San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-11
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
How the Plot 10 Establish Northwestern Confed.
eracy Was Frustrated.

Colonel T. Burr, the well known con
federate officer, prints in the Phlladel
phia Times an account OF the attemp
to release $4,000 prisoners confined IL
Chicago, Columbus and Sandusky IL
1864, and to inaugurate a northwestern
confederacy. Maj. G. H. Cole, of the
| Fifth Tennessee regiment, was lead
ing spirit in the plot. He received hi!
Instructions in Richmond, and reported
to Hon. Jacob Thompson, then In Can
ada. Thompson assigned him to the
command of the department of the
Ohio, with headquarters at Sandusky
At Camp Douglas, near Chicago, there
were about 5000 confederate prisoners
NJ Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio
about 5000 more, and at Camp Morton
near Indianapolis, about 1900 more
On Johnson's Island, in Sandusky Bay,
there were about 5000 confederate Of
acers confined. The object was to sim.
ultaneously release all prisoners, and
officer the men in the other three
camps with the men on Johnson's
Island. With this force and the active
aid of northern sympathizers, it was
thought that q northern confederacy
was not impossible. Major Tom Kinds.
now Judge of Bowling Green, Ky, had
the state of Illinois, with his headquar
tiers at Chicago, Major Castleman had
Indiana, with his headquarters at Cen
tralia. At all of these places northern
allies were working in conjunction.
The time selected for making the as
sault upon these camps was to be
gagged by General Early's attack upon
Washington, so as to make it impossi-
bic for any of the troops to be sent
north to reinforce the limited number
of federal troops then in the northwest.
The northwest was selected as basis
of operations because there was great
rebellion against the conscriptions, and
the people were generally tired Of war.
It was at first intended to strike the
blow while the democratic national con-
yention was in session. Four thousand
confederate soldiers and sympathizers
were in Chicago at that time ready for
the work. Early's delay in striking
Washington caused postponement.
On Major Coles assignment to com
mand at Sandusky, he was instructed
to capture the United States man of-war
Michigan. She was the only armed
vessel on the lakes, and with her in
their power the confederates felt as
sured of success. Cole went to Erie,
where the Michigan was lying before
she was sent up as guardianship to tho
prisoners on Johnson's Island. Through
friends he made the acquaintance OF
the officers, entertained handsomely,
and was invited to the ship, SO that
when it came to Sandusky he was al
ways welcome guest. He established
himself in Sandusky as an oil specu-
lator, organized the Mount Hope Oil
Company, and located well near Ii
tusvllle, Pa. Judge Fillmore, OF Buff
falo, was elected president, and Cole
was elected secretary. This gave him
business standing, and his position as
secretary and business manager readily
accounted for the travel it was neceS-
sary to do IL furtherance of his military
duty. 1t also explained the abundance
of money he had and his Willingness to
spend it. He received from Mr..
Thompson 100000 in gold, a portion OF
which was deposited in the bank of
Sandusky to his credit. He turned his
attention TO cu!tivating the acquaint-
ance of officers of the steamer Michigan
and all military officers stationed at
or who came there, as pre-
requisite to success in releasing the
confederate prisoners. He wlned and
iined the officers continually, and was
on excellent footing with them. He
soon found ii necessary TO have men in
MS employ on board the Michigan, aud
,lso on Johnson's Island. As the
Cnitsd States government wanted both
.eamen and soldiers, two confederates
we're enlisted as seRnen and sent aboard
he Michigan. Ten more were enlisted
Is soldiers, and were on duty as mem
,ers of the regiment doing duty on
Tohnson's Island. Besides Coles social
citations with the officers, he was in a
position to be fully posted as TO what
vas going on, both on the vessel and on
he island. The members enlisted as
ederal soldiers were of infinite value in
with the confederate
Ulcers, and in getting arms to them.
After Thompson's visit to the Mich
gan, Cole spent three weeks in Phila-
Ielphis recruiting. he established his /
.eadquarters at Twelfth and Chestnut
treets, in the GirArd building or old
yadvAllader House. BE also hsd an
.ther rendezvous on Fifth street, be
veen Chestnut and Walnut, where
aAn vas ostensibly recruiting Al Artil-
sry company for the United States
ervice. IL vas here that most Of the