within u.s.
there is something worthy OF noteln the
story of this man, who young, wealthy,
and p,lscated threw himself, as 1t were,
late the Jaws of death for sincere love
tor his native country. John Yates
Beall was native of Jefferson county,
Virginia. He graduated at the Univer-
sity of Virginia, Charlottesville, and at
the breaking out of the rebellion owned
a large plaptation in his native countr!S
hisproperty was estimated at 81 500, 0o@
and in addition he was said to lie the
keir of an estate in England. in the
earliest DAYS of the war BeaR organized
COMPANY G, Secord Virgiaia Infantry,
and his regiment afterward formed a
bart of the original NStoaewalt Brigade,
ander Stonewsll jackson. He took part
in many battles, bat in his piratical ex-
eedition among the islands of Lake Erie
which brings him within the range OF
our subject-an expedition which ended
an disaster and death 1t is well remem-
tered along the lake shore; Buffalo, De
troit, and Cleveland were filled with
excitement; the citizens patrolled the
streets by night, and visions of piratical
craft sailing boldly in and firing upon
the defenceless houses filled all eyes.
Exhausted Ohio had sent into the field
regiment after regiment beyond her
quota, but her northern frontier was
entirely exposed, and it seemed an easy
thing TO sail across from Canada and
batter down her towns. Looking back
upon it now, it still seems easy but was
never done, although Canada swarned
with conspirators under the leadership
of Jacob Thompson, seciet agent OF the
Confederate Government. The United
States had but one war vessel on the
lakes, the Michigan, a paddle-wheel
steamer carrying eight guns.
The capture OF this boat would enable
small body of men TO carry destruc-
ton from one end of the lake to the
other. In September 1864, the Michi-
gan was living off Johnsons Island, San
dusky bay, which had been used since
1862 as a depot for prisoners OF war,
Here were confined 2,4SO, men, all,wlth
the exception of about 100, officers OF
the Contederacv, enough TO command
an army of 10000 men. The little is
land was naturally uppernost III the
thoughts of the rebel officers Ill Canada.
II was near at hand; steamer could
run across in the night, and III winter
land force could attack it, for the Ice
was strong and nowhere was there more
than five miles between island and Is
land, stretching like stepping stones
across the lake from Point Pclee to the
Ohio mainland. No other prison was
on an exposed frontier like this, ana
were it not for the guns OF the Michi-
gan a rescue might be effected; the
Michigan therefore must be captured.
In the report of Jacob Thompson, secret
AGENT Of the Confederacy i'll Canada,
document belonging to the rebel ar
cbiyes. the whole plot is related. There
were two parts, the first being the ex-
nelition bv water under Beall, and the
second company on shore, by means
of which the officers of the Michigan
were to be thrown off their guard, so
that upon given signal beall eould
steam rapidly in, surprise them,and cap
ture the boat A cannon shot sent over
Johnsor's Island was to tell the PRISON
,rs tb,t the bouy of rescue had come;
Sanduskv was next to be attacked ana
after horses had been secured, the prls-
oucrs were to mount and make loI
Cleveland the boats cooperating, ana
from Cleveland strike across ONO
for Wheeling and the Virginia border.
The key to the whole movement was
the capture of the Michigan
THE rLor AND TIE pLoTrER.
The plot on shore was headed by a
Confederate officer named Cole. beaii
performed his part with entire success;
and had the other head possessed equal
CAPACITY. no doubt the plan would have
been successful, and the whole North
taken by surprise by this daring rand
and rescue pom a hitherto peaceful and
unnoticed border. The two thousand
Young officers, riding for their life thro
the heart of Ohio, where there was no
organized force to oppose them, woui"
have seemed like phantom band 10
the astonished inhabitants. Even the
famous raid of John Morgan we'll re-
membered in the great red brick farm
houses of the central counties, would
have been eclipsed by this flying troop,
the flower of the Southern army. On
the lake Beall would have held the
whole coast at his mercy, and the old
Michigan turned into a piratical craft,
would have carried terror into every
harbor. But the plot On shore failed.
Cole spent his money freely in Sandus
XIV. and managed to procure an intro
duetion to the officers of the Michigan,
inviting them to supper parties and
plasfag the part of a genial host, whose
wines are good and generously offered
The tedium of the daily life upon the
steamer and in the small town was mitl-
gated by his hospitality, for some time
nil went we'll; bnt gradually he began
to mar his own plot by so much incau-
tiousness and such want OF deXteri'y
in his movements that suspicion was
ra,..l =: co,J,sLy ond his mar PuyerS