Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-02-18
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
THE ATTEMPT TO INACCURATE A NORTH.
WESTERN CoNFEDERACY.

Nt5oANtsN NC-Ni EitI-hAN1.
Gel z. 4. Burr, a well known Federal
officer, prints in the Philadelphia Press
an account of the attempt to release the
20, Zoo Confederate prisoners confined
in Chicago, Columbus and Sanduskv in
1864, and 10 inaneurate a Northwestern
Confederacy. Major c. II. Cole OF the
Fifth Tennessee Regiment was a leading
spirit in the plot. He received his in
structions in Richmond and repufted TO
the Honorable Jacob Thompson, then
in Canada. Jacob 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 at Camp Chase, near Column
bus Ohio, about 5000 more, and ut
Camp Morton, near indianapolis. about
4, 900. On Jobnson'e Island in San
dusky Bay, there were about 3, 200 Con
federate officers confined The object
was TO simultaneously release all these
prisoners aud officer the men III tie
other three camps with the officers on
Johnson's Island With this force and
the active aid Of Northern svmpathiZers
1t was thought that Northwestern
Confederacy was not impossible. Major
Tom Kinds, now Judge at Bowling
Green, KY, had the State of Illinois,
with his headquarters at Chicago. Major
Castleman had Indiana, with his head
quarters at Centraiia. At all OF these
places Northern allies were working in
conjunction.
The time selected in making the u.s.
sault upon these camps was to be
gagged by Gen. Early's attack upon
Washington, so as to make it Impossible
for any of the troops TO be sent North
to reinforce the limited number of Fed
eral soldiers then in the Northwest
The Northwest was selected as the basis
of operations because there was great
rebellion there against conscrip,iona,
and the people were generally tired of
the war.
On Major Coles assignment to com
mapd 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 guardship 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
a welcome guest. He established HIM
self in Sandusky as an oil Spectator,
organized the Mount Hope Oil Com
pany, and located well near Titusville.
Pa. This gave him business stand
ing, and his position as secretary and
practical manager of the company read
lily accounted for the travel it was nee.
essary for him to do in furtherance of
his military duty. It also explained
the abundance of MOI ey he had and his
willingness to spend it.
He received from Mr.. Thompson 500
900 in gold, portion of which was de-
posted in the bank at Sandusky to his
credit. There was also an account kept
in Philadelphia with Drexel a Co, in
the name of John Bell. He also had an
account with Belmont in New York.
The Confederacy had plenty Of means
in its secret service fund. Cole says
that there was something like 2S6, 600,
600 altogether to the credit of the Con-
federate Commissioner and his col
league. Most OF it was, he believes.
deposited in the bank at Toronto. He
turned bis attention TO cultiyating the
acquaintance of officers of the steamer
Michigan. and all military officers sta
toned at Sandusky, or who came there,
as prerequisite TO success in releasing
the Confederate prisoners. He wined
and dired the officers continually, and
was on excellent footing with them. He
soon fouud ii necessary 10 have men IN
his employ on board the Michigan, and
also on Johnson's Island. As the Uni
ted States Government wanted both sea
men and soldiers, two COnfederates were
enlisted as Sc amen and sent aboard the
Michigan. Ten more were enlisted as
soldiers, and went on duty as members
of the regiment doing duty on John
sons Island. Besides Coles social re-
lations with the officers, he was in a
position to be fully posted as TO what
was going on, both on the vessel and on
the island. The men enlisted as Federal
SELLERS were of infinite value in COM
municaiing with the Confederate officers
and in getting arms to them. Cole tells
the following incident:
Not long before onr plans were COM
pleted, Mr.. Thompson, at one of our
conferences in Canada, said he should
like TO visit and look over the steamer
Miehi9an before tackled ''"~ and