The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-08-18
J0IINS0N'S ISLAND.
a PEN PICTURE OF THE GREET Noar"-
ESS PRISON.

PEN PICTURE 0E TIE GHs:!tI EoHr::
EHS PRISON.
The Pirate Of Lake Eric-l'he Sf.';E:' .!
Lake steamer by Band OF Co't:%e:::.s' e:':s
pathizers-'rhc Failure oC Their p;a..s-lE;.'
Chief Of the Crew. Etc.
(Fr>n the Atlanta cc@s:.;ut:en.)
Jolnson's Island, now az historic spot
lies four miles from the city Of SandIsk,E
Ohio, in the midst OF as beautiful ;
sheet of water as can be found on The
lakes. Seen &C )ss thc blac waves, It:
green slopes relieved by the pixies Q.
white limestone, it presents 4 lovely PIC
ture The highest IS perhaps f!;;y feet
above the water level, and is i:c:,r Tx
center of the island, which IS orc miie
long, hall wide, and contains 800 acres
In the days long since departed, It was
covered with a magnificent growth OF
oak and maple, and was iavorite resort
of the Indians, who then throngcd all
the lake shore. The waters which wash
its shores were alive with black bass,
pickerel and perch, and continue so to
this day.
The soil is full of Indian relies, and IN
one corner is an old Indian buryins
ground. Many weird legends OF Indians
ghosts are still extant, and would bear
telling. For years the island Was owned
by one Bull, and it was called after him.
The first custon-house for THIS port was
located on the island at one tine, and
the foundations are still to be seen. In
1852, F. B. johnson bought the proper
ty, and still owns it. In 1861 depot
for Confederate prisoners was wanted,
and the government leased tie island,
which at once sprang into not0rety as
Johnson's Island. At that time but lit
tie of it was under cultivation, and the
Improvements were OF the most pTimi-
tive character. ". Z. West, OF this
city, was awarded the contract Tor build
ing quarters for prisoners and guards,
and from that time, until the close Of
the war, it was the scene OF constant
activity. January l, 1862, Company A,
of Hoffman's Battalion, took possession
for the government; later Companies B,
c. and D, same battalion, were added,
and in 1868 six miscellaneous companies
The whole was erected into one hundred
and twenty-eighth 0. Y. l., IN the latter
part of 1868. The first post commander
was Major ". S. Pierson, afterward
brevet brigadier general. Colonel Chas.
W. Hill, General larry and Major Lee
were successfully his successors. The
troops on the island were enlisted spo-
ciany for this particular service, and
some of them moved their families 20
the prison, and soon schocl-house and
church were erected.
April 9, 1862, the first instaI,ment Of
prisoners arrived. These men We're
nearly all privates, but as the great Sc
curity OF the prison became known, only
officers were sent to the island. From
the first arrival until the close Of the
war there was constantly varying num-
Der of Confederates on the island. Some
times as high as 1000 were under guard,
the total number confined aggregating
$4,000. Many died, and soon & little ceme-
tery Of some 100 graves was established
in beautiful grove on the eastern end
of the island. Comrades OF tue deceased
whiled away days in carving elaborate
wooden head boards for their dead COM
rades, and some Of them, executed with
ordinary pocket cutlery. still remain ex-
quisite examples Of amateur talent. For
some reason, the defenders OF lost
cause have never, with two or three ex-
ceptions, given the place any attention,
and but for the kindness Of the G. 4. +.
Post, the lonely burying spot would be
lost in a mass of underground.
As Canada filed up with Southern
sympathizers, it was deemed best to
bring additional troops to the Island,
and to erect strong fortitications, the
ruins of which still remain in almost
perfect condition. Even the magazines
of the forts are in such state OF pre-
servation as to admit Of minute explora-
ton. From time to time rlImors OF an
attack from the Canadian shore were
heard. It was said that a strong force
would come from Canada, release the
prisoners, and seizing the ammunition
and cannon of the forts, form an invad-
ing army to burn Toledo, Sandusky,
Cleveland and the lake ports.
The warship Michigan was put on
guard and every precaution taken to
prevent surprise.
TEE PIRATE OF LAKE ERIE.
That there was good foundation for
the various rumors, was subsequently
proven by the capture and execution OF
John Beall, sometimes spelled Beale.
He was born il Virginia, being native
of Jefferson county, which wss in the
famous Shenandoah Valley, Charles
town, where John Brown was executed.
is the county seat. He was a large land
owner, and possessed of a classical edu-
cation obtained at the University of
Virginia. At the breaking out OF the var
he organized c Company, Second 0. Y.
:, which later became a part Of Stone
wall Jackson's famous brigade.
During the latter part Of 1864 all the
cities on Lake Erie We're greatly agi-
tated. The streets were patrolled, and
every possible precaution taken against
an invasion from the North. The whole
border was convulsed. Ohio had sent
thousands Of soldiers more than her
quota to the front, and none We're left to
guard her unprotected lake front. Il
Seemed practicable scheme to sead an
expedition from Canada to batter down
the lake ports, and spread destruction