Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-03-09
9}(istrllaueuns &eading,
A ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
The Attempt to Form North. Western Con-
federacy.

Col. T. A. Burr, well-know Confederate
officer, prints in the Philadelphia Times an
account of the attempt to release the 2O,O0O
Confederate prisoners confined in Chicago,
Columbus and Sandusky in 1864, and to inau-
gurate Northwestern Confederacy. Major
G. II. Cole of the Fifth Tennessee Regiment,
was leading spirit in the plot He received
his instructions in Richmond, and reported to
the Hon. 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 Columbus, Ohio, about s, 600 more,
and at Camp Morton, near Indianapolis, about
4,OOO.. On Johnson's Island, in Sandusky
Bay. there were about 5000 Confederate Off
GERS confined. The object was to simulta-
neously release all these prisoners and offi-
Ger the men in the other three camps with
the officers on Johnson's Island. With this
force and the active aid of Northern sympa-
thizers it was thought that a Northwestern
Confederacy was not impossible. Major Tom
Kinds, now Judge at Bowling Green, KY,
had the State of Illinois, with his headquar-
ters at Chicago. Major Castleman had lndi-
ana, with his headquarters at Centralla. AT
all these places Northern allies were working
in conjunction. :,
The time selected in making the assault
upon these camps was to be gauged 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 Federal soldiers then in the Northwest.
The Northwest was selected as the field OF ope-
ratiOns because there was great rebellion there
against conscriptions, and hepeople were gell-
erally tired of the war.
1t 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
Col. Burr places Brick Pomeroy. lie asserts
on the authority of Major Cole that Jacob
Thompson gave Pomeroy money to establish
the La Crosse Democrat.
On Major Coles assignment to command at
Sanduskv 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 went up as
guardship to the prisoners on JOhnSon's Is.
land. Through friends he made the acqualn-
tance of the officers, entertained them hand.
somely and was invited to the ship, so that
when it came to Sandusky he was always d
welcome guest. He established himself in
Sandusky as an oil speculator, organized the
Mount Hope Oil Company, and located well
near Titusville, Pa. Judge Fillmore of Buff
falo, was elected president, and Cole was cleo
ted secretary. This gave him business stand.
ing, aud his position as secretary and practical
business manager of the company readily ac'
counted for the travel it was necessary fol
him to do in 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 $4,000 in
gold. portion of which was deposited in the
bank at Sandusky to his credit. There was
also an account kept in Philadelphia will
Drexel & Co., in the name of John Bell. He
also had an account with Belmont in New
York. The Confederacy had plenty of means
in it's secret service fund. Cole says that
there was something like $50, 600, 600 altogeth
er to the credit of the Confederate commission
er and his colleague. Most of it was he be-
lieyes, deposited in the bank at Toronto. lie
turned his attention to cultivating the ac
ouaintance of the officers OF the steamer 1Lch
i.rln, and all military officers stationed at San
dusky, or who came there, as prequisite tc
success in releasing the Confederate prisoners
lie wined and dned the officers continually
and was Oh excellent footing with them. lie
soon found it necessary to have neil in his
employ on board the Mirhiqon and also OF
Jolnsons Island. AS the United States Gov
ernment wanted both seamen and soldiers
two Confederates were enlisted us seamen anC
sent aboard the Michiyan. Ten more Were
enlisted as soldiers, and went on duty as mem
bers of the regiment doing duty OH Johnson
Island. Besides Coles social relations with
the officers, he was in a position to be fully
posted as to what was going on, both Oh tht
vessel and on the island. The men enlisted
as Federal soldiers were of infinite value il
communicating with the Confederate officer:
and in getting arms to them. Cole tells the
following incident
Not long before our plans were completed
| Mr. Thompson at one of our conferences il