San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-11

and expenses. he money was uia"H
from Drexel's bank to meet the current
expenses of these agencies and to pay
the men. The plan fully matured, 1t
was decided 10 make the attack on
Monday, September 10, 1854. The in
tention was, the moment the Michigan
was captured and the confederate OF
ticers released, TO
CUT ALL THE TELEGRAPH WIRES
Leading out of Saadusky, seize rail
road train, run down TO Columbus, as
sist in releasing the prisoners there,
then run back TO Sandusky and estab-
lish the temporary headquarters of the
confederate department OF the north
west. Gen. Trimble, OF Maryland, who
was the ranking confederate officer
confined ON Johnsons Island, was to be
made commander in chief, aud Cole
had in his pocket commission from
the confederate government appointing
him to that position the moment he
was released. Cole was supplied with
commissions in blank, all properly
signed and attested, to give all other
men who enlisted in the confederate
army for this service. This was done
to make them regular soldiers, so that
their services would be legitimate acts
of warfare as long rs they obeyed orders
Major Kinds, in command at Chicago,
and Major Castleman, in command ut
Centralia, were to attack Camp Doug
las and Camp Morton simultaneously
with Coles attack upon Johnsons
Island. Major Kinds was also charged
with the duty of capturing one OF the
iron steamers plying between Grand
Haven, Michigan, and Milwaukee,
Wisconsin,. Through some misunder-
standing none of the others made the
attack, although Cole telegraphed be-
! fore leaving Detroit, on the morning OF
/ the 10Th, TO Charley Walsh, a citizen Of
Chicago, who was Major Hinds assist
ant, 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 3 O'Clock to-
day. Be prompt. G. Fl. COLE.
This meant that the attack would be
made on the Michigan at five o'clock
that evening. Cole left Sandusky for
Detroit On Saturday, with ell arrange
ments perfected. He had previously
determined to capture the Philo Par
sons, a vessel plying in the lake trade,
for services in transporting troops. The
plan was to go aboard of her at Detroit
and the men who were to assist III
HER CAPTURE
were to get Oh at various points where
+l,n HnnoIinn chnra
Cole went on board the Parsons at four
o'clock p. m. of the 18Th, and spent |
most of his time with Captain Atwood,
her commander. He had made his ac-
quaintance some time before, and fire. |
quently came over on his vessel. She |
left her wharf on the morning of the
10Th, and touched at her various stop
ping places on the Canadian side of the
Detroit river. At Windsor and 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 Maiden, Atwood,
observing the number of seedy looking
men getting aboard, remarked:
How many stockholders 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 posi-
ton"
yes, poor fellows" Cole replied,
"they have hard time"
80 TOn.1a NN1a'c cao0nH Ofinar |
was in readiness for the work. When
they left Maiden Cole gave him sig
nal 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 we'll equipped for the
work appointed to every important
place on the boat. Cole himself pre-
ferred to deal with the captain. When
Beale had everything in readiness, Cole
gave the signal, and clapped his re.
volver.to Captain Atwood's head, and
said
Captain, yoU are my prisoner.
whats the matter, Cole?" he asked
in great establishment.
You are my prisoner. 1 take pos
session of this ship in the name of the
Confederate States Government. Go
below"
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 would not be molested. The stars {
and bars were run up with the an {
nouncement:
This flag is guarantee of protection {
to women and children" {
This assurance was sacredly kept, al 8
though it cost some effort. The regular [