The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-08-18
JOlINSON'S ISLAND.
a PEN PICTURE OFTlE GREAT AHnyu.
ERN PRISON.


Johnson's Island, now an historic spot,
lies four miles from tic city of E5anluSky,
Ohio, i'll the midst of as beautiful n
sheet of water as can be found on the
lakes. Seen across the blue waves, is
green slopes relieved by the piles Of
white limestone, it presents lovely pic
turc. The highest is perhaps fifty feet
above tho water level, and is near the
center of the island, which is one mile
long, half wide, and contains 800 acres.
In the days long since departed, it was
covered with magnificent growth of
oak and maple, and was II favoritc resort
OF the Indians, who then throngcd all
the lake shore. The waters Which wash
its shores wcro alive with black bass.
plckcrcl and perch, and continue so to
this day
The soil is full of Indian relics. and in
one corner is an old Indian burvinp
ground. Many weird legends of Indians
ghosts arc still cXtant, and would bear
telling. For years the island was owned
by one Bull, and it was called after him.
The first custom house for this port was
located on the island at one time. and
the foundations are still to be seen. in
1892, L. Is. johnson bought the proper
ty, and still owns it. In 1861 u dcpot
for Confederate prisoners was wanted.
and the government leased the island,
which ut once sprang into notoricty as
Johnson's Island. At that time but lit
tie OF 1T was under cultivation, and the
improvements were of the most Drimi
tive character. w. Il. West, OF this
city, was awarded the contract for 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 |, 1862, Company A u.
of Hoilmans Battalion, took possession
for the government; later Companies b,
Z and ID, same battalion, were added
and in 1863 six miscellaneous companies.
The '"nole was erected into one hundred
and twcnty-cighth O. " L.. in the latter
part of 1863. The first post commander
was Major w. S. Picrson aftcrward
brcvct brigadier general Colonel Chas.
w. Hill, General larry and Major Lee
were succcssivcly his successors. The
troops on the island were enlisted spc-
cially for this particular service, and
some of them moved their families to
the prison, and soon school-housc and
church were erected
April 8, 1862 the first instn!lmcnt of
prisoners arrived. These mon were
nearly all privates, but as the great Sc
curity of the prison became known, only
officers were sent to tho island. From
the first arrival until the close of the
war there was a constantly varying num-
Der of Conledcratcs on the island. Some.
the total number confined no~rc9ntin%
$4,000 MANY died. and soon y IiftInrnn,T1'
terry OF somA 400 graves was established
in n beautiful grove on the eastern end
of the islar.,. Comrades of the deceased
whllcd away days IN carving elaborate
,oI"a aI iI",t oo'iS'9 ioi ''iuit ut",, com
nri;,,o,,, aoIrat i,-.' ~ INc''cN "i'ii
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- ~ VIZ w. ~ ttitcu cA-
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re tIo fortsnrn;,, s,nL ato,n 6f 'i'a
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t;nn Fr"n, "o t;n'a r' 80 t;n ,''m'o eNi'totm
ottacl % rom % thn Topad;on ~ l, "ii"tn ahn%, " ~,
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,a',Id " ""S fr" ' @nnI 1,i"v a. "'n0d6 iotLo ne
,'r;snro "Gn ro'"u "nd on;,;,,, "' .f ,ouH ;'o
ps "il' 'tio an 'i''tiiiuioii i'
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ri6evoian2 6 SIAM o"d thn % Io,ic , mnrts ',''''''''NS'
rio warshin niI N Sf;chioan ;,I ~ wos n,t an
arI an9 omn mS,i nlo, oS"n WAS nT on On
6r"no,t 5 % s,rn,.;sa ;u' pi0'"''''0N "N'H !"
po'e'' ""' p'''''
THE PIRATE OF LAKE ERIE
That there was good foundation for
the various rumors, was subsequently
proven by the capture and execution Of
John BeaI sometimes spelled Bcale.
He was born in Virginia, being native
of jefferson county, which was in the
famous Shenandoah Valley. Charles.