Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-10-15
DRVID MOSES
THE POEM OF LIFE
IN THE FOOTPRINTS
OF PROVIDENCE.
BY tom BENTON .
CoPYRIGHT 1908 BY NOAH 5. JOHNSTON
PosToFFICE: ROUTE 9, LADDoNIA, MO.
CHAP. XXVH.-SECRET SER,
VICE.


About the middle of September,
1864, David Moses aud Robert Har-
ris left their hrmes near Columbia,
Missouri, to run the blockade and
enlist in the Confederate army at
Richmond, Virginia. The city of
st. Louis gave little indication of
the great war then in progress ex-
cept here and there a Federal off
Ger, or private soldier on furlough,
parading the streets. To Chicago
on the Illinois Central was soon
made, then around the Southern
shores of Lake Michigan to De-
troit, where after Il rest, and IA
stroll oyer the city, their boat
soon crossed the beautiful, clear
waters of Detroit river and they
were safe in Canada. Windsor
was not Il large place, less than
two thousand. Most of the build
ings were one story frame dwell
lings, neatly painted white. At the
Hotel David met some Confederate
officers who had escaped from the
United States. After an acquain-
lance of a day or two, they in
formed him of a secret plan to re-
lease the prisoners on Johnson's
Island, near Sandusky, Ohio, and
asked him TO join them.
If you are acting under orders
of the Confederate Government,
will go, said David. Bob said, Il
am with you, David" The next
evening, they went to the soulh
part of the town where a neat cot
tage was entered and in the quiet
parlOr were introduced to Colonel
JOcOb Thompson of Missississippi,
formerly Secretary OF the interior
under Buchanan. He was not tall,
but he was rather heavy. His
countenance indicated intelligence
He was not past middle life, light
hair, blue eyes aud high forehead
and so easy in his manners thai
all soon felt at home.
David asked, Is this movement
to capture the Michigan and re
lease prisoners authorized by thu
Confederate Government" TIL,
Colonel smiled, and took from
drawer near at hand a paper. /
was his commission to act as agen
for the Government at Richmond
and signed by the proper officer
with Confederate seal attached.
After reading this David said
You may depend on us. Their
were thirty-fve promised to as
sist. Several were on the Mich
gan, a vessel on the Lake
guarding JOhnson's Island, o
which were confined eight thous
and Confederate officers as prison
ers of war.
Major q. Fl. Cole, a brother Q
Colonel Cole of 9th Tennessee
regimen, was a man of mediuI
size, dark hair. brown eyes an
very fine appearance. He was ST
leeted to assist Col. Thompson i
the effort to create disturbanC
IN the North that would brin
peace to the South.
Major Cole had his headquarter
at Sandusky, Ohio. He was d,
ing business as an oil speculat,
Of Tinsyille, Pennsylvania Co
Thompson let him have $50, 600
gold, He used this in his VOL
for the Confederacy. Giyir
fine dinners to officers Of the Mich
gan, he gained their good win al
succeeded 10 having two Confede
ates enlisted as seaman. One W
the engineer and ten as soldier
placed on duty on the Island.
CAPITA John Yates Beall, t
one who was 70 capture the Phil
Parsons. a propeller running fro
Detroit 70 sandusky, was q
looking man. Before the war
was wealthy West Virginia
planter a millionaire, q wal