Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-28

was a failure; when the North was flied
with discomfort. and Canada was flowing
over with southern svmpathizers under
the leadership OF Jake Thompson.
he time arranged for simultaneously
releasing all of these prisoners was to be
guaged by General Early's attack upon
Washington. so that it would be impossi-
bic to send troops 10 the North. About
this time the Democratic convention was
ned IN Chicago, and it was at first the
intention to take advantage OF this meet
ing to make the attack. Four thousand
Confdeeates We're in Chicago during the
session Of the convention, waiting for the
word to strike the blow, but Early's delay
in attacking the capital caused post
rone:nent OF the plnns in the West. This
delay and the miscarriage of the plot at
JohnSonS Island saved the North.
The man who figured most prominently
in this movement was Major c. II. Cole, a
man of wonderful GOODNESS, nerve and
courage. He was barely of medium height.
but his frame was well-knit and muscu-
lar. and his cold gray eye indicated firm
ness and daring. An estimate Of his recil-
less braV3io may be formed when it is
known that shortly after his capture, upon
Icing arraigned before Major Generals
john A. Dix, EeintZclman. and Hitchcock,
he attempted to drop lighted cigar into
the powder magazine of the Michigan,
and blow all on board, himself inclusive.
into eternity. This was the man selected
by Jake Thompson to strike the keynote
in the great conspiracy.
Cole was q member Of the Fifth Ten
nessee Confederate Regiment. OF which his
brother was colonel. He was called to
Richmond, and there assigned to the Sc
cret service. with orders to report to
Jake Thompson, formerly secretary OF
the interior under Buchanan, but at that
time supposed to be the Confederate lead
err with headquarters in Canada. Major
Cole was given command Of the depart
ment Of Ohio, with headquarters at San
dusky Major Tom Kinds. afterwards a
judge al Bowling Green, KY, was in COM
mand in Illinois and located at Chicago.
while Major Castleman had Indiana, with
headquarters at Centrala. AT all these
places Northern allies were working In
conjunction with the Confederates- The
plan was to make the attack on Johnson
Island, Camp Douglass. Camp Chase, and
Camp Morton simultaneously. on Monday.
September 10. 1864. Major Coles part was
to capture the Michigan, release the pris.
oners on the island. cut all the telegraph
wires seize a train, run down to Column
bus. help release the prisoners at Camp
Chase return to Sandusliy and establish
temporary headquarters of the Confeder-
ate Department OF the Northwest. General
TriTnble, Of Maryland. who was ranking
officer on Jolnson's Island, was to have
have been made communicated chief. Ma
jor Kinds. Of Chicago, in addition to at
lacking Camp Douglass, was assigned to
capture one of the iron steamers that ran
between Grand Haven and Milwaukee.
SYSTEMATIC WORK.
Cole went about his work systematical-
X and slzilf,illy He established himself
ii Sandusky under the guise of wealthy
oil sDeculator of Titusvile, Pa, and or
gained the Mount Hope Oil Company:
Judge Fillmore, of Buffalo, being elected
president, and Cole secretary. The day
the major reported to Jake Thompson he
received $4,000 in geld, part Of which was
deposited in i bank ut Sandusky, to Coles
credit Accounts were also kept in P!lila-
delphia with Drexcl & Co, in the name Of
John Bell, and at Belmont, N. I. The
Confederacy had ample means IN its Sc
cret service, one authority placing the
amount at $S6000.0oo.
With such comfortable bank accounts
to his credit. Major Cole at once took rank
as a substantial business man. He be-
came noted for his good dinners, his fine
brands Of cigars. and the excellent quality
of his wines. He assiduously courted the
friendship OF the officers of the man-ot-
war Michigan In Sandusky he was known
q
nave TWO Confederates enlisted as seamen
on board the Michigan, and ten We're en-
listed rs soldiers and stationed for duty
on Johnson's Island. BY this means he
kept thoroughly posted rs to what was
going on inside the lines of the enemy's
stronghold.
Associated with Cole was John Yates
Beall. q native of West Virginia. and n
coliege-bred man. When the war bro>.e
No a large Di3n-
tation in Jefferson county, w Va, and was
estimated to be worth nearly 100000 He
organized Company G, Second West Vir-
sinia Infantry. which was afterwards a
part of The '.Stonewall Brigade Beall
was a man of unGuestioned bravery.
Another character who played an I'M
portaEt part was Annie DAVIS an English
woman, who acted as a messenger be-
tween Cole and Jake Thompson.
On the morning Of September 10 Cole
had his plans for striking the final blow
all colaplete. He left Detroit for San
drsky. where he had arranged to dine
with the officers of the Michigan on board
the ship that evening. The wine was
TO be drugged, and Beall, at q given sig
nal was to attack the man-of-war from
a steamer which was to be siezed that
same day. Just before he left Detroit
Major Cole sent the following telegram
Welsh of Chicago:
Detroit. September 10, 1864.
Civse out all the stock in the Mount
Hope Oil Company before o'clock to-
6ay. Be prompt. c. H COLE.
This meant that the attempt to capture
the Michigan was TO be made that after
noon and that attacks should be made
on Camps Douglas. Chase, and Morton.
in company with Beall, Cole boaroeu
the Philo Parsons. which ran between
Detroit and Sandusky- She stopped at the
various places on the Canada side OF the
Detroit river. At Windsor and Maiden
the Confederates got aboard. At the later
place there were twenty men who brought
with them an old-fashioned trunk tied
with ropes This, however, did not excite
suspicion as at that time there were any
number OF men fleeing into Canada TO
escape the draft. and others FORCED to re-
turn for want of money.
Major Cole. who had become Well &C
ouainted with the commander of the yes