The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-04-01
THE ROMANCE OF WAR.

federate officer, prints in the Philadphii
Times, an account of the attempt to re
lease $4,000 Confederate prisoners con
fined in Chicago, Columbus and San
dusky in 1864. and to inaugurate
Northwestern Confederacy. Major G
H. Cole, of the Fifth Tennessee Regi
ment, was a leading spirit in the plot
He received his instructions in Rich
mond, and reported to Hon. Jacot
Thompson, then in Canada. Jacob as
signed him to the command of the de
partment of the Ohio, with headquarters
at SandusKy. At Camp Douglas, neal
Chicago, there were about 5000 Con
federate prisoners; at Camp Chase, neal
Columbus, Ohio, about 5000 more, and
at Camp Morton, near Indianapolis
about 1900 more. On Johnson's Island
on Sandusky Bay, there were about 320(
Confederate officers confined. The OBJ
ject was to simultaneously release ali
prisoners, and officer the men in the
other three camps with the officers on
Johnson's Island With this force and
the active aid of Northern sympathizers
it was thought that Northwestern Con-
federacy was not impossible. Major
Tom Kinds, now Judge of Bowling
Green, KY, had the State of Illinois,
with his headquarters at Chicago.
Major Castleman had Indiana, with his
headquarters at Centralia. At all of
these places Northern allies were work
ing in conjunction The time selected
in making the assault upon these camps
was to be gauged by General Early's at
tack upon Washington, so as to make it
impossible for any of the troops to be
sent North to reinforce the limited num-
ber of Federal troops then in the North
west. The Northwest was selected as
| the basis of operations because there was
great rebellion against the conscriptions,
! and the people were generally tired of
| the war. It was at first intended to
| strike the blow while the Democratic
National convention was in session in
Chicago. Four thousand Confederate
soldiers and sympathizers were in
Chicago at that time ready for the work.
Early's delay in striking Washington
caused a postponement. Among the
Northern allies Colonel Burr places
BRICK PoMERoY.
He asserts, on the authority of Major
Cole, that Jacob johnson gave Pomeroy
money TO establish the La Crosse Deme-
crat. On Major Coles assignment to
command at Sandusky. he was instructed
to capture the United States man-of war
Michigan. She was the only armed YES
sci on the lakes, and with her in their
power the Confederates felt assured of
success. Cole wont to Erie. where the
Michigan was lying before she was sent
up as guardianship to the prisoners on
Johnson's Island. Through friends he
made the acquaintance of the officers,
entertained them handsomely, and was
invited to the ship, so that when it came
to Sandusky he was always welcome
guest. Ae established himself in San
dusky as an oil speculator, organized
the Mount Hope Oil Company. and To-
Gated well near Titusville, Pa Judge
Fillmore, of Buffalo, was elected Presi-
dent, and Cole was elected Secretary.
This gave him q business standing, and
his position as Secretary and business
manager of the company readily ac-
counted for the travel it was necessary
for him to do in furtherance of his mill
tary duty. It also explained the abun-
dance of money he had and his willing
ness to spend it. He received from Mr..
Thompson $50, 900 in gold, portion of
which was deposited in the bank at San
dusky to his credit. He turned his at
tention to cultiyating the acquaintance of
officers OF the steamer Michigan, and all
military officers stationed at Sandusky, or
who came there, as prerequisite to
success in releasing the Confederate
prisoners. He wined and dined the Of
fcers continually, and was on excellent
footing with them. He soon found it
necessary to have men in his employ on
hoo or1 tho M,n1soxoy, al, TIL.
sons Island. AS the United States Gov
ernment wanted both seamen and soldiers
two Confederates were enlisted as sea-
men and sent aboard the Michigan. Ten
more were enlisted as soldiers. and we're
on duty as members of the regiment
doing duty on Johnson's Island. Be-
sides Coles social relations with the
officers, he was in position to be fully
posted as to what was going on, both on
the vessel and on the island. The men1
enlisted as Federal soldiers were of in
finite value in communicating with the
Confederate officers. and in getting arms
to them.
After Thompson's visit to the Michi-
gan, Cole spent three weeks in PhiladeI- |
phia recruiting. He established his |
at Twelfth and Chestnut |
streets, in the Girard building or oil |
Cadwall der House. He also had another |
rendezvous on Fifth street, between
Chestnut and Walnut, where a man was
ostensibly recruiting an artillery COM
pany for the United States service. 1t |
was here that most of the men for the |
capture of the Michigan were hired. |
They were paid $40 month and expen-
ses. The money was drawn from Drexels |
bank to meet the current expenses of |
these agencies and to pay the men, The
plan fully matured, it was decided to
make the attack on Monday, Sept. 10, |
1864. The intention was, the moment
the Michigan was captured and the Con- |
federate officers released, to
CUT ALL THE TELEGRAPH WIRES
Leading out of Sandusky, seize rail-
road train, run down to Columbus, assist |
in releasing the prisoners there, then run
back to Sandusky and establish the tenn
porary headquarters of the Confederate |
Department of the Northwest. Gen. |
Trimble of Maryland, who was the rank
ing Confederate officer confined on John
sons Island was to be made Commander |
in Chief, and Cole had in his pocket |
from the Confederate Gov
ernment appointing him to that position
the moment he was released. Cole was
supplied with other commissions in |
blank, all properly signed and attested,
to give to all other men who enlisted in |
the Confederate army for this service
This was done to make them regular |
Confederate soldiers, so that their SER
vices would be legitimate acts of warfare
as long as they obeyed orders. Major
Kinds, in command at Chicago, and
Major Castleman, in command at Gen.
tralia, were to attack Camp Douglas and
Camp Morton simultaneously with Coles |
attack upon Johnson's Island. Major
Kinds was also charged with the duty of