The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-28

Impression prevailed that reconstruction could
be had. and that it was necessary :s;sa
feeling as to take General Mcclellan to secure
4 certain success. This nomination. followed
rs il was by divers disclosures and arrests OF
persons-prominent memDers-totany uemorai
sized the Sons OF Liberty. The feeling with Inc
masses is as strong as ever. They. are true,
brave, and, believe. willing and ready, but they
have no leaders.
1.-THE vigilance of the administration, its large
detective force. the large bountes paid for
treachery, and the respectable men who have
yielded to the temptation added to q large mill
tary force stationed in those States, make organ
ization and preparation almost an impossibility.
A large sum of money has been expended in
fostering and extending 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 alto
gether in vain The apprehensions of the enemy
have caused him to bring back and keep from
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.
in July last Charles FL. Cole, of General
Forests command, made his escape from prison.
He represented to me that he had been ap-
pointed a lieutenant in navy I sent him
around the lakes with instructions to 60 as a
lower deck passenger, to famlliarize himself
with all the channels aid different approaches
to the several harbors the strength of each
place. the repositories of coal, and especially to
learn all he could about the war steamer Michi-
gan, and devise some plan for her capture or de-
stFuction. This duty he performed very salts
factoriiy. He was then instructed to return
and put himself in communication with the
officers Of the Michigan, and feeling his way, to
endeayor to purchase the boat from its OH.
GERS. For q time he thought he would
succeed in this if he could give the guarantees
of payment of the sums stipulated; but
by degrees the question was dropped, and he
asked permission to organize force aboard
and take her. This was given. and Acting Mas
ter John Y. Beall was sent him to aid him in the
organization and carrying out Of the enterprise.
Their plan was well-conceived, and held out the
promise of success. 1t had been previously
certained from escaped prisoners from Johnsons
island that an organization existed among the
prisoners on the island for the purpose of sur
prising the guards and capturing the island.
The presence 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 10Th OF
September an attempt to seize the Michigan
would be made On that night, Captain Cole,
who had previously established the friend.
Hest relations with the officers of
the steamer, was to have wine drinking
with them on board and at given hour
Acting Master Beall was to appear on boat, to
'bc obtained for that purpose, with a sufficient
body of Confederate soldiers to board and take
the steamer Should they capture the steamer,
a cannon-shot through the officers quarters on
Johnsons island was TO signify to the prisoners
that the hour of their release had come. Should
they take the island. boats were to be impro
vised and Sandusky to be attacked; if taken,
tho prisoners were to be mounted and make for
Cleveland. the boats cooperating, and from
Cleveland the prisoners were to make for Wheel
ing, and thence to Virginia The key to the
whole movement was the capture Of the Michi-
gan. On the evening of the 18th, by some
treachery. Cole was arrested and the messenger
who was to meet Acting Master Bean at Kelly's
Tcln a ID yNNf-ro oOah
Soon after j reached Canada a Mr. Minor
Major visited me and represented himself as an
accredited agent from the Confederate States to
destroy steamboats, on the Mississippi river, and
that his operations were suspended for want of
means, I advanced to him 81, 900 in Federal
currency, and soon afterwards several boats
were burned at st. Louis, involving an immense
loss of property to- the enemy. He became
pected. as he represented to me, of being the
author of this burning, and from that time both
he and his men have been hiding and conse-
quently have done nothing. Money has been
advanced to Mr. Churchill, of Cincinnati, to
in that city. consider him true man, and,
although as yet he has effected but little, /
in constant expectation of hearing of effective
work in that quarter.
1.-THE presidential election has so demoralized
the leaders of the order of the Sons of Liberty
that new organization, under new leaders, has
become absolute necessity. This is now CO.
ing forward with great vigor and great success.
4u0 new OrNeT 10 SlNiSO klc OTuST VI TIC Cldr
There is general expectation that there will
soon be new draft, and the members swear
sistance to another draft. 1t is purely military,
wholly independent of politics and politicians.
1t Is given out among the members that Stone
wall jackson is the founder of the order, and the
name has its significance from the stars on the
collars of Southern officers. There is no ground
TO doubt that the masses. to a large extent of
the North are brave and true, and believe Lin
coin q tyrant and usurper During my stay in
Canada a great amount Of property has been
destroyed by burning the information brought
me as 30 the perpetrators is conflicting and
contradictory that am satisfied that nothing
can be certainly known. Should claims be pre-
scented at the War Office for payment for this
kind Of work not one dollar should be advanced
on any proof adduced until all the parties con-
oerned may have an opportunity for making out
and presenting proof. Several parties claim to
have done the work at st. Louis, New Orleans,
Louisville, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and at Cairo
Within the last few days DR.. K. /. Stewart, of
Virginia, has reached this place, and very mys-
teri0usiy informs me that he has plan for the
execution of something which has received the
sanction of the President. He is in want of
money, and states to me that you gave him
draft on me for 5000 in gold, which has been
lost ON the way. He has sent back to Richmond
for a renewal He has rented large house.
and moved mis- family into it. / cannot doubt
his word. but. of course, l do not feel authorized
to advance him money without your authority
or that of the President / have however been
constrained to advance him $500 in gold on his
written statement that unless the money was in
hand the lives and liberties of high confederate
officers would be imperiled.
Owing to the health Of Mr. Clay, we sep
arated at Halifax, and since then we have not
lived together, though we have been in consult
ing distance. AS the money was all in my
NAME which supposed to De controlled by us
jointly and as he desired to have sum placed
In his hands at all times subject to his personal
control. transferred to him $685. l64 for which
I hold his receipts. and for which he promises to
account to the proper authorities at home In
Guiding the money turned over to Mr., Clay, al.
of which he has not yet expended, the entire
expenditure as yet on all accounts is about
$500, 900 l still hold three drafts for 800 900
each, which have not been collected. Should
you think it best for me to return 1 would be
glad to know in what way you think had best
arrsAh tlo ,,,Ic ID.