The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-13

Sons of Liberty" The feeling
with the masses is as strong as ever
They are true, brave, and I believe
willing and ready but they have no leaders.
The vigilance of the administration. its
large detective force, the large bounties paid
for treachery and the respectable men who
have yielded to the temptation, added to
large military force stationed in those States,
make organization and preparation almost
an impOssibility. A large sum OF money has
been extended in furthering and fostering
these operations, and it now seems to have
been to little profit. But in reviewing the
past do not see how it could have been
avoided, nor has it been spent altogether IN
vain. The apprehension of the enemy have
caused him to bring back and keep from the
field in front at least 600 900 men to watch and
browbeat the people at home. In this view
of the subject the same amount of money
has effected so much in no other quarter
since the commencement of the war.
PLOT TO RELEASE PRISONERS.
In July last Charles H. Cole, OF General
Forests command, made his escape from
prison. He represen ted to me that he had
been appointed a lieutenant in our navy. 1
sent him around the lakes, with instructions
to go as lower deck passenger, to familiar
ize himself with all the channels and differ
ent approaches to the several harbors the
strength of each place. the repositories of
coal, and especially to learn all that he
could about the war steamer Michigan, ana
devise some plan for her capture or destruc-
ton, This duty he performed very salts
factorily. He was then instructed to return
and put himself in communication with the
officers of the Michigan, and feeling his way,
to endeavor to purchase the boat from its
officers. For time he thought he would
succeed in this if he could give the guaran-
Il, pff,1 tad
but by degrees the question was dropped, and
he asked permission to organize force aboard
and take her This was given, and Acting
Master John Y Beall was sent him to aid IN
the organization and in carrying out the en-
terprise. Their plan was well conceived, and
held out the promise of success. lie had been
previously ascertaiued from escaped prison.
ers from Johnson's island that an organlza-
ton existed among the prisoners on the
island for the purpose of surprising the
guard and capturing the island The pres
ence OF the steamer Michigan, which carried
fourteen guns, was the only obstacle. Secret
communications were had by which they
were advised that on the night OF the 18TH OF
September an attempt to seize the Michigan
would be made. On that night Captain Cole,
who mad previously established the friendll-
est relations with the officers of the steamer,
was to have a wine-drnking with them on
board and at a given hour Acting Master
Beall was to appear on boat to be obtained
for that purpose, with a sufficient body of
confederate soldiers to board and take the
steamer Should they capture the steamer,
cannon shot sent through the officers
quarters on JohnSon's island was to sig
nifty to the prisoners that the hour for their
release had come. Should they take the
island, boats were to be imprUvised, and San
dusky was to be attacked. If taken, the pris-
onerS were to be mounted and make Tor
CLEVELAND 8 pO-nnpratIDp from
Cleveland the prisoners were to go to Wheel
ing and thence to Virginia. The key to the
whole movement was the capture of the
Michigan. On the evening of the 10Th, by
some treachery, Cole was arrested, and the
messenger who was to meet Acting Master
BeaIl at Kelly's island did not reach him; dis
appointed, but nothing daunted Acting Mas
ter Beall. having possession OF the
Philo Parsons, passenger steamer
from Detroit to Sandusky, went on
his way toward Johnson's island.
Having landed at Middle Bas island to secure
q supply Of wood, the steamer Island Queen,
with large number of passengers and thirty
two soldiers, came up alongside and lashed
herself to the Parsons. An attack was at
once resolved upon. The passengers and
soldiers were soon made prisoners and the
boat delivered up to our men. The soldiers
were regularly paroled, the passengers were
left on the island, having given their promise
not to leave for twenty-four hours, and the
boat was lowed out into the lake and sunk.
The Parsons was then steered directly for
the BAY OF Saudusky. Here the men, from
certain reasons not altogether satisfactory,
but possibly fortunately, refused to make
the attack on the Michigan. Beal returned,
landed at Sandwich, c. w. and the men
scattered throughout the country. Most of
them returned to the Confederate States; but
a few days since acting master Bennett G.
Burley was arrested, and the trial is now 60
ing on for his delivery under the extraditiOn
treaty. If we had Coles, BealPs, or his own
commission, l should not fear the result; as
it is they will have to prove that they acted
under my order, and it will in all prObabl
ity secure his release, but it may lead to my
expulsion from the provinces. At least |
have it from a reliable source that this last
proposition has been pressed upon the Cana
dian authorities and they have considered it.
Should the course of events take this drec-
ton unadvised by you, shall consider it
my duty to remain where am and abide the
issue. [ should prefer, if possible, to have
your views on the subject Captain Cole
is still a prisoner on Johnson's island. In
obedience to your suggestion, as far as it was
practicable soon after my arrival here
urged the people in the North to convert
their paper money into gold and withdraw
it from the market. / am satisfied this
policy was adopted and carried into effect to
some extent, but how extensively [ am I'M
able to state. What effect it had on the gold
market it is impossible to estimate, but GER
tain it is that gold continued to appreciate
until it went to 300 The high price may
have tempted many to change their policy,
because afterward gold fell in the market to
$50. When it was about 1870 and exporta-
ton OF gold was so small that there APP
reared to be but little or no demand for it.
Mr. John Porterfield formerly banker
in Nashville, but now a resident
of Montreal was furnished with 500 900
and instructed to proceed to New York to
carry out financial policy OF his own con-
ception, which consisted in the purchase of
gold and exporting the same. selling it for
sterling bills OF exchange, and then again
converting his exchange into gold. This
process involved a certain loss-the cost of
trans-shpment He was instructed by Mr..
Clay and myself to go on with his policy I'M
4;il L. hnl ,LnI l.