The National tribune., 1882-02-11
COLE THE PIRATE.
HIS ATTeMPTTo CAPTURE THE MICHIGAN
From the Philadelphia Press.

Captain Carter, why in thunder didn't you
hang this man to the yard-arm?
The situation was thrilling on board the man
of-war Michigan when this forcible question was
put TO its chief officer by General Heintzelman,
commander of the military district of Ohio. As
the event was the closing scene in one of the most
startling occurrences of the war; it Is now of great
historical interest A picture of it has, believe
never been drawn, nor has the story of the trans
actions that preceded it ever been fully told.
During the latter part of September, 1864, when
this event took place, the Michigan lay moored in
SaRdusky Bay, the guard-ship Of the great lakes
and of the prison for confederate officers on john
sons Island, in Lake Erie. She looked clear and
clean on the day in question, and about noon her
guns announced the arrival of Major-General
John A. Dix, Maor-General Heintzelman, and
Major General Hitchcock, commissioners for the
exchange of Federal prisoners. They had come
to investigate the matters which just then ar
rested the attention OF the whole country and
provoked General Heintzelman's angry interro-
CATION Of Captain Carter, for the life of the man
who had caused the disturbance.
On the deck of the vessel, beside the principal
Generals above mentioned. There was one other
man present. and he was naturally the central
figure of the group. He was prisoner, and had
been brought from the ward-room to the quarter
deck to be catechised by the three officers who
had been summoned to inquire into his conduct,
and to ascertain if possible the extent of the con-
spiracy his capture had disclosed and defeated.
As he stood before his accusers there was in his
manner an air of indifference as to his fate that
amounted almost to bravado. He was small
man, hardly of medium size, but his well proper
toned, closely knit frame was sturdy and vigor-
GUS He had full round face, and his features
were fairly good. His countenance, however, bore
a stolid and determined expression, which was
augmented by the cold light of his gray eyes
His hair and moustache were red, but his general
appearance was not Objectionable. He seemed to
be cast in genteel mould and every lineament of
his face and every line Of his form bespoke pluck
courage, and endurance.
General Hitchcock opened the investigation by
asking:
major Cole, what part did the twelve citizens
of Sandusky whom you have accused play in the
conspiracy"
"None whatever" replied the confederate Off
Ger, CneI are euIIISls 1ney knew
nothing of my plans and less of my acts"
"Then why did you accuse them?"
That the men under my command might be
warned of my capture and escape in the commo-
ton the arrest of these men would cause"
1t was this acknowledgment by Major c. H.
Cole captured confederate officer, that forced
from General Heintzelman the demand:
Captain Garter, why in thunder didn't you
hang this man to the yard-arm?"
The officer addressed did not directly answer,
except by saying that he regarded Major Cole
merely as prisoner of war.
There is in the faithful history which this i'm
pressive scene introduces that which surpasses
any conception of the imagination.
l very recently saw the man whom General
Heintzelman would have thus had summarily
punished. He was afterwards sentenced to death
for acts committed just preceding the scene
have described, and, for year, he lay in prison
under the shadow of the gallows He is now,
after life of marvellous experience q citizen of
the State of Texas, largely interested in the de-
velopment of its railroad system He rarely ever
talks of the matters which brought him so prom
inently before the American people during the
war, and had / not secured good thread of the
never have heard from his lips the remarkable
story of hazard and adventure which for years
marked his life. Nearly two decades have passed
since he stood prisoner upon the deck of the
Michigan. His red moustache is now streaked
with gray, and the abundant growth of hair is
getting thin.
In response to persistent questioning he de-
tailed to me what follows, which is given as
nearly as possible in his own language:
There was much in the scene on the steamer
that September day which no man knew but
myself and therefore could not appreciate. In
terestng, suggestive, and dramatic as was the
situation to the others, it was dOubly so to me.
L, OF course, knew of the coming of the Off
GERS and as | sat in the ward-room waiting to be
summoned On deck, thought over much that
naa TRANSFERRED, and conectured as to the future.
W hiie III deep reverie | felt the shock of the
olschafge OF the guns knew it was the salute
III honot Oh the arrival of the distinguished Off
GERS VINO were coming aboard to ascertain if DOS
slble, who beside myself was engaged in the at