The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-04-13


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 Cen
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
capturing one of the iron steamers ply
ing between Grand Haven, Michigan,
and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Through
some misunderstanding none of the
others made the attack, although Cole
telegraphed before leaving Detroit, on
the morning of the 10Th, to Charley
Walsh, citizen of Chicago, who was
Major Kinds assistant, and is now Street
Commissioner of that city, as follows:
DETROIT, Sept. 10, 1864.
Close out all the stock in the Mount
Hope Oil Company before 8 o'clock to-
day. Be prompt. G. Il. COLE.
This meant that the attack would be
made on the Michigan at o'clock that
evening. Cole left Sandusky for Detroit
on Saturday, with all arrangements per-
fected. He had previously determined
to captnre the Philo Parsons, a vessel
plying in the lake trade for service in
transporting our troops. The plan was
to go aboard of her at Detroit. and the
men who were to assist in
HER CAPTURE
We're to get on OF the various points at
which she touched on the Canadian
shore. Cole went on board the Parsons
at P. M. of the 18th, and spent most of
his time with Captain Atwood, her COM
mander. He had made his acquaintance
some time before, and frequently came
over on his vessel. She left her wharf
on the morning of the 10th, and touched
at her various stopping places on the
Canada side of the Detroit river. At
Windsor and at Maiden Coles men got
on board. He was in the pilot house
with Captain Atwood when the boat
touched at both places, so that he could
note the men as they came on board, and
be where they could see him. At Nal
den, Atwood, observing the unusual
number of seedy looking men getting
aboard, said: Chow many skedaddlers
are coming ON this morning? These
fellows are all well off. They ran out Of
the United States to escape the draft,
and are now returning. They look hard
but all of them have means, and are
men of position"
"Yes, poor fellows. Cole replied, they
have had hard time"
J. Yates Beale, Coles second officer,
was in readiness for the work. When
they left Maiden Cole gave him signal
to assign the men to their positions. He
did so. A fine engineer, we'll armed was
placed near the engine, and one of the
men well equipped for the work appoint
ed to every important place on the boat.
Cole himself preferred to deal with the
Captain. When Beale had every thing
in readiness, Cole gave the signal, and
clapped his revolver to Captain Atwoods
head, and said. Captain, You are my
prisoner
whats the matter, Cole?" he asked,
in great establishment.
"Yop are my prisoner. I take pos
session Of this ship in the name OF the
Confederate States Government. Go be-
low"
THE ARREST OF THE CAPTAIN
Was followed by the capture of other
men by other soldiers. They were sent
below and the matches put down. The
passengers were assured that they should
not be molested. The stars and bars
were run ND with the announcement:
'"This flag is q guarantee OF protection
to women and children" This assurance
was sacredly kept, although it cost some
effort. The regular Confederate soldiers
perfect gentlemen, but some Of those
hired from Philadelphia, New York and
other cities were net. It was necessary
to put some of them overheard to make
good the promise given when the Con-
fedefate flag was hoisted. About 1890
the Parsons caught the Island Queen I'M
loading freight at Putin Bay Island.
She carried large number of passen-
gers, among them 300 unarmed soldiers
going to Cleveland to get mustered out.
The Parsons ran alongside OF her, made
fast, and captured her. The two steam
ers then went to Fighting Island, where
the passengers were put ashore. There
was no possible means Of escape, and
therefore no danger that they would give
warning. The steamers then ran toward
the Michigan, which lay in sight. Cole
left the Parsons in q small boat, and
rowed directly to the Michigan. His
plan Was to capture the ship BY strategy.
Before going to Detroit he had arranged
n u;va tho oSF3cara an entertainment on